FaceTime Versus iChat Video

By now, you're pretty familiar with FaceTime.

If not, FaceTime is a new video chat feature on the iPhone that uses the frontal VGA camera on the iPhone. Here's my question.

Does it work with iChat? If not, why not? Should Apple make it work with the iChat?

I can understand if Apple won't make it work with the iChat until the next OS X update but eventually Apple should.

It will really make the whole platform more compatible as well as signal Apple's support for the open source protocols used to make iPhone video chat possible.

I suppose it is possible Apple may update iChat before the next OS update. However, given Apple's past update behavior, it isn't likely. Plus, by bundling FaceTime compatible iChat with the next OS, people will be forced to upgrade en mass.

Right now, I also want to know if it's possible for non-iPHone 4 users to install the FaceTime app as well. I know the other iOS devices have no frontal camera but at least the might be able to participate on the receiving end of the video chat. Then again, given Apple's behavior in this respect, it's not likely going to happen.

Apple is like to force everyone else to upgrade their iOS devices if they want to be a part of any video calls.

But hey, one can hope.

More at Apple - FaceTime.

Apple Video Demo For Facetime, Video Chat App For the New iPhone

Facebook is the new video chat app for the iPhone 4. Here is a demo of what it can do.



Note that users can toggle between the frontal and back camera. Brilliant. A reporter's dream if you ask me.

Apple Video on the New iPhone 4

Here is the video on the new iPhone 4. A lot of updates coming tonight after we've got some time to digest the information. All is good except one thing. We're still stuck with AT&T.



will be availabe on June 24th. Pre-order June 15th.

MobileMe To Be Free? I Hope So

It isn't wishful thinking on my part hoping MobileMe will be free. I have MobileMe and I want you to have it as well. And I think given the chatter today about MobileMe, it might happen.

Users have bee reporting changes in their status in the MobileMe Preference Panel. For the most part, users are labeled as "Individual". However, users saw the label changed to "Full Member" in the last few days.

What does this mean? No one can say for sure until official word comes from Apple, if it comes at all.

On the Macbook, my status is "Full Member" but on Safari, the MobileMe preference still has me as "Individual".

Steve Jobs will be giving the keynote at WWDC on Monday at 10AM PST. We may know the answer then.

More At 9-To-5 Mac.


-- Post From My iPad

Can Now Google App To Find Link

CNet is reporting users can google for apps on their mobile devices, iPhone or an Android device, through mobile search to find the app they're looking for. It is a unique and pretty neat feature but CNet is a bit perplex as to why Google is indexing app search when users can simply go into the App Store or Marketplace to find the app through the built in search.

I can think of a few reasons. First, Google is about search. So it makes sense for Google to offer its services in this respect. Second, Google is trying continuing to improve mobile services as well as mobile presence. That means offering app search for Android as well as the iPhone.

There really is no redundancy on Google's part in offering search for the iPhone. If Google can do a better job for searching for the right app in the store's own search function, users, particularly iphone users, will rely more on Google.

However, another likely possibility is that Google, who we all know is prepping an webapp store for Chrome and Chrome OS, will be using what it learns from mobile app search and apply it to its endeavor.

Regardless, we will know in the near future if this will go beyond just searching for apps. Chrome OS is slated to be released in the second half of 2010.


More at CNet

-- Post From My iPad

President Obama Needs an iPad And iPhone

I don't get it. The President while running to be the Democratic nominee for the office of POTUS didn't hear a lapel pin with the US flag until the media made a big deal about it. Maybe we need to make a big deal of the fact that he's got a Blackberry instead of an iPhone.

What do you say? Blackberry is made by RIM, a Canadian firm. So why isn't the President using an iPhone made by an American company.

Plus, it's night and day when it comes to the mobile experience using the iPhone versus the Blackberry. Case in point. After ATT announced the new mobile data plan, I heard more than a couple of posts saying that Blackberries might have something to gain because it doesn't use as much data as the iPhone.

Duh! It's because the Blackberry isn't even in the same class as the iPhone. The iPhone is a true mobile computing device that happens to be able to make calls. The Blackberry is a smartphone that is struggling to do more than make calls and receive/send e-mails.

If you're a Presidential IT advisor, it makes sense that you recommend to him the iPhone. After all, President Obama wanted a Blackberry because he didn't want to live in the White House bubble. I'm glad he's so forward looking and wanting to remain connected to reality. But a Blackberry that doesn't even come with a real modern mobile browser?  You're joking right?

Seriously. I think the whole White House staff out to be oufited with an iPhone as well as an iPad. And if the White House needs customized versions of Apple's mobile devices, trust me, Steve Jobs will personally head the project to make it happen.  And Apple will show you what getting things done mean.

The Prime Minister of Norway uses it. Dmitry Medvedev, president of Russia, even suggested that both he and the President get iPhones to chat and text and dispense with aides. Executives who aren't Microsoft at the D8 are singing the iPad's praises. Don't you think the leader of the free world ought to have one too?

The answer is yes. President Medvedev even has an iPad. Furthermore, the minister of Presidential Affairs is considering ordering iPads for staff in the presidential palace.

In the recent Icelandic eruptions that sent ashes through the atmosphere, grounding flights across the Atlantic and Europe, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway was seen in hotel working from his iPad.  The freaking iPad can run a whole country!

So, I would like to see the executive branch of the United States government with iPads and iPhones. Okay, if Rahm doesn't want one, no one force it on him.  Don't want to cross him.  But the President needs one now.

Note:  I don't think the VP should have one.  God knows what he's gonna way about it or with it.

Another Note:  The President recently called technology troubling in some ways.  I happen to agree.  But use it right is key.

More Videos of Steve Jobs from D8: Android, Microsoft, Etc

It's not all juicy information. We find out that the iPad was a tablet before it gave way to the iPhone.

Enjoy.

Orgin of the iPad:



Getting Back Stolen iPhone and Gunning For Gizmodo:



On Google, Android, iPhone:



Everyone Can Blame Flurry For iAd Restriction: