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Why No Front Facing Camera?

marksman

marksman

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 4, 2007
5,764
5
I don't feel like this can be stressed enough, but every device in the world does not need to be a camera or shoot video.

An iPad with its form factor is a ridiculous size and configuration for a camera be it still shots or video.

Why do people have to demand everything needs a camera.

Freaking refrig needs a camera, boxer briefs need a camera, garage door needs a camera, my kids transformer needs a camera, freaking perfume bottle needs a freaking c-a-m-e-r-a.

Not everything needs a camera, and not every device makes sense to have a camera in it. Sometimes you might just use one of the other 85,000 devices in your house that shoot picture and video to do that.

I am sure it would be awesome if my bicycle took pictures or if my baseball mitt had a 5mp camera in it. It would allow me to take pictures while roaming centerfield and not have to carry a secondary device. However somehow I manage.

Not every device invented needs a camera these days. Not every device invented needs a camera these days. Not every device invented needs a camera these days.


Coming soon, iCamera.
 
The target market for the iPad is clearly armchair computing. If this is so, wouldn't it make sense to be able to video chat with it? Not everything needs a camera, but I believe this does to make it even remotely useful.
 
The iPad would be a perfect device for a front facing camera. It wouldn't be for taking pictures or shooting video. But it would of been perfect for video chat. My guess is we will see in the second generation iPad to get people to upgrade. After all this device is more of a multimedia device than a computer so it only makes sense to include this functionality. \
 
bozzykid said:
The iPad would be a perfect device for a front facing camera. It wouldn't be for taking pictures or shooting video. But it would of been perfect for video chat. My guess is we will see in the second generation iPad to get people to upgrade. After all this device is more of a multimedia device than a computer so it only makes sense to include this functionality. \
Click to expand...

I agree with this. A front facing camera would be kinda useful for the iPad, not necessarily a rear camera for photos, but a front one for video chat. For me personally, I would never use one lol but I can see the usefulness of having a front facing camera.
 
thejadedmonkey said:
The target market for the iPad is clearly armchair computing. If this is so, wouldn't it make sense to be able to video chat with it? Not everything needs a camera, but I believe this does to make it even remotely useful.
Click to expand...

That'll be introduced in the first iPad refresh. How many times do we have to go through this with Apple for people to realize how they operate?
 
marksman said:
I don't feel like this can be stressed enough, but every device in the world does not need to be a camera or shoot video.

An iPad with its form factor is a ridiculous size and configuration for a camera be it still shots or video.

Why do people have to demand everything needs a camera.

Freaking refrig needs a camera, boxer briefs need a camera, garage door needs a camera, my kids transformer needs a camera, freaking perfume bottle needs a freaking c-a-m-e-r-a.

Not everything needs a camera, and not every device makes sense to have a camera in it. Sometimes you might just use one of the other 85,000 devices in your house that shoot picture and video to do that.

I am sure it would be awesome if my bicycle took pictures or if my baseball mitt had a 5mp camera in it. It would allow me to take pictures while roaming centerfield and not have to carry a secondary device. However somehow I manage.

Not every device invented needs a camera these days. Not every device invented needs a camera these days. Not every device invented needs a camera these days.


Coming soon, iCamera.
Click to expand...

I think you need to take a deep breath. No one is demanding that the device needs a camera. People are saying that the iPad would benefit from having one. And argue all you want that it doesn't NEED it. You can't argue with the fact that having one on it opens a lot of other opportunities to use the device.
 
There's been an iSight on every iMac and MacBook I've ever owned. I think I've used the camera maybe 10 times. Just to futz with the crazy effects and show it off. That's about it.

This to say: I agree with the original poster. Not everything needs a camera. Wish there was one in there for people who would use it. Maybe in the revision?
 
A camera is such a cheap component that I doubt there was a good reason to NOT include one. Especially with augmented reality apps and the screen size I think it would be fairly awesome on the iPad to have a camera.
 
if they added it in an ipod nano and keep its low price. adding it to the ****in ipad woulda been simple. they just want ppl to upgrade later.
 
They have to make you want to buy the iPad for starters to want you to double-dip later. I've already decided this device isn't good enough to buy in the first generation. Seriously, the camera opens the doors to so many apps.
 
People who want a camera on it haven't held it and tried to imagine how it would look or feel to try and do that. It's not needed.
 
Drag'nGT said:
People who want a camera on it haven't held it and tried to imagine how it would look or feel to try and do that. It's not needed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason Apple had for not including it.
 

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Drag'nGT said:
People who want a camera on it haven't held it and tried to imagine how it would look or feel to try and do that. It's not needed.
Click to expand...

Again we aren't talking about taking pictures with it. You don't need to hold it to know if you put a front facing camera at the top, if would have great benefits. Even cheap netbooks include front facing cameras.
 
GeekLawyer said:
There's been an iSight on every iMac and MacBook I've ever owned. I think I've used the camera maybe 10 times. Just to futz with the crazy effects and show it off. That's about it.

This to say: I agree with the original poster. Not everything needs a camera. Wish there was one in there for people who would use it. Maybe in the revision?
Click to expand...

Drag'nGT said:
People who want a camera on it haven't held it and tried to imagine how it would look or feel to try and do that. It's not needed.
Click to expand...

As somebody with a toddler and parents across the country I can clearly state (as others have as well) that the front-facing camera has nothing to do with wanting to take pictures but for the ability to do video iChats. My parents know that every Sunday morning is their opportunity to see their grandchild. Video conferencing is so easy with Macs and their isn't any reason for the iPad to be left out.
 
The only reason they didn't put a camera in it now is so they could give people a reason to buy another one when the new refresh comes out.

Anyone who has an ounce of patience needs to wait for the refresh as it will start to meet the potential we know this thing has. This is just how Apple operates, they need to get the most money they can out of people, quite frankly I would do the same when running a business.
 
bozzykid said:
The iPad would be a perfect device for a front facing camera. It wouldn't be for taking pictures or shooting video. But it would of been perfect for video chat. My guess is we will see in the second generation iPad to get people to upgrade. After all this device is more of a multimedia device than a computer so it only makes sense to include this functionality. \
Click to expand...

Well said. Apple usually doesn't put EVERY feature on a rev A product. They need to give early adopters a good reason to upgrade :p
 
Why No Front Facing Camera?

Simple. Put a magazine on your lap. Imagine a webcam on the magazine. Okay, now given the angle of the cam, do you think the image is going to be flattering? :D

Deathmirrorshot.jpg
 
Thank god it doesn't have one or I would never get to use it as my wife would steal it to use as a mirror!

Apple clearly did the right thing here :)
 
It isn't always going to be that extreme of an angle.

iSight will come in a future revision, to make iChat possible (easy to do when docked). Can't put everything in one basket in order to keep sales going.
 
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