Josh Ong
Skype
Last week, reports emerged that Skype was planning to make "a series of video-related announcements" at next month's Consumer Electronics Show. A support document detailing how to make video calls via iPhone served as further evidence of the imminent release of a video-capable Skype iPhone app.
An update to the Skype for iOS app Thursday now enables users to make Skype to Skype video calls over WiFi and 3G with other iOS Skype users or Skype desktop users, Engadget reports. Two-way video calls are only supported on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and fourth-generation iPod touch, while iPad and third-generation iPod touch users can receive video calls. Video calling on Skype 3.0 requires iOS 4.0 or above.
Skype's launch of video chat on the iPhone and iPod touch will challenge Apple's efforts to get its FaceTime video conferencing standard to catch on. With over 500 million user accounts, Skype has the user base needed to promote rapid adoption of its video call features over Apple's FaceTime.
However, if Skype is to take on Apple over video conferencing, it will need to shore up its servers in preparation for the increased traffic. A software bug on older versions of Skype for Windows caused an embarrassing massive outage of the Skype service last week, lasting 24 hours. As a conciliatory gesture, Skype is reportedly offering 30 minutes of talk time to some users affected by the outage.
For its part, Apple has moved aggressively to bring FaceTime to the bulk of its devices. In September, Apple updated the iPod touch to include a forward-facing camera and FaceTime capability. In October, Apple announced it was bringing FaceTime to the Mac.
Rumors abound that the second-generation iPad will include FaceTime-ready cameras when it is released next year. In September, AppleInsider exclusively reported that a FaceTime-enabled iPad had already advanced to testing stages and remained on track for an introduction "no later than the first quarter of next year."
Apple built Facetime using open standards, including IETF standards and familiar codecs such as H.264 video and AAC audio, in the hopes of establishing it as the dominant service in the emerging video call market.
Shutter bug
The" Quick Snap - Camera Plus" app has been quietly taken down from the App Store, with a short-lived run of just two weeks. The developer's Twitter account and Facebook page have yet to provide an explanation for why the app was removed, but the fact that the app was approved at all is itself a fluke.
Released on Dec. 15, "Quick Snap" appeared to violate Apple's developer agreement, which forbids button remapping. The popular "Camera +" app was pulled from the App Store in August for including an 'easter egg' feature that reconfigured the volume button as a shutter button. "Camera +" returned to the App Store last week with a version 2.0 update packing more than 50 new features, but no sign of the "VolumeSnap" feature.
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
38 Comments
As expected, Skype has added a new video calling feature to its iPhone app, giving users an alternate service from Apple's own FaceTime video chat standard. Meanwhile, an app that remapped the iPhone's volume button to serve as a shutter button has been quietly removed from the App Store.
Skype
Last week, reports emerged that Skype was planning to make "a series of video-related announcements" at next month's Consumer Electronics Show. A support document detailing how to make video calls via iPhone served as further evidence of the imminent release of a video-capable Skype iPhone app.
An update to the Skype for iOS app Thursday now enables users to make Skype to Skype video calls over WiFi and 3G with other iOS Skype users or Skype desktop users, Engadget reports. Two-way video calls are only supported on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and fourth-generation iPod touch, while iPad and third-generation iPod touch users can receive video calls. Video calling on Skype 3.0 requires iOS 4.0 or above.
Skype's launch of video chat on the iPhone and iPod touch will challenge Apple's efforts to get its FaceTime video conferencing standard to catch on. With over 500 million user accounts, Skype has the user base needed to promote rapid adoption of its video call features over Apple's FaceTime.
However, if Skype is to take on Apple over video conferencing, it will need to shore up its servers in preparation for the increased traffic. A software bug on older versions of Skype for Windows caused an embarrassing massive outage of the Skype service last week, lasting 24 hours. As a conciliatory gesture, Skype is reportedly offering 30 minutes of talk time to some users affected by the outage.
For its part, Apple has moved aggressively to bring FaceTime to the bulk of its devices. In September, Apple updated the iPod touch to include a forward-facing camera and FaceTime capability. In October, Apple announced it was bringing FaceTime to the Mac.
Rumors abound that the second-generation iPad will include FaceTime-ready cameras when it is released next year. In September, AppleInsider exclusively reported that a FaceTime-enabled iPad had already advanced to testing stages and remained on track for an introduction "no later than the first quarter of next year."
Apple built Facetime using open standards, including IETF standards and familiar codecs such as H.264 video and AAC audio, in the hopes of establishing it as the dominant service in the emerging video call market.
Shutter bug
The" Quick Snap - Camera Plus" app has been quietly taken down from the App Store, with a short-lived run of just two weeks. The developer's Twitter account and Facebook page have yet to provide an explanation for why the app was removed, but the fact that the app was approved at all is itself a fluke.
Released on Dec. 15, "Quick Snap" appeared to violate Apple's developer agreement, which forbids button remapping. The popular "Camera +" app was pulled from the App Store in August for including an 'easter egg' feature that reconfigured the volume button as a shutter button. "Camera +" returned to the App Store last week with a version 2.0 update packing more than 50 new features, but no sign of the "VolumeSnap" feature.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Does anyone really use FaceTime? it seems like such a great idea until U use it. U have 2 hold the iPhone @ arm's length if U don't want ya face 2 look distorted, & then U have 2 shout @ the phone 2 make yourself heard.
Besides, most people's faces don't look so good on camera, they're used 2 seeing themselves in a mirror, so the reversed image of their face can B quite jarring, i was so excited to get FaceTime, but on the first use, I decided I need 2 get a wig and extensive plastic surgery..
(i pilfered this from a tech blog... i would NEVER wear a wig..
now the plastic surgery well thats another thing all together..)
Does anyone really use FaceTime? it seems like such a great idea until U use it. U have 2 hold the iPhone @ arm's length if U don't want ya face 2 look distorted, & then U have 2 shout @ the phone 2 make yourself heard.
Besides, most people's faces don't look so good on camera, they're used 2 seeing themselves in a mirror, so the reversed image of their face can B quite jarring, i was so excited to get FaceTime, but on the first use, I decided I need 2 get a wig and extensive plastic surgery..
(i pilfered this from a tech blog... i would NEVER wear a wig..
now the plastic surgery well thats another thing all together..)
Not everyone shares your sentiments. I use facetime quite often... or i should say, I use facetime or an equivalent service, quite often. Usually its with the headphones or somewhere where i don't have to yell to be heard.
My biggest gripe with FT is the wifi restriction, and the fact that it doesn't prompt you that someone is trying to facetime you if you happen to not be on wifi.
IMO, if you're not on wifi It should send you a popup saying "Jane doe is trying to FaceTime you" would you like to 1)search for wifi 2) answer if via phonecall. The fact that it makes no noise to indicate that you missed a FT call until after the sender has already given up is ridiculous.. esp since not everyone walks around with their wifi on all the time, even when theres wifi available.
I've found good use for Tango... a free app that mimics facetime almost feature for feature with the exception that it can be used over 3G or wifi... and it works for Android phones too. The quality seems about on par with FT. Plus, you don't have to make a new screen name, it just finds people in your contact list by phone# or email.
With Skype now entering the game, I think it opens up the notion to a lot more people, which I think is a good thing.
My only concern with these varying implementations is that I don't know how they affect battery life. I know FT works very efficiently, and I can only hope Skype does too..
Skype video over 3G, and to PCs, Mac, even iPhone 3gs....
Facetime has a wifi restriction, is restricted to calling apple products only, and even then it's restricted to more Apple products than Skype (which is bizarre).
Skype's a winner here.
But does it support push-notifications like Tango or Viber does? With the previous version you could only receive calls once you were online. Push would make me stop using Viber instantly.
I love FaceTime. My girlfriend and I use it all the time. It's installed on my Mac too, and so far the "Beta" has worked flawlessly.
I totally understand why it's only over WiFi, and don't care.
In fact I showed it to a friend I work with, and it made him buy an iPod Touch 4th gen for him and his wife; then two weeks later he bought both of his daughters.
So the power of FaceTime for some people is more powerful than others. I know he didn't buy them ONLY for the FaceTime, but it really helped.
I had my credit card stollen a year ago and whoever took bought a massive amount of time on Skype. Took forever to clear it up. Because of that little problem I've never even tried to use it.
Strange, but they also tried to get a Vonage account. I guess they had a lot of talking to do.