Use PhotoBooth / iSight camera as a mirror
I had never thought of using my Mac in this way, but thought it was a good use of a computer in an unusual way. Yesterday I had gone to talk to a co-worker who was getting ready to head out the door for lunch. Rather than take out a compact, or find a mirror with which to check her hair, she just fired up PhotoBooth and used it as a mirror. [robg adds: I've had this on sitting in the queue for a while, just waiting for a quiet hints day on which to run it...and that day is today. It will be interesting to see how many have done something similar -- personally, I never would have thought about doing this, mainly because I avoid mirrors whenever possible :).]
published on Thursday, the 25. February 2010, macosxhints
The iPad doesn't have a camera, but does it matter?
Apple introduced its newest product on Wednesday—the iPad—suggesting that it fits in a space between an smartphone and a laptop. Both of those products typically have an integrated camera, so many folks were left scratching their heads when the iPad had none. Evidence buried within the iPad SDK suggests that Apple was ready to include one, but we're wondering if its omission even matters to most consumers. Our feeling is that, despite the complaints, that lack of a camera won't affect the iPad's popularity or usability. Screenshots of the Contacts application running in the iPad Simulator (part of the developer tools Apple released yesterday) reveal that Apple included a full interface to take a photo to add to new or existing contacts. If a contact doesn't have a photo, you can click the blank space to add one. The user is then presented with the option to "Choose Existing Photo" or to "Take Photo." Choosing "Take Photo" brings a pop-over to preview and take a picture. The apparent completeness of the feature suggests that Apple was prepared for the iPad to include camera hardware—if not in the current iteration, then perhaps in a future one. However, does the iPad really need a camera? The iPhone has a camera capable of decent still shots and fair-to-middling video. It's also a pocket-sized device comparable in size to many digital cameras—it's size and ergonomics are suited to using it as a camera. The iPad, on the other hand, is 7.5 x 9.5 inches, which is easily bigger than most digital SLR cameras. The 9.7-inch screen would be great for framing (almost like using an 8x10 view camera!), but the device itself doesn't seem like it would be very good for taking pictures. Still, MacBooks have a built-in iSight, handy for videoconferencing via iChat or Skype, or taking gratuitous Facebook profile pictures. Surely such functionality would come in handy on the iPad? If you think about it, though, a webcam sitting in your lap and pointed up at your chin isn't the most flattering angle, and holding it upright for an extended period doesn't seem like it would be very comfortable either. We know there are some people who use video chats for keeping in touch with far-flung family, but the impression we got from a lot of folks is that the novelty of a video iChat wears off after only a couple sessions. The iPod touch—another small, handheld Apple device—also got left out of the camera club with the most recent hardware update. Even without a camera, though, Apple recorded a 55 percent year-over-year growth in iPod touch sales last quarter. An integrated camera may have boosted that number a bit further, but the lack of camera doesn't seem to be hurting the iPod touch by much. iPhone OS may be ready for a camera-equipped iPad in the future, if Apple ever decides to include one. But we don't feel the lack of camera will have any significant negative impact on the current-generation iPad's sales.
published on Friday, the 29. January 2010, ars-technica
Take a picture with the iSight camera when a folder is opened
This script describes an AppleScript that uses Imagesnap, a public-domain command line tool, to take a photo with the built-in iSight camera when a specified file is opened. It saves the photo as a JPEG with a filename based on the time/date, and then hides the JPEG. The light by the side of the camera will flash briefly when the snap is taken. This hint could be very easily adapted to run lots of different functions, for example taking a screen shot. Before writing this script, I had not realized the large potential of Folder Actions Setup. Also described is a method to simply temporarily disable the action when you are opening the folder. First create a new folder called UnixApps in the main (top-level) Library folder. After downloading Imagesnap, place the Imagesnap application in the new folder (resultant path: /Library/UnixApps/imagesnap). It could easily be saved elsewhere, but ...
published on Thursday, the 21. January 2010, macosxhints
MemoryMiner 2.0 adds new Maplines view, QuickTime support
GroupSmarts has announced a major upgrade to its Mac-based digital storytelling utility, MemoryMiner 2.0. The app allows users to create digital stores which link audio, video, pictures or other media. Version 2 offers a new Maplines view, support for Reverse Geocoding, and a new Ken Burns-style pan and zoom effect available through every selection marker. Support is also offered for recording video or audio annotations with QuickTime=compatible devices or the integrated iSight camera....
published on Tuesday, the 22. December 2009, macintosh-news-network