Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Posts iPhone 4 Feature Video

marksman said:
Just have to rely on phones with crappy user interfaces. The same reason no other features on cell phones were used before the iPhone.

Plenty of cell phones had plenty of features before the iPhone and NOBODY used them because the UIs on the phones sucked so bad that it was impossible for anyone to actually use them...

So wait and see and you will be astonished how many UK people end up using face time as opposed to some 6 year old video chat on some horrible phone UI from the past.

Most cell phones had cameras before the iPhone, but almost nobody used them with any regularity.... Same will happen with Face Time. it is easy to use, you just hit a single button on the contract screen.

People making these comparisons and taking about how the rest of the world has this stuff and it is no big deal are dreaming... Wait and see...
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean! Nokia's were the main phone that initially had video calling here in the UK.

I remember I'd just bought an N70, and wanted to organise going out to the cinema with a friend. I selected their number from the phone book and it popped up these two options, "Voice call," and "Video call."

I had to get the instruction manual out, check Google and all sorts, it was an absolute nightmare. I just couldn't figure out how to male a call. I promptly threw the phone in the Thames and vowed to only buy Apple from that point on.
 
Smartphones were here years ago. Apple improved on it and released the revolutionary phone. Android copied. Same as touch screens, same as web browsings, etc.
Now come the video chat... old tech in pc, mac, and maybe phones (though not sure with this one), Apple improved on this for the iphone 4 (i agree as of the moment not perfect) and I am sure that the others (meaning ANDROID/HTC!!!) will definitely copy in the very near future!!!
 
  • Screen seems nice, need to see it in person. Higher resolution isn't always the answer in a limited screen-size (diminishing returns etc).
  • Video call is a useless function that people just don't use.
  • Seems like they have toughened the phone up, which is a big plus.

Overall, the marketing video was ridiculous. If the phone is more durable, then the phone deserves to be the 3gs successor but the rest was terrible fluff.

Mostly, I'm disappointed by the OS 4 stuff. No real innovation, just ideas pinched from jailbroken mods. The software is where apple is losing major ground in my view, and it's not keeping up well. I expect more from apple, software-wise. Hardware/physical design wise they still retain the crown.
 
QCassidy352 said:


Personally, I will not use video chat, and I think it's silly they're making such a big deal out of it. (btw, all the people saying how it's lame that it's only between iPhones, I agree. I just hope you've been saying the same about blackberry messenger.) however, saying "it's been on other phones for years" really misses the point. Apple does things in ways that make the average person want to use them. Whoever said mp3 player got it just right. Yes there were mp3 players before the iPod, and they enjoyed moderate success. But they were pretty well getting killed by cd players, and they were a niche, techie item. Apple made the mp3 player cool, fun, and easy for the average person.
Click to expand...


Ok, Apple have a midas touch with such things and I'm sure FaceTime is a beautiful piece of software.

But how about my thought that people don't actually like to make video calls due to privacy - not wanting people to know/see your immediate surroundings (can you imagine your other half demanding to see where you are for example) and also not being comfortable having to appear on camera at any given time (after a long day at work or when you're in your joggers and baggy top). Sure there are times you'll want to use it, but it's not going to change the way you use a phone in the way it's being promoted.

I vividly remember a bbc news story where they surveyed people in London regarding this, and not many people thought it was something they'd use often, if at all. It's all about being seen, sort of an anti-cctv stance on things.
Can you imagine getting a video-call from the police/bank, demanding to see you for identification purposes. Bloody annoying!

If every new development is hailed as being ground breaking, I think Apple will lose credibility. I'd hate to see that happen but as we can see from the trollers and Android supporters, it's started.
 
marksman said:
Yeah just like how awesome phones were before the iPhone.

All bark and no bite. Please spare us that the rest of the world has had sucky video chat capable phones. That is irrelevant. Europe had phones capable of all kinds of things before the iPhone and almost nobody used any of that stuff either, because the phones and their UIs sucked/still suck.

I can count all the high quality Mobile User Interfaces made in the rest of the world on no fingers.
Click to expand...

I think the key point here is that the iPhone early adopters are generally more gullible when it comes to gee-whiz apple-approved magick.

In such circumstances it will no doubt be a limited success. The vast majority of non-video-conferencing-even-though-they-could users will look on with a wry smile.
 
Aurial said:
I know exactly what you mean! Nokia's were the main phone that initially had video calling here in the UK.

I remember I'd just bought an N70, and wanted to organise going out to the cinema with a friend. I selected their number from the phone book and it popped up these two options, "Voice call," and "Video call."

I had to get the instruction manual out, check Google and all sorts, it was an absolute nightmare. I just couldn't figure out how to male a call. I promptly threw the phone in the Thames and vowed to only buy Apple from that point on.
Click to expand...

Haha thanks buddy, think some people on here want to paint and awful picture of how socialist europe used to use video calling on our russian made lead lined phones!
 
niuniu said:
No. MP3 players were released and was popular. Video chat was also released, and wasn't popular.
Click to expand...

MP3 players were not popular until the iPod, which was popular because it was well designed and executed. You are conflating the device/service with its implementation. I am suggesting that Apple has a history of success with respect to things that have previously been marginal in the marketplace, thanks to their good design and implementation.
 
I am sure someone might comment as to why the British might be afraid of a front facing camera, but it will not be me.


:D:D:D
 
Is this even 4G network capable?

Just wondering since I've been seeing two variations.. Iphone 4G, Iphone 4.. I am assuming that 4G refers to the fourth generation, but is it only for 3G networks?

I read some where ATT is supposed to deploy their 4G network by end of 2010, if I buy this this year... would it even work on 4G next year?

If not, I'm just going to wait.
 
jouster said:
MP3 players were not popular until the iPod, which was popular because it was well designed and executed. You are conflating the device/service with its implementation. I am suggesting that Apple has a history of success with respect to things that have previously been marginal in the marketplace, thanks to their good design and implementation.
Click to expand...

No, MP3's were increasing rapidly popularly before the iPod, it was widely adopted and used, and there were many fantastic MP3 designs and implementations. It's a music platform, and they almost always do well. Cassette - CD - MD - MP3.. Apple or not.

Video calling never increased in popularity even after 6 or 7 years on a wide number of platforms. It's implementation was as simple as making a regular call.

People just don't want to hold their phone out in front of their face and make a call with everyone watching them. It doesn't feel intuitive and it's awkward, it's also very intrusive.

This is a marketing ploy for Americans who really think this is cool and new. In Europe we've already been taken in by the Video Calling phones - we know it sounded good at the time in adverts and as a tech toy, but in practice, we didn't really want it or use it. You don't even have it on 3G when it's out like we've had.

iPhone 4 has great merits - FaceTime isn't one of them.
 
Seriously, Apple. Would it have been to much to include a MicroSD card slot and a HDMI output on this phone?

I've owned both the 3g and 3gs and I will buy the next gen iPhone but I just don't understand why Apple won't include some of the features that other phones do.
 
niuniu said:
No, MP3's were increasing rapidly popularly before the iPod, it was widely adopted and used, and there were many fantastic MP3 designs and implementations. It's a music platform, and they almost always do well. Cassette - CD - MD - MP3.. Apple or not.

Video calling never increased in popularity even after 6 or 7 years on a wide number of platforms. It's implementation was as simple as making a regular call.

People just don't want to hold their phone out in front of their face and make a call with everyone watching them. It doesn't feel intuitive and it's awkward, it's also very intrusive.

This is a marketing ploy for Americans who really think this is cool and new. In Europe we've already been taken in by the Video Calling phones - we know it sounded good at the time in adverts and as a tech toy, but in practice, we didn't really want it or use it. You don't even have it on 3G when it's out like we've had.

iPhone 4 has great merits - FaceTime isn't one of them.
Click to expand...

Thaaaaankyou, my thoughts exactly.

And before anyone mentions Europeans don't want to make video calls because we're uglyyyy.....whatever, if that's what Americans think then FaceTime won't change anything for us Europeans :)
 
niuniu said:
No, MP3's were increasing rapidly popularly before the iPod, it was widely adopted and used, and there were many fantastic MP3 designs and implementations. It's a music platform, and they almost always do well. Cassette - CD - MD - MP3.. Apple or not.

Video calling never increased in popularity even after 6 or 7 years on a wide number of platforms. It's implementation was as simple as making a regular call.

People just don't want to hold their phone out in front of their face and make a call with everyone watching them. It doesn't feel intuitive and it's awkward, it's also very intrusive.

This is a marketing ploy for Americans who really think this is cool and new. In Europe we've already been taken in by the Video Calling phones - we know it sounded good at the time in adverts and as a tech toy, but in practice, we didn't really want it or use it. You don't even have it on 3G when it's out like we've had.

iPhone 4 has great merits - FaceTime isn't one of them.
Click to expand...

Perhaps we're talking at cross purposes. I should have said MP3 players, meaning handheld Walkman replacements, not the MP3 codec. Those were certainly not popular before the iPad.

I am aware of the downside of video calling, but that does not mean Apple's implementation will fail. We shall see. And please, enough with the ad homs of Americans. Video calling has been available for some time here. It has never taken off which speaks to my belief that this may be due to the implementation, not the concept.
 
jouster said:
Video calling has been available for some time here. It has never taken off which speaks to my belief that this may be due to the implementation, not the concept.
Click to expand...

It's not about a concept.. we've actually had it. We're talking practically, widespread physical 3G enabled easy to use video phones.

That's the barrier you need to cross in your mind here to see the angle we're coming from..
 
jouster said:
Perhaps we're talking at cross purposes. I should have said MP3 players, meaning handheld Walkman replacements, not the MP3 codec. Those were certainly not popular before the iPad.

I am aware of the downside of video calling, but that does not mean Apple's implementation will fail. We shall see. And please, enough with the ad homs of Americans. Video calling has been available for some time here. It has never taken off which speaks to my belief that this may be due to the implementation, not the concept.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but I've been arguing against the concept. It's intrusive and inconvenient. Anyway, time will tell.

White iPhone 4 please...maybe with that green bumper thingy...
 
Oh give it a rest all ready.

Yes, the rest of the world has had it for quite some time. There is no dispute in that. Even in the US it has been around.

It hasn't been unpopular due to user interface or anything of that nature, its been simple enough. However, the devices capable of Video chat have often been limited to the techies/geeks of the world.

Is this going to bring video chat en masse to the US? Yes, it will; but probably not as you're thinking. The world isn't moving to video-based chat any time soon, but this will change the way we communicate.

I see only a very small subset using this feature often and mostly by the socially flamboyant. However, the rest of us, we will still use this, but not as a primary means of communications. I think the video highlights this perfectly. You see a soldier seeing his unborn baby. You see grandparents watching their granddaughter get ready for graduation. A father watching his daughter playing. What is familiar about all these events? Are these not things you would normally capture with a photograph and send to your loved ones?

Video chat will be utilized mostly for moments where words just won't do. Video is so much more dynamic and emotional than pictures can be and it is in these situations where it will be used the most.

You don't see two people just causally sitting around video chatting about their day, you see two people sharing moments with each other in real time. This is the grand purpose, and no doubt the vision Apple has for video chat.

How many times have you been on the phone with someone only to have to take a picture and send to them? What would your experience have been had you instead turned on video chat to show them?

As someone pointed out, in other implementations you select the user then select "Voice" or "Video" call. This is not the case with the iPhone implementation. You call someone, then, should you decide, you can enable video. It's not an either or. Someone can't force you into a video call. You simply share when the moment is appropriate.

Hate it or not, this will change things. It is revolutionary (for the US, evolutionary for the rest of the world).
 
They are so full of ****.

They can't believe video chat is happening?
Hmmm I been video chatting for the last 8 years.

So wait they are engineers but they are amazed at vido chatting
on a phone lol

I love apple products but boy do I hate their marketing.
They did not invent any of the features their revolutionary device
have.

Makes me sick to watch this videos. Hated the ipad video and this one.
I can just see through them their fake and their motives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back