iPod touch FaceTime calling to be based on email addresses?
By Nilay Patel 
posted July 15th 2010 11:17AM
posted July 15th 2010 11:17AM
posted July 15th 2010 11:17AM
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Meh. There are better ways to do it.
@SolidSnake
You mean like, Skype?
@jaleman
eagerly awaiting the first troll to make a "hold it the wrong way" comment.
Regarding Skype - you've clearly never used FaceTime on an iPhone, because if you did, you'd know Apple's approach is infinitely easier.
Agreed...
And for me N900 kicks iPhones ass on this.
With it I can video call Skype/GTalk/SIP over wifi/3g.
AND everyone has skype. (well, more than iphones at least)
@TomSawyer
Could you point by point explain why it's easier? You mean easier than the desktop client or easier than a particular mobile implementation?
@SolidSnake
The calls will be initiated by not holding it the wrong way.
Love,
Troll
@Unverified User Such as? I personally feel that if, god forbid, the ipt4 got facetime, emails wouldn't be a bad way to go. However, I'll leave it up to Apple to make it, "magical"
@SolidSnake
"Meh... there are better ways to say what you said... "
like giving an example of what else is a better way for a portable media player device that is not a phone to do video calling that is currently in use and hugely popular?
@Tes
Pay him no mind, he doesn't know what he's talking about.
@Tes
As it currently exists - iPhone to iPhone - there exists no easier implementation of video chatting. No user IDs, no setup, no email accounts, no credit cards, no firewalls to work around, etc. We'll see how things develop as they roll FaceTime into other devices, but for the time being the simplicity is unmatched.
@jaleman
I don't know what I'm talking about? Interesting.
@jaleman
If your Skype comment was sarcasm, you win.
@TomSawyer
Well obviously there exists no better implementation of video chat for the iPhone...this is the first one with a front facing camera. That seems like a quite limited shortlist as it's the only video calling app too.
I was, rather, asking how it's easier than say Skype on any platform? I don't remember any firewall, credit card etc issues with Skype, and no matter the system, unless your device is piped into your brain, you'll need some form of identifying detail to call someone. It doesn't make it easier if it's a phone number rather than email address or user name...you still have to enter or select your friends name somehow.
@TomSawyer Surely facetime + email won't be, obviously activating something from a voice call is easier then skype but how simple it will be when you need an email address is yet to be seen. Also just because a service is better doesn't make it more attractive, you surely need a large user base which is a point I'd think skype wins on? The last thing is that all my brother's friends have ipod touches and loads of kids have one, is apple expecting pre teens to go through their set up process?
@TomSawyer
"eagerly awaiting the first troll to make a "hold it the wrong way" comment."
Looks like that was you.
@SolidSnake
I had to bail on Skype, and Google's efforts were weak. I dig Logitech Vid, especially for ease of use.
@jjrp123
This is the problem I've always had with any messenger service. I've never had all or most of my contacts on the one service and with FaceTime none of that changes. I only have a few people on Skype...my MSN contacts are in the low single digits...no Yahoo or AIM contacts, with the bulk of my friends and family on Gmail.
The only thing tying in the majority of them is Facebook, and of course everyone has an email address. With people split between a few with Blackberrys using BB chat, a few using Androids so I can contact them using Google Chat.
What is needed is a good open source, cross platform chat, video and VOIP client that could be on all the major platforms. Skype has had it's chance and it keeps screwing up.
@Tes I think what he's saying is that with FaceTime if you already talk to someone on the phone (and they, currently, have an iphone 4), then using video chat with them is as simple as calling them and clicking a button. You already have their phone number. Also, with Skype, at least for us, we have to first call the person we want to Skype with on the phone and ask them to launch Skype. Then they have to go to their computer and launch it and then we make the call. With FaceTime you just call them and tap a button - they don't have to launch anything and you can always call them (they may choose not to answer, but it's not like they have to launch anything in order for them to show up).
@Mr w00t : Not just the N900, the older generation came with built in SIP Internet Telephony Support. Plus with Fring, Video calling between my E71 and my dads N85 has been easy. Qik needs you to be a little geeky to use for realtime video, but I am waiting for Skype for Symbian to enable Video Calling. Until then I am happy with Fring.
@Tes its easier with facetime, because u dont have to sign up for anything. theres no form to register a username, wait for an activation email and then confirm it, etc. with facetime, yes you need their phone number. wow. if i was trying to get in touch with you i would have that already. but unlike Fring, which is another option on iphone, ive had no trouble. with fring, ive had issues waiting for a contact to show up in my buddy list that i added 5 times. it doesnt fill the screen and is super laggy. with apples h.264 compression (im assuming thats why its so clean) it works great with little to no lag, unless your running around your house. using my timecapsule router i've made facetime calls five floors down across the street in my car, w no lag. my router sits in a brick building. yet i have no issues and its fast and easy. sure once you've setup a skype account or fring for that matter, it gets easier. but nothing is easier than opening a box, dialing another iphone and initiating facetime. or just going into the contact card and directly initiating facetime. 1 step process. that is why it is easier.
@jaleman So some people use email addresses and others phone numbers? THAT"S fragmentation.
@Tes Because with skype you need an account, with FaceTime, the iPhone phone app, and contacts app detect if the number you have called/entered into adress book is an iPhone 4 and then you can literally make a video call, rather than a video chat
@TomSawyer Yes it's the simplest and best way to make a video call for the iPhone. However, video calls on other mobile phones are just as easy;
1. Select a number/name
2. click Video call.
I've been hearing the outright claims that Facetime is the easiest way to make phone video calls, implying other phones are somehow more difficult. I don't know, maybe it's me but step 1 & 2 seem downright easy to me for non facetime mobile phones.
For an iPod Touch implementation, the email address will be the easiest method. However, for the phone video chat, Facetime is a very good implementation of a severely limited feature.
FaceTime on the iPod seems like a great idea...but one that will get little use.
@Tes
IF APPLE DOESN"T PUT 2 CAMERAS ON THE NEW IPOD TOUCH,
THEY SUUUUUUUCK!!!!
@Tes
Why? The iPhone still needs WiFi to use facetime also...
@Dustin
Jailbreak - 3G unrestrictor will fix that "feature defect"
@Dustin
YMMV but I know myself, I'm only ever on Wifi while at home. The only guaranteed free Wifi in London, one of the biggest cities in the world is McDonalds, which I don't eat.
All these moves to highlight the "home" use of portable devices is very strange. Have you seen the FaceTime advert, where the lady is doing video call at the ultra-sound clinic? How many hospitals allow phones to be turned on, and how many have Wifi?!
It's a gimmick and one that will be marketed well.
@Tes
Who doesn't use wifi at their home? I find that comment strange. Maybe that's how things are in London but in the states, wifi is becoming ubiquitous. Starbucks, large books-store chains, McDonald's, restaurants, even laundry marts offer free wifi. Go to a college town and it's even more ubiquitous. Now take a look around and count how many iPods are in people's hand. This can really push video calling to new levels.
@DeFlanko Yep, im waiting for it :)
@Tes Actually several hospitals offer free WiFi now, at least in our area. However, I will agree that having a phone on is usually seen as a no-no.
@dave95
Are you bad at reading...I said I only use Wifi at home, not that people don't use Wifi at home. Places like McDonalds offer free Wifi, but Starbucks charges as do most places.
UK hospitals also charge for internet access as well as TV and phone calls so I don't see free Wifi anytime soon.
@Tes Starbucks just stopped charging for wifi completely across the USA from July 1. Free for all, no time restrictions. The UK may go to same way eventually, one would assume.
So while wifi is not "everywhere", the places (albeit mainly commercial) that it is accessible is certainly growing.
@Tes
I read the wifi at home wrong, But nevertherless you were concluding this is a gimmick simply because YOU only use wifi at home, and don't eat at McDonalds. Like I said, it's a totally different scenario over here with wifi popping up everywhere. It's being used as a tool to get consumers in their stores.
woah, that wasn't expected. i didn't know it was *confirmed* the next itouch would get a camera. hmm, email addresses are too long imo. why not just pick an ID?
@andrewwg94
Chances the emails of your contacts will be stored in you device anyway. You'd just hit "Call John Doe" and it would connect using the email address you have stored for them. That's the only sensible way.
@andrewwg94
...because you'll be entering it every time you make a call? I'm confused.
@Luke from what i can tell, there will probably be a dedicated face time app or a screen accessible by way of the contacts app. ie you go to a contact and tap your friends name and then address and its sent. not sure if youll have to check your email and hit a link or what happens if they dont have an i touch... guess we'll see
@Luke obviously the info is stored in their address book entry, and the FaceTime app would, presumably, only list people with home you've linked up with for FaceTime (but also have access to your entire address book so you can add more people.) Also, presumably, but perhaps a big presumption, the recipient would not ever see an email, the email app, when checks for mail, would receive the message and then send it off to the FaceTime app (well, first bring up an alert that FaceTime call was incoming). So it would work in the background. Of course this is all just my speculation. :)
@cruncis
This is going to run just like Google video chat.
I wonder if the next iPod touch will also have an external antenna?
@Maxipad
ah, there it is. The first antennae-troll comment. 11:33am, a full 16 minutes after the article went up. Impressive, I thought it would take much less time.
@Maxipad
it would be silly to assume they would change their design. im guessing they will fix the problem though. or maybe it wont matter since the would only be half the antennas and the other half would just be metal making it a moot point
@TomSawyer
He's not being a troll. Given the massive problems with the iPhone 4 and them hiring antenna engineers, it's a completely reasonable question to ask if they will be changing their design at all.
@TomSawyer
That was FAR from a trolling comment. Sounds like you're bitter about your new iPhone. Don't worry. SJobs will wax your genitals for you tomorrow.
@webran61 that's nice. considering he has genitals. come on webran61, let it out. don't be afraid, pull that droidx you put up your ass this morning and go do a qik video chat, perhaps go grab a couple of free aps in the market. now go home kiddo, yer mom's getting upset! ù.ú
So, if this is legit. A forward facing camera is required, and therefor confirmed. But I would MUCH rather have a rear camera for picture taking, than have a forward facing one that I would use twice.
@BLADEOF4
I think it's safe to expect both.
@TomSawyer If they were to include a forward facing camera, I think they would also include a GPS. I have my doubts that they'd include a forward facing camera without a GPS - Apple likes to go the whole nine yards, and I think they see geotagging photos as a big deal. Of course they may be planning to have both in the next iPod touch....
@cruncis And another thing is with all of this new stuff being added. The price point for the 8gb model is going to be higher than it is now. I see this next generation selling less units due to the pricing. Unless they have two seperate versions. One with and without cameras.