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3G iPhone, Front-Sided Camera for Video Chat?
- Thread starter poorbusker
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Wasn't Jet Blue or another airline testing out wireless internet for laptops on their flights recently? Imagine a live video chat with someone at home while you flew to vacation in New Zealand or somewhere, how insane would that be. I know, I know, the people around you would be PISSED, but it sure would be cool to be able to do...
that would make sense to me. use this in addition to the camera on the back. When you're hooked up to wi-fi, you could use the built in iChat app (that i expect to come with v2.0) to video chat not only with other iPhone users, but your buddies on the Mac version of iChat as well.
Airlines have been doing that for years. But it's piss-poor speeds wouldn't even support streaming video, especially not a two-way chat.
Yes, it's wifi. But it's also very limited coming from a router that is linked to a very slow connection.
And I call BS on this guy's video...
I wouldn't say, amazing, since other phones have been able to do this for quite some time.
It would be Apple keeping up with other phone features.
Due to the contracts, I could imagine that Video calls would be more popular than on other phones.
The iPhone will drive internet / 3rd party applications more than other phones that we see today. Which is, a Good Thing.
Cell phone market needs to recognize the importance of internet capabilities. The iphone alone has the ability to drive this technology - the iPhone will give more mass market appeal than existing cell phones do.
*Cough Cough*. Rogers *Cough* * Cough*
What cell phones are able to do this now? I have never seen a phone with the camera on the front, the only way to do this (that I know of) is with the flip phones you can close it and the camera will be facing you, but on the front the screen is wayyyyyy to small to even consider this.
The fact that Apple previously filed a patent for a camera through the screen either adds to his rumor or is the main source of his rumor.
Still, ever since Apple filed the patent I've thought is was a great idea. Finally, people will be looking at you while video conferencing - not staring off in some other direction.
New Scientist's coverage of the patent.
Excerpt from patent:
1. A device comprising: a display area; an array of display elements located within the display area, each display element capable of displaying a pixel of information, either alone or in combination with other display elements; and an array of image elements located within the display area, each image element being capable of capturing visual information from a source in front of the display area; wherein each image element has a lens that does not interfere with any display elements.
...
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used in a portable communication device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is a telephone.
Of course... Apple holds many patents that have yet to see a product.
Still, ever since Apple filed the patent I've thought is was a great idea. Finally, people will be looking at you while video conferencing - not staring off in some other direction.
New Scientist's coverage of the patent.
Excerpt from patent:
1. A device comprising: a display area; an array of display elements located within the display area, each display element capable of displaying a pixel of information, either alone or in combination with other display elements; and an array of image elements located within the display area, each image element being capable of capturing visual information from a source in front of the display area; wherein each image element has a lens that does not interfere with any display elements.
...
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used in a portable communication device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is a telephone.
Of course... Apple holds many patents that have yet to see a product.
Outside the US, these types of phones are very common. Nokia make several phones capable of video-calling, and we have had video-calling with front-facing cameras available on Vodafone New Zealand for well over 2 years. Uptake isn't huge, but it's definitely been implemented for some time.
Funny thing is I can clearly remember 3 UK-aired TV ads touting video chat as a feature of different handsets...
But I can't remember what a single one of the handsets actually *was* - not even which company made them, lol.
The iphone has a huge advantage there - people actually notice Apple's products (partly because they dont spam the market with different models).
Hopefully Apple are on top of the video chat thing, it would be nice.
But I can't remember what a single one of the handsets actually *was* - not even which company made them, lol.
The iphone has a huge advantage there - people actually notice Apple's products (partly because they dont spam the market with different models).
Hopefully Apple are on top of the video chat thing, it would be nice.
Maybe it is different in the US, but in Australia it is quite common for a 3G phone to have dual cameras - a front one for video chat, the reverse for photos. And these phones are tiny, not large.
Many of us in Australia and Europe were very surprised that the iPhone didn't have dual cameras.
it is going to take a hardware improvement at least on this level to get people who already bought iphone 1. to shell out for another.
the way i see it. aside from 3G and the obvious increase in storage and physical shrinkage. I can't think of any other hardware improvement.
ummmm maybe. stereo speakers that you can actually hear with speakerphone?
the way i see it. aside from 3G and the obvious increase in storage and physical shrinkage. I can't think of any other hardware improvement.
ummmm maybe. stereo speakers that you can actually hear with speakerphone?
And this is why I'll keep telling people like you to stop littering threads with topic-unrelated complaints. What do I care what your feelings about AT&T are?
Having two cameras would complicate the phone's regular camera functions. When you hit Camera to take a picture, which camera would it use? It would confuse some users, and being able to select the camera in the UI wouldn't be a great solution. I'm not saying this would or should stop Apple from doing it, but it's the sort of ting that gives their designers pause.
It's been around for ages on 3G networks; most of the phones support it.
It's not very popular as it's so damn expensive. The telcos charge an arm and a leg for the privilege. I can't see things changing just for Apple.
So whilst it's nice to see the iPhone catching up with old technology, it's not big news. Although if it is implemented, it'll no doubt be really kewel.
Just get the second generation iPhone out there! Make sure it's got 3G and is generally improved. It'll sell in its tens of millions.
Apple have done really well with a first generation phone that has fairly limited functionality and doesn't work on most of the world-wide networks (3G vs EDGE). 3G will be brilliant.
It's not very popular as it's so damn expensive. The telcos charge an arm and a leg for the privilege. I can't see things changing just for Apple.
So whilst it's nice to see the iPhone catching up with old technology, it's not big news. Although if it is implemented, it'll no doubt be really kewel.
Just get the second generation iPhone out there! Make sure it's got 3G and is generally improved. It'll sell in its tens of millions.
Apple have done really well with a first generation phone that has fairly limited functionality and doesn't work on most of the world-wide networks (3G vs EDGE). 3G will be brilliant.
I think at&t already has something similar to this available on their 3G phones although it isn't face to face unless you turn your phone around and you can't see the other person, but the concept is similar.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/m...-entertainment/attvideoshare.jsp?WT.svl=title
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/m...-entertainment/attvideoshare.jsp?WT.svl=title
How about the SE K800, which has been available in Europe for a few years. It has a small camera on the front for Video conferencing, and a large on the back for photographs. This isn't a new idea you know.
The front facing camera is the hole where the earpiece is on the phone.
Well, I got my first video call capable phone an Nokia N73, around September 06. I believe the Nokia N75 does video calls through 3G. And the N95. And the upcoming N96. So to does the Sony Ericsson W880i and the K800i. and the Motorola Razr2 V9.
I believe Ericsson demonstrated a mobile video call sometime early 2003 using 3G. Welcome to 3G
It ain't much of a rumour, seeing as the guy on the left was like -
"Woooah, so my current iPhone already has a hidden secret camera in the front??!?!11?!"
The guy also didn't understand you needed 3G for video chat. (Ok, so you could potentially do it via wifi, but you'd need a 3G capable phone to necessitate a front cam in the 1st place).
It's basic logic/probability, due to the 3G baseband chip more likely to be in coordination with others that make the phone capable of doing 3G services, like video chat.
almost half the phones in our country and in most parts of asia and europe have two cameras, the one being in the front. it is, yes, used for video calling. kinda old news already. and for a company known for great innovations, apple was not able to use this technology from years ago...