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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.
 
thejadedmonkey

thejadedmonkey

macrumors G3
May 28, 2005
9,240
3,496
Pennsylvania
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.
 
B

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,481
535
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. \
 
D

DeusInvictus7

macrumors 68020
Aug 13, 2008
2,377
28
Kitchener, Ontario
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.
 
generationxwing

generationxwing

macrumors 6502
Feb 10, 2005
268
0
Calgary
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?
 
S

samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,786
41,983
USA
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.
 
GeekLawyer

GeekLawyer

macrumors 68020
Jun 2, 2007
2,281
46
The post is coming from inside the house!
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?
 
Roessnakhan

Roessnakhan

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2007
3,518
510
ABQ
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.
 
T

ttran88

macrumors regular
Nov 12, 2009
199
27
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.
 
Roessnakhan

Roessnakhan

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2007
3,518
510
ABQ
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.
 
Drag'nGT

Drag'nGT

macrumors 68000
Sep 20, 2008
1,781
80
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.
 
Roessnakhan

Roessnakhan

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2007
3,518
510
ABQ
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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bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,481
535
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.
 
K

ks-man

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2007
742
15
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.
 
W

whyapplewhy

macrumors member
Sep 9, 2009
32
0
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.
 
queshy

queshy

macrumors 68040
Apr 2, 2005
3,690
4
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
 
M

MTI

macrumors 65816
Feb 17, 2009
1,108
6
Scottsdale, AZ
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
 
B

bossxii

macrumors 68000
Nov 9, 2008
1,754
0
Kansas City
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 :)
 
J

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
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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