Apple offers ichat AV, iSight

/companies/companies_a/Apple/images (713 bytes)New Delhi: Apple (www.apple.com) today introduced a major breakthrough in video conferencing — the iChat AV software application and the iSight digital video camera.

Together they enable high-quality video conferences between two Mac users over any broadband connection, revolutionising the way people communicate with business associates, colleagues in education, friends and family.

iChat AV also features audio conferences even over dial-up connections to the Internet. iChat AV requires no set up or configuration beyond installing the software and plugging in any FireWire video camera and microphone. Buddies with audio or video conferencing capability automatically show up in your buddy list, and initiating a video or audio conference is as simple as pushing one button. iChat AV is a key feature of the upcoming release of Mac OS X version 10.3, and is available as a public beta today for Mac OS X version 10.2.

While iChat AV works with any FireWire video camera, Apple's iSight digital video camera was designed for video conferencing, delivering sharp images and clear sound through its built-in, dual-element noise-suppressing microphone. Smaller and lighter than most cell phones, iSight has a unique centre mount design which allows video conversations to be far more engaging and natural. iSight is available today and demonstrates Apple's unique ability to create a tightly integrated hardware and software solution.

"iChat AV is a major breakthrough in communications — users can now video conference with their business associates, colleagues in education, friends and family with just the push of a button," says Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iChat AV and iSight truly offer video conferencing for the rest of us, and since they were designed with Apple's legendary ease-of-use, anyone can set them up in under five minutes."

Building on the success of the iChat instant messaging application in Mac OS X, iChat AV extends instant communication to the next level with the world's best personal video conferencing application. With high-quality, full screen, full motion video over broadband, crystal clear audio over 56K modem and a familiar easy-touse interface, iChat AV makes natural conversations over the Internet immediate and effortless. Automatic display of video and audio icons within the familiar iChat buddy list instantly identifies buddies with video or audio conferencing capabilities so conversations can begin at the click of a button from the office, home or anywhere.