That front-facing camera on the new
iPhone 4 and a
flood of leaks were a dead giveaway -- the new FaceTime app brings video calling to the iPhone. Unfortunately, it's WiFi-only at the moment, as Steve says Apple needs to work with carriers to support it on 3G. The FaceTime app is pretty cool -- you can flip the image between the front and rear cameras and between portrait and landscape orientation, and the video call system is built on open standards like SIP, H.264, and AAC so it'll work with other video calling apps as well.
MUST HAVE
@ashleythehottiest That is still to be determined my friend.
Wi-fi only; huge let down.
@ashleythehottiest interesting how its called FaceTime and not iChat..
Too bad its only through wi-fi; something we all feared, but sadly knew it to be true.
@ashleythehottiest
Don't let steve take your picture.
WIFI only FAIL. Network use is needed. Another EVO win. Go figure.
@ashleythehottiest FACEPALM
@ashleythehottiest it's an odd name. Won't they let the rest of the world use it over 3G? I mean we have had it for years already..
@ashleythehottiest
How embarrassing for US tech... that video calling is exciting. Not only that but ONLY ON WIFI? you've got to be kidding me.
Let me just try to video call my friend OVER THE AIR.. oh wait whats that? I can, right now? its not that exciting because the rest of the world has been able to video call over the air for what 5 years now?
embarrassing
@ashleythehottiest
I wonder how much this would use on your new data plan with AT&T; if it was on 3G...
@ashleythehottiest
Let's have FaceTime ya'll :D
@Edmunn
Blame AT&T;
@ashleythehottiest I hate to be that guy, but n900 got this in PR 1.2
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search;_query=skype+video+calls+on+n900&search;_sort=video_date_uploaded&suggested;_categories=28&uni;=3
Only with Skype, so you can video chat with anyone that has a webcam and skype installed - oh and it works on 3G.
@LetsHaveWaffles It's like Apple isn't even trying anymore. They couldn't even bring out a 64GB version. The phone is outspeced by the Evo in almost every way possibly imagined and it's going to be way worse once Gingerbread comes out.
@Edmunn Why? You'd prefer to be disconnected using AT&T; 3G instead?
@LetsHaveWaffles iv been using Qik on my Evo all morning and it works perfectly on 3G. Actually considering paying the $5 monthly if more people install it. Whats the point in using wifi on video calling? thats really just a sign of how horrible At&t; service STILL is. All the profits from iphone contracts and they still cant get the service to match the hardware.
@TheHypnotist The writing is on the wall: EVO. Saw a considerable amount of lines outside of Sprint when I visited Philly last weekend.
@LetsHaveWaffles
It's not about the phone, obviously the iPhone is capable of doing it over 3G. The problem, as Steve and this article specifically stated, is the CARRIER. Or do you really think Apple has something against video chat over 3G?
@Jack
So, At&t; is so crappy that they are able to break every carriers 3G videocalls?
@werty1432k WiFi only for 2010!!! That implies things will change in 2011.
@werty1432k
... or iFace?
@LetsHaveWaffles
EVO owner here. I like my 4G on the go. Qik's updated app version is awesome and let's me talk to my friends on another network who have droids. Plus qik is expanding it to phone->computer chat (yay for my parents who will NOT be video chatting on a phone anytime soon)
And still, I don't know if I would call facetime on wifi only a fail. It looks like a very smooth process (but too bad you have to have all people with iphones to use it).
@Jack Can you call other phones with front facing cameras over Wi-fi? Or just iPhone 4's? GSMArena says the latter.
@N900 The EVO will be outdated in a month when the next Android phone comes out. That is how Android works.
@N900
you were in Philly?? aw you should've told me! impromptu engadget reader meetup :D
@Edmunn what did ya expect. Its on AT&T.; Took them almost a year to allow the tethering. Maybe by the time iPhone 5 or 6 rolls out you will be able to use it on AT&T;
@ashleythehottiest:
If you need Wi-Fi, you blew it.
@Edmunn
....for now
@Kid Red
yeah... the iPhone will be on other carriers in 2011
@Prospero i could not agree with you more. US tech is pretty outdated compared to Europe at least. And JP is way ahead of us. I had an HTC phone imported to me back in 2005 that was EU only with camera in the front. Since then I've been video chatting on it with other HTC phones and PC users. Nice try Steve-O
@Edmunn What is it with you people? You know what I thought when I saw video calling? I thought "oh great there we go again, the providers are going to charge an arm and a leg, and it's going to die". Just like 10 years ago when 3G was introduced in Europe and everyone thought video calling was the differentiator.
Well turns out nobody wanted to video-call, and most definitely at $3/minute or more. Can't remember the exact cost but it was ridiculous.
So WiFi only is great. Because the operators control their data pipe and they are simply not going to allow free, or even reasonably priced, video calls. Now that the iPhone supports it of course, they will start thinking about support, and in the end probably offer something like the Skype deal - where you have to pay to use it over 3G.
Ultimately, and I am sure that Steve Jobs is very aware of this, the operators will fall into their natural role: That of a provider of a data pipe, nothing more. But they will resist kicking and screaming, and it will take a good long time (and more competition)....
@TheHypnotist 'It's like Apple isn't even trying anymore'
yup, because they know the less technically inclined 'isheep' will buy it in the millions. Sorry to offend, but that's the bitter truth.
awwwww yea!!
@EagleyeSmith
more like awwww disappointing. Wifi only and only iPhone to iPhone = fail
@TheHypnotist It's not only iPhone to iPhone:
"the video call system is built on open standards like SIP, H.264, and AAC so it'll work with other video calling apps as well."
@TheHypnotist
Damn straight, how likely is it that two people own the 4th iPhone and want to do a video chat and are both connected to a wifi hotspot? People who buy the phone will try video chat out once and never use it again.
It has other uses though like checking make-up or just taking pictures of yourself like Photo-booth and maybe some cool uses for games like the eye-toy.
I don't think people really do video chat any more. the odd case will be families chatting abroad and showing each others' kids so this will work ok.
makes them look fat :)
TURN OFF YOUR WIFI!!!!
@victorstuber but if Steve turned his WiFi off the then he would not be able to video chat. While I sit here talking and seeing grandpa in the UK over Sprint 3g and he can see me while sitting at his computer which happens to be a Mac
CAN'T WAIT TO USE THIS FOR PORN!
@Wiizer
Lol
@Wiizer
SexyTime...??
Pretty poor picture or is the camera fault?
Wifi only...they blew it
...For 2010
@Jamma
But its free unlike video calls everywhere else.
@Edmunn
Yeah the 2010 statement makes me feel better, because they said the same about iPhone Tethering and that didnt happen in 2008 or 2009.
@Luxury Guy Video chat on the EVO is free over 3G/4G using either Fring or Qik.
@Luxury Guy Qik is free too. They only charge for the higher resolution chat services.