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FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane's in-flight WiFi (video)
Yeah, seriously. While Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi service has been blocking VoIP calling services (Skype being the most obvious example) from day one, it's apparently not throwing the same brick wall in the face of Apple's new standard. Our good pals over at TUAW managed to record a (relatively) solid two minute FaceTime conversation with an iPhone 4 owner, and only after you realize that said owner is a few thousand feet above the Earth's surface does this all become a lot more interesting. We know for a fact that certain iPhone 4 owners have had difficulty with FaceTime conversations when using highly firewalled access points (like those found in hotels and corporate offices), but it seems as if seat 16A is cleared for transmission. For now, anyway. Head on past the break to peek the FaceTime ad that Apple forgot to make.
FaceTime works from a plane
Loyal TUAW reader Bill G. was kind enough to face chat with us this evening. What made this especially fun was that he was in flight over Arkansas at the time. On the way to Texas via American Airlines service, Bill was able to use FaceTime with the plane's in-flight WiFi service. It was a great connection given the circumstances. Video did flake out a little towards the end of our experiment (although audio continued just fine) and might have re-established itself if we had given it a little more time. All in all, just chalk this one up to the "wow, that's so cool!" list for the iPhone 4.
New iPhone 4 ads highlight FaceTime, tug at the old heartstrings
It's too early to say whether or not the phrase "There's an app for that" has been banished to the fabled Island of Forgotten Taglines, but if the latest series of iPhone ads is any indication, FaceTime is now the star -- not the apps. Four new iPhone 4 ads have made their debut both on the air and online. In each ad, two people use FaceTime to discuss incredibly important news. In Meet Her, a grandfather meets his new granddaughter for the first time. Haircut features a pensive young woman who is worried that her significant other isn't going to like her new, really short haircut, and in Smile a dad tries to get his teenage daughter (newly fitted with braces on her teeth) to smile. Finally, Big News has a woman breaking the news to her hubby that the project they've been working on is successful -- they're going to be parents. The ads are beautifully photographed, and they really show off the power that FaceTime has to let two people express their feelings with more than just their voices. In each ad, the power of facial expressions to display and transmit emotions definitely comes across. Now, if Apple could just explain during the ads that FaceTime works over Wi-Fi and doesn't rely on the AT&T network, they'd probably have even more success with the iPhone 4 than they've already experienced.
Getting some FaceTime -- hints and tips about iPhone 4 video calls
When I ordered my iPhone 4 on June 16th for delivery in July, one of the features that I was intrigued about was FaceTime, Apple's Wi-Fi video calling application. Sure, other phones have had this feature for a while, but for me this was going to be something new. After an abortive attempt at my first FaceTime connection with Kelly Guimont on Wednesday, I finally connected with one of my fellow bloggers (Dave Caolo) yesterday morning. Later in the day, Erica Sadun and I tried out a few tricks with FaceTime. We agreed that some of things we discovered while playing with Apple's newest software toy were postable, so click the Read More link to check them out.
Next-gen iPod touch rumors heat up: front-facing camera, September release?
It's a bit early to confirm anything just yet, but it's starting to look like Apple might be working on a new iPod touch. The latest of evidence backing up that shocking fact are two separate rumors that cover some familiarly territory, but with a bit more weight than before. The more convincing of those are some purportedly authentic iPod touch parts that have turned up on a number of Chinese websites, which clearly show a hole on the front of the device that's presumably for a front-facing camera. That's backed up by some fresh comments from an exec at UK retailer John Lewis, who said that a major iPod touch refresh is coming in September, and that it will match many of the iPhone 4's features, including a 5-megapixel camera with HD video recording, a gyroscope and, yes, FaceTime support.
The iPhone 4 and the growing art of self-photography
This little piece over on the New York Times Fashion and Style page is only tangentially related to our subject at hand, which is that the onset of the iPhone 4 and its front-facing camera has put a spotlight on the growing art of self-photography and the casually narcissistic tendencies that drive it. I still found it very interesting, both as a series of tips on how to make some fascinating self-photographs, as well as a little meditation on what it means to learn that cameras are slowly turning around on their owners. When cameras were first created, the photographer was almost removed from the equation -- viewers of photographs were given direct views of subjects. As time has gone on, the photographer has become more instrumental and important in the camera's life. At this point, in 2010, most of the pictures taken today are taken specifically to be shared on Facebook or Flickr -- here's me at the club, here's my new shirt, here's my and my girlfriend, and so on. Instead of looking through the photographer's eyes at the world, the iPhone 4's camera looks through the photographer's eyes ... back at the photographer. Maybe that's too serious for the Fourth of July weekend (and if nothing else, the NYT piece offers a great bit of advice for being on camera anywhere: "smile"). But it is interesting that, as front-facing cameras become more popular (and even technology like Microsoft's Kinect, which is basically a camera watching you, the player), the art of photography itself is changing. Going out and "taking pictures" may eventually come to mean "taking pictures of me."
Helping FaceTime coexist with your firewall
Got the FaceTime blues? It could be your router's firewall settings. Apple has posted a support document noting that some routers using firewalls, security software or other restrictive settings will require a settings change. Specifically: To use FaceTime on a restricted Wi-Fi network, port forwarding must be enabled for ports 53, 80, 443, 4080, 5223, and 16393-16472 (UDP). Most routers will "just work," but if you're having issues it is worth a check. In my experiences my home Belkin router didn't need any tweaking and each time I've used FaceTime from a public WiFi Hotspot it also worked swimmingly. If you're not sure it's all working and need a test, don't forget you can call Apple and talk to a real person via FaceTime at 1-888-FACETIME. [via Thinkmac.net]
Cisco suggests WiFi Flip Video camera by Christmas, wants to integrate products with Apple's FaceTime
A rambling Computerworld report from Cisco's Live! event is bringing us news of even more goodies, beyond the business and home tablets already revealed. In an interview with Marthin De Beer, Senior VP of Cisco's Emerging Technologies Group, De Beer strongly hints at a WiFi enabled Flip Video camera by the end of 2010. While he didn't say it in so many words, he did say, "We didn't buy Flip to have it be only a video recorder," adding, "I look forward to Christmas," when asked about a possible timeline. That seems clear enough. The conversation then gets muddied when De Beer begins discussing video as a "pervasive play" for Cisco, something that will "ultimately span across everything we do." And in a bid to interoperate with all devices, including Apple's new handset and certainly future iOS devices, De Beer said, "We would absolutely love to integrate with FaceTime." When, is the question left unanswered. Until then Cisco plans to introduce a mobile Movi iPhone app to the App Store that ties back into Cisco's Tandberg SIP-based video conferencing solution. Now, maybe it's a stretch, but with Cisco slowly creeping into the consumer space, it's hard not to take away a sense that it will be introducing software and devices interoperable with its Silicon Valley neighbor's FaceTime solution in the not too distant future. Hit the source to read the interview in full.
Keepin' it real fake: Air Phone NO. 4 out-KIRFs the KIRFs with FaceTime app
We've already seen some pretty good iPhone 4 KIRFs, but it looks like there's a new king in town: the Air Phone NO. 4. Not only does it faithfully emulate the iPhone 4's hardware design with what we can only assume is the highest quality materials (it even eliminates those pesky seams), but it packs a "non-smartphone OS" that has all your favorite apps including Safari, Mail, "Games," "Sound" and, last but not least, FaceTime -- or a FaceTime icon, at least. Curious to see what other wonders await behind that familiar veneer? Then you can apparently snag one of these in China right now for just $100.
iPhone 4 FaceTime over a MiFi connection: because we had to try
Okay, so you're starting to come down from your post-purchase iPhone 4 gadget high and you're getting into the habit of using it just like you would any other phone. FaceTime was a neat trick on day one, sure -- but if there's a single thing significantly limiting its day-to-day usefulness, it's the fact that you can only use it over WiFi at the moment. Apple claims that they've got more work to do with carriers to make it usable over cellular, but how legit is that claim? Seeing how MiFis and other mobile hotspot devices have quickly become a staple of doing business for us, we had a few lying around and figured we'd give it a shot: connect the phone to the MiFi, connect the MiFi to the 3G network, and give FaceTime a whirl. Our first attempt -- a call between Chris in the US with a Verizon MiFi and Richard in the UK -- failed pretty miserably (unlike our transatlantic Fring call), but a second call entirely within the UK using a 3-branded MiFi from Huawei worked quite well, as did a US-to-US Verizon call between Chris and Ross. In other words, it's definitely possible, but you might not get as flawless of an experience as you'll get with a nice, fat landline data connection backing you up. Follow the break for all three videos.
iPhone 101: What you need to know about FaceTime
FaceTime for the iPhone 4 is a lot of fun. It's the simplest implementation of video conferencing I've seen, because it is basically a no-configuration feature. Here's some tips to would-be FaceTimers: First, make sure FaceTime is enabled. Tap 'settings' on your new iPhone, scroll down to the green icon called 'Phone' and select it. The second item down is labeled FaceTime. Make sure it is turned on. It may take a moment for FaceTime to become active so make sure you get a confirmation. Now when you call someone you'll see an on-screen FaceTime icon. You can tap it, and the other person, assuming they are on Wi-Fi and have an iPhone 4, will get an invitation. If he or she accepts you'll be chatting in just a few seconds.
Let Apple demo FaceTime with you live
As Friday dawns, you're eager to play with your new iPhone 4. Unfortunately, you're the only person you know who has one. How can you experience FaceTime? Call Apple! Simply dial 1-888-FACETIME, and after a moment or two, an Apple employee will answer and show you how it works as well as "a few advanced tips." Note that this service is available between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM CDT only. Have fun and, you know, clean up a bit ... because people can see you now.
No one to test FaceTime with? Call Apple.
Be it because you have no friends, or simply no friends with an iPhone 4, Apple's got your back if you're looking for a chum to test that curiously intriguing FaceTime feature. Just dial up 1-888-FACETIME (after cleaning yourself up a bit, of course) and hang tight, as a dapper Apple employee will be there in a moment to "show you the basics and a few advanced tips." And don't even try any of those late night shenanigans -- the help line's only open from 8AM to 8PM CDT. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
FaceTime is a tiny bit awkward, but a whole lot of fun
I wound up taking two FaceTime calls today, but a third failed. First up was our old friend Nik Fletcher from way across the ocean in the UK. I was shocked at the excellent quality of the call and the video. It was definitely nicer than a standard webcam. To be clear, I'm not a huge fan of this concept. By that I mean that I still see social hurdles to this technology being widely adapted. If you've ever made faces while talking to someone on the phone, you'll know what I mean. Plus, having to hold the phone out in the air was a little tiring, but I'm sure the accessory market will create scads of "solutions" to this problem. Drew Olanoff and I chatted next, and I did seem to notice a slight lag in the call. I noticed my Wi-Fi dip a bit as I moved about, but honestly I don't know what caused that. Still, the conversation flowed and was mostly natural, as though we really were face-to-face. My brother and I tried to connect, but he was supposedly logged in to a secure network and couldn't engage the FaceTime button, nor could he take my request. [Commenters suggest he may not have enabled FaceTime on his phone.] As you can see from the pics, FaceTime is a clean and simple interface. There's a button to change cameras (now also in the Camera app), allowing you to give a virtual tour, or a peek at someone's crotch. (Thanks, Drew.) There's also a mute button for the speaker on your end. To begin a FaceTime call, you just click on the button that says "FaceTime" and wait for the other person to accept the request. Like Skype, you have to accept the request to video chat. Oh, and don't forget this is Wi-Fi-only for now, but we're told that will probably change someday. The future is ... soon!
PSA: iPhone 4's FaceTime won't use your voice minutes
We can't even imagine the uproar that AT&T and Apple would be dealing with if FaceTime calls -- which travel over WiFi alone -- siphoned minutes out of your cell plan's voice bucket, but fortunately, that's a doomsday scenario we'll never need to worry about because it's now been confirmed that they're totally minute-free. What's more, when you start by initiating a voice call, it ends as soon as you switch from voice to FaceTime -- so you won't be charged for the portion of the call that's conducted over FaceTime in that case, either. Of course, as long as FaceTime is an iPhone 4 exclusive, it's going to be pretty limited in scope -- but once other vendors start getting in on the open standard (if "standard" is an appropriate term here) it'll get a lot juicier, we suspect.
Skype hedges on FaceTime compatibility
As we noted on last night's special Talkcast, it seems inevitable that a desktop video-chat service will announce compatibility with Apple's iPhone 4 FaceTime feature sooner rather than later. Since Apple has its own chat tool that includes video, one imagines that iChat will be FaceTime friendly before too long. From the feedback we saw during our chat yesterday, however, that's not what the people want or hope for; overwhelmingly they said "give us Skype." Based on a report from pocket-lint.com, that seemed like it might actually happen. The site quoted a source within Skype who said the VoIP company would "welcome the chance to work with Apple" on bringing mobile video calling to the hordes of Skypers around the world. Hope may have sprung prematurely in this case, though. Electronista checked with a Skype spokesperson who walked the dog back a bit, saying that the company doesn't have any short-term plans for implementing Apple's standards-based video calling protocol, and that the prior comments simply referred to getting the "best possible experience" for video calls. It's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem here; do developers invest in desktop compatibility for a protocol that hasn't been proven in the field yet, or do they read the writing on the wall for the iPhone 4's likely market impact and get out ahead of the wave? Either way, mobile video chat is coming -- which means, once again, that we are actually livin' in the future.
Skype eager to work with Apple FaceTime, pretty much anyone else
We're still playing the wait-and-see game when it comes to Skype on webOS and Windows Phone 7, but it looks as if to-be iPhone 4 owners won't have to wait long before Skype-based video chatting becomes a reality... if Skype has its way, that is. According to someone on the inside quoted over at Pocket-Lint, Skype "would welcome the opportunity to work with Apple," specifically in reference to integrating FaceTime capabilities into the firm's own app. The mystery man also affirmed that Skype would "welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to bring mobile video calling not only to our many millions of Skype users on iPhone around the world, but also to the countless more making video calls on desktops, TVs and other connected devices." 'Course, there's no specific time frame given, and only Jobs knows if the two companies have said a word to one another about making this happen. One thing's for sure, though -- enabling FaceTime usage within Skype would suddenly made the iPhone 4's video calling abilities a whole lot more appealing. And by "appealing," we mean "useful." Update: Skype hit us with some clarification -- the company wants to make sure you know that it's not interested in using FaceTime across its own platform, but it'd be happy to play nice with Apple in order to add video calling within the Skype iPhone app. Full statement is past the break.
The FaceTime promo video that's not what you think
Last month a pair of actors inadvertently revealed that Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty, was holding auditions for an Apple TV ad that featured an as-yet unnanounced video chat feature on the iPhone 4. Although the Web is all abuzz with links to the promo video made for FaceTime that premiered yesterday at the WWDC keynote, many of them are incorrectly attributing it to Mendes; our colleagues at Engadget pointed out that this is not the rumored commercial, but is an internally produced piece. Nevertheless, the video is extremely well done. It features interesting use cases for the face-to-face chat feature -- specifically, a young, traveling dad and his family at home; grandparents enjoying a far away graduation; girlfriends selecting outfits for a night on the town; a soldier and his baby-to-be; and finally, a couple using sign language to converse, which sparked a round of applause during the keynote.It's heartwarming, and it clearly demonstrates what FaceTime does. Sharp-eyed TUAW reader Christopher pointed out a minor continuity error in the clip. The "father" is shown holding his iPhone 4 in portrait mode at 00:22 and 00:26, yet when we look over his shoulder at 00:25 and 00:28 he's holding it in landscape orientation. We'll keep our eyes out for the actual TV ad soon.
Apple posts WWDC 2010 keynote stream
Apple has posted the stream of yesterday's WWDC keynote by Steve Jobs. During the keynote, Jobs unveiled iPhone 4 along with many new features of iOS 4, including the FaceTime video conferencing feature. Jobs also announced the iMovie app for iPhone and iBooks with PDF support. When Jobs was showing off the iPhone 4's new Retina display, there were some technical issues due to the number of people in the hall using mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. It was a slightly embarrassing -- and awkward -- moment for Jobs, but as you can see from the keynote stream, no editing of said moment was done, and you can replay the awkwardness in all its glory. As of the time of this writing, the keynote is not yet available in the Apple Keynotes Podcast series on iTunes, but it should be added shortly. Update: It's there now.
FaceTime video conferencing coming to the iPhone
At today's WWDC keynote, a new feature of the iOS 4 operating system called FaceTime was announced and demonstrated, bringing iChat like video conferencing to the iPhone. FaceTime requires no set up or configuration and will work with either the front or back facing camera on the iPhone 4, but the front facing camera has been "tuned" for FaceTime allowing you to hold the camera at arm's length to get a perfect picture. It works in both landscape and portrait orientation, and allows anyone running iOS 4, if the hardware supports it, to seamlessly video chat with anyone also running iOS 4 on another iPhone. There will be a FaceTime button in the Contacts app and on on the Phone screen. Tapping it is all you need to do to initiate a video chat, even if you're already on a voice call. The recipient will get a message saying that a FaceTime session has been requested which can be accepted or rejected. Accept it, and you are video chatting.
