“We’ve already seen the iSight indicator light ‘disappear’ behind the bezel of Apple’s MacBook and iMac computers. A recently published patent application could make the iSight itself not only disappear, but move to the middle of the screen. MacBooks, iMacs, and even iPhones and iPod touches could take advantage of the new technology,” Zach Spear reports for AppleInsider.
“Submitted in July 2007, the filing details plans for a camera mounted behind a display that could capture an image ‘while the display elements are in an inactive state (in which the display elements are darkened and at least partially transparent),'” Spear reports.
“While rumors have already circulated for some time of what might best be called ‘iChat AV Mobile’ for the iPhone, this proposed patent seems to confirm the very real possibility of such a feature for the iPhone, iPod touch, and even other devices,” Spear reports.
More in the full article here.
So they can spy on you and you can’t tape over the camera…
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Steve Jobs is BIG BROTHER
Come on Steve we don’t need cameras staring at us.
Note to the two tinfoil hat wearing fscktards above:
Can you say “world’s first true video phone?”
I knew you could.
Apple FTW.
Mr. Rogers-
It’s already coming, and not from Apple. It’s from a company called On the Go Video. You haven’t heard of them yet, but believe me, you will.
Apple has been working on this for a long time — a quote in a feature interview with an Apple executive alerted me to the project four or five years ago. Ever since, I’ve been waiting for an embedded iChat product to evolve. As I recall, “a camera” was not behind the display. Rather, video sensors actually were being embedded in the display — between the RGB pixels.
If and when it happens, this is going to revolutionize the video phone and make all current phones obsolete.
“Embedded in Mac displays…” LOL well there goes anonymous posting. In fact, the first two posters shouldn’t be laughed at. Try reading George Orwell’s “1984” book before scoffing at suspicion. I’ll not be buying a phone or computer with this “feature”.
Ah yes, Orwell certainly had a bleak view of the future. However, sometimes I wonder just how close he’ll prove to be. Hell, we already pretty much have a self-appointed thought police, the politically correct crowd. Then we’ve got doublespeak and I’m sure the list goes on. Pardon me that I don’t read that book every year. It’s been a few since I last read it. Sure would be ironic with Apple’s famous 1984 commercial if they were the ones provided those infernal displays from “1984”, wouldn’t it?
I can’t believe the paranoid lot. As if Apple could get away with recording you. It would break international privacy laws. And it would be detected easily and once it was detected it would put apple out of business. Anyway, iMacs and MacBooks and even a few PC laptops already have cameras.
I can also play the paranoia game.
How do you know you’re not being recorded right now. Webcams are silent and it only takes programming to turn off the LED. Actually, as Windows is so easily hackable, I wonder if there is malware that turns on inbuilt cameras in PCs that have them and transmits a video feed. A good idea not to leave a PC lappy with inbuilt camera on in your bedroom. Could be the start of a new candid porn era.
Orwelians beware!
To all “technophobes” above…
No doubt some of you own a recent macbook/pro, imac or even a screen with isight camera.
How many of you, I wonder, “put tape” over your cameras or close your isight when not in use?
I mean, common, really…
Really freaking old news, on Engadget almost 3 years ago.
Also, for those of you who worry about your webcam spying on you via malware, that’s also old news.
You people should read sites besides MDN every once in a while. Or at least try Google.
I think Crabs is on to something…..
” LOL well there goes anonymous posting. In fact, the first two posters shouldn’t be laughed at. Try reading George Orwell’s “1984” book before scoffing at suspicion. I’ll not be buying a phone or computer with this “feature”.
I read ‘Jurassic Park’ that doesn’t mean that the next time someone builds a zoo that Dinosaurs are going to trample the city.
The first poster SHOULD be laughed … with. Isn’t that what that emoticon is all about? An invitation to smile along? As for positioning … placing it 2/3rds of the way up from the bottom would be most likely to match you correspondent’s eye’s, which is where YOU tend to look. Of course, the iChat window can be adjusted to account for that.
My wife recently discovered iChat (video) and the face at the other end was DARK! Recognizable, but much in need of additional exposure. A couple of “ears”, with adjustable lights might be a good option. One with a light pink (photographer’s “salmon”) the other an equally light blue – neither obvious – would subtly improve the view. Variable brightness, wouldn’t want to blind yourself.
“cough” OLD NEWS “cough”
This has ALREADY been written about, like a YEAR AGO at LEAST.
It isn’t what has been done in the past, it’s what could be done in the future. No I don’t have a computer with a webcam. I’m hoping some of you critics paid attention and remember what happened to “Joe the Plumber” merely because he questioned Obama? Government officials (some of who’ve now paid the price) illegally invaded his life in a way that you would expect to see in Cuba or China; but it happened here in the USA.
If they get this “cloud computing” crap in place and fools naively let themselves be subject to it; then add TV screens, computer screens, cellphone screens that can “see” you (remember whatever Apple innovates, everybody else copies fast as they can) then you have a perfectly abuseable system where they can monitor everything you’re doing and watch you doing it.
Never under-estimate the lust for power and control and the insane lengths people who are addicted to it will go.
As for this comment: “I read ‘Jurassic Park’ that doesn’t mean that the next time someone builds a zoo that Dinosaurs are going to trample the city.” Obviously you haven’t read Orwell’s 1984. Although I bet if while they’re building the zoo they were also building extremely high, electrified fencing around the city you’d wonder what that might mean.
Viewing their customers isn’t something Apple is going to do, however the service providers in cooperation with government isn’t something I’d be so trusting of.
If this was coming from Micro$oft, I would be worried about spying. They are big brother and are doing that already.
The Telescreen has been invented.