I use cycorder, i even shot 50min videos with it. Its not that much of a drain. If you dont activate it it wont drain your battery.
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The argument against video conferencing on an iphone
- Thread starter Nykwil
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I use cycorder, i even shot 50min videos with it. Its not that much of a drain. If you dont activate it it wont drain your battery.
Which is money from AT&T which they get back from you with monthly fees.
The phone costs a certain amount to make. Apple gets part of that from you up-front and part from AT&T, which also comes from you. There is no free lunch.
If Apple decided to put a small $1,000 diamond inside the phone would you say "Well, I never use that diamond, but it's subsidized, so I don't mind!" Or would you perhaps say "Hm, maybe they don't need to put a diamond in the phone."
Somehow I think you'd argue against that diamond, but you're acting like you'd be in favor of it since your argument is that if you don't use something, it's not a problem!
As a deaf bloke who uses mobile phones sometimes for video-chatting, it's absolutely VITAL.
When I was in Sweden, all the local deaf people had mobile phones with front facing cameras, and they used them all the time for sign language calls over the phone. I borrowed a phone and had a go myself. It was glorious.
For phoning a hearing person or when a hearing person phoned me, I could route the call through an interpreting service, who translated from sign to voice and vice versa.
Here in the UK, while video-chat exists, it's too expensive (and hence few deaf people use it) to be really worthwhile. My partner and I text each other, but English is really her second language, and she's much more fluent in sign than English. Can't wait till video calling in the UK becomes more reasonably priced.
To be honest, if it wasn't for no front camera (combined with no keyboard) we'd get the iPhone in a flash.
x RT x
By the way, if anyone here is in the UK and works in the mobile phone sector, contact me please.
When I was in Sweden, all the local deaf people had mobile phones with front facing cameras, and they used them all the time for sign language calls over the phone. I borrowed a phone and had a go myself. It was glorious.
For phoning a hearing person or when a hearing person phoned me, I could route the call through an interpreting service, who translated from sign to voice and vice versa.
Here in the UK, while video-chat exists, it's too expensive (and hence few deaf people use it) to be really worthwhile. My partner and I text each other, but English is really her second language, and she's much more fluent in sign than English. Can't wait till video calling in the UK becomes more reasonably priced.
To be honest, if it wasn't for no front camera (combined with no keyboard) we'd get the iPhone in a flash.
x RT x
By the way, if anyone here is in the UK and works in the mobile phone sector, contact me please.
what purpose does a diamond perform on a phone, compared to a front facing camera. Pls come up wath another analogy, one that makes sense.
Incorrect.
There were people who believed talking into a cup and hearing another person 2 blocks away was useless and pointless in the 1800's.
There were also people who believed that having more than 640 Kb of memory was pointless and useless.
See? There is a point.
Why are you so worried about the battery life?
Relax, that's the iPhone team's job to worry about, not your's. I doubt they're going to use the same battery and specs to power a device that can perform video conferencing.
I've been on the receiving end of a video call from a phone and really it sucked. The picture was all over the place, try holding your hand out in front of you with a phone, hold it at a constant distance and steady for any length of time. It was like watching a guy on a boat in a rolling sea. The quality sucked to grainy and jumpy.
I much prefer to do video chats with a laptop or desktop.
Plus I wouldn't want to pay the rates that the phone companies would charge, it might make more sense if you could use Skype on the iPhone, but that isn't coming any time soon.
I much prefer to do video chats with a laptop or desktop.
Plus I wouldn't want to pay the rates that the phone companies would charge, it might make more sense if you could use Skype on the iPhone, but that isn't coming any time soon.
You originally said:
In other words, you would ONLY complain about something if you actually used it. Your point is: If you don't use it then don't complain.
My point is that it's perfectly fine to complain about things you don't use. (And I think a diamond is a very nice example of something I wouldn't use.)
As a new dad I would LOVE to have video conferencing capabilities so I could check in with my wife and the little guy while she's on maternity leave and I'm stuck at work. In fact we were thinking about upgrading to the 3G iPhones from our 8 GB first gen phones but agreed to wait until the next iteration is out, we're hoping it has video chat built in.
We use video on Skype at least 8 times a week to video chat with friends and relatives who live out of state & country. Everyone loves being able to see the baby on video.
We use video on Skype at least 8 times a week to video chat with friends and relatives who live out of state & country. Everyone loves being able to see the baby on video.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
I think all of you saying you would just use your laptop or desktop for video chat are missing the point a little here. Including the OP which mentioned his laptop a half dozen times in his 1st post.
This is about having video-chat in your pocket, on-the-go.
I seriously doubt everyone (although there are some) that owns a laptop here carries it everywhere they go.
Which would be easier? Carrying your laptop everywhere or having an iPhone on your hip or in your pocket accessible nearly anytime, anywhere? (Over wifi of course
)
Have I ever used video-chat? No.
Would I use it if available? Sure. If done smoothly it would be awesome!
So I guess you shouldn't only ask who's used it but who hasn't used it that WOULD use it if it were to become a popular service.
And I think t0mat0's ideas with qik and u-streaming yourself are just some other great ways this could be used.
I'm all for it!
Will it be in the next iphone? Who knows? I'm not getting overly-excited about it just yet because of all the crap rumors that lead up to the 3G.....with no front-facing camera.
Peace.
This is about having video-chat in your pocket, on-the-go.
I seriously doubt everyone (although there are some) that owns a laptop here carries it everywhere they go.
Which would be easier? Carrying your laptop everywhere or having an iPhone on your hip or in your pocket accessible nearly anytime, anywhere? (Over wifi of course
)Have I ever used video-chat? No.
Would I use it if available? Sure. If done smoothly it would be awesome!
So I guess you shouldn't only ask who's used it but who hasn't used it that WOULD use it if it were to become a popular service.
And I think t0mat0's ideas with qik and u-streaming yourself are just some other great ways this could be used.
I'm all for it!
Will it be in the next iphone? Who knows? I'm not getting overly-excited about it just yet because of all the crap rumors that lead up to the 3G.....with no front-facing camera.
Peace.
What a bunch of handwringers.
Slingbox uses up battery as well. So what? When I want to watch it, I'm aware of that downside, but happy to be able to watch TV anyway.
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As for a rotating camera, I had one like that on an early PDA. But I'm thinking now that having two cameras make far more sense. I've seen examples where you hit a button to flip between the front and rear cameras, which would be cool when showing things to people.
ATT already offers one-way video "conferencing" btw... on some phones. One party can transmit video during the call whilst both get to talk.
Slingbox uses up battery as well. So what? When I want to watch it, I'm aware of that downside, but happy to be able to watch TV anyway.
===========
As for a rotating camera, I had one like that on an early PDA. But I'm thinking now that having two cameras make far more sense. I've seen examples where you hit a button to flip between the front and rear cameras, which would be cool when showing things to people.
ATT already offers one-way video "conferencing" btw... on some phones. One party can transmit video during the call whilst both get to talk.
What a bunch of handwringers.
Slingbox uses up battery as well. So what? When I want to watch it, I'm aware of that downside, but happy to be able to watch TV anyway.
===========
As for a rotating camera, I had one like that on an early PDA. But I'm thinking now that having two cameras make far more sense. I've seen examples where you hit a button to flip between the front and rear cameras, which would be cool when showing things to people.
ATT already offers one-way video "conferencing" btw... on some phones. One party can transmit video during the call whilst both get to talk.
Great point.
This may turn out to be a pointless and useless feature that apple decided to throw in there but it could be the next revolutionary thing. Going from landlines to cell phones, from gas to electric cars, or from coal to renewable/clean energy. Auditory to visual calling could be next. We see it touted on tv's and movies, and to have it readily available on a phone may provide people with that convenience. Surely you will never please the audience when they say they want this...and then they get it....and now people are opposed to it. But just like it was previously mentioned, it is an option that you are free to use...or not use. It won't hurt anything by being there. Personally, i'd love to try out mobile video conferencing. It sounds like a very interesting concept with the potential to go far. Hopefully, this won't eliminate the need for a camera on the back side of the phone but if it does, then I still wouldn't mind it either way.
So sure..why not, Apple. Let's see it.
So sure..why not, Apple. Let's see it.
Here we have several cell phones that you can use for video conferencing. I've never used it, most people don't use it even though we have some phone plans where video conferencing is free. Most people use it a couple of times to try it and never use it again.
I don't think I would ever use it because if I'm outside I'd feel ridiculous using it and if I'm home I have my laptop. Even if I was travelling I don't think I would use it since usually I take my laptop with me and if I'm out of the country it would be too expensive.
I don't think I would ever use it because if I'm outside I'd feel ridiculous using it and if I'm home I have my laptop. Even if I was travelling I don't think I would use it since usually I take my laptop with me and if I'm out of the country it would be too expensive.
I hardly doubt video conferencing on a mobile to be "revolutionary"
Give me that built in solar cells behind the display that they had applied a patent for, or a built in kinetic motor that transfers the motion of being carried around all day into tiny bits of usable energy.
Give me that built in solar cells behind the display that they had applied a patent for, or a built in kinetic motor that transfers the motion of being carried around all day into tiny bits of usable energy.
Now you are comparing two feasible, but huge advances in technology to something that could quite easily be accomplished by Apple as of today.
Possible good ideoa
Though it is true it would drain battery, a video conference application would bring the iphone closer to being an even more revolutionary phone. Maby they could make an iphone with more battery and memory. Yes, a front view camera would be pointless but why not make a iphone accesory thats like a mirror show ing your face on the camera side. Better yet the smallest touchscreen computer. Isn't that the point. One thing that people don't notice is that all of the Verizon touch screen phones are worse than the iphone. The Iphone 3g now means a large step closer for our modern technology to become sifi technology. If the could do all this with such a small device and considering how fast it already is... Imagine what they could do with large machines with space for all the extra wires, chips, getting 3g, wifi, more battery power.
Though it is true it would drain battery, a video conference application would bring the iphone closer to being an even more revolutionary phone. Maby they could make an iphone with more battery and memory. Yes, a front view camera would be pointless but why not make a iphone accesory thats like a mirror show ing your face on the camera side. Better yet the smallest touchscreen computer. Isn't that the point. One thing that people don't notice is that all of the Verizon touch screen phones are worse than the iphone. The Iphone 3g now means a large step closer for our modern technology to become sifi technology. If the could do all this with such a small device and considering how fast it already is... Imagine what they could do with large machines with space for all the extra wires, chips, getting 3g, wifi, more battery power.
Summary: People don't usually use it. You don't use it.
Okay, let me go back a few years...
Text messaging was something that I didn't get into right away, along with many other people (I know some people who are still not convinced about the whole text messaging shindig). And along with many others, I believed that calling was faster and much more logical than texting. Sometimes, I still withhold that to be true and I won't waste my time or the time of the person who I'm trying to contact; in response, I just call. But a few events happened...I bought a RAZR several years ago when they were all the rage and met a girl who texted like crazy...plus, a few of my other friends were catching onto it too. So I tried it out and I haven't looked back since. Text messaging has taken over many people's lives as a form of communication as it has mine. I've even seen 70 year old grandparents (and parents alike) texting their children and it blows my mind.
The point is, it took a while for it to catch on. The cell phone itself was not a one night wonder either. It took several years before people bought into it.
Another point I'd like to add is that major platforms or multiple platforms need to incorporate it in order for it to work. The iPhone is the major platform answer. Therefore, it could be a very feasible idea that could start the beginning of a new era.
I'll tell you one thing....if in 75 years from now, I'm limited to only texting and calling, it'll be one hell of a technological shame.
For those that say a front-facing camera is useless and pointless.... As another poster pointed out we can say that about almost any tech advancement in history, up until it became mainstream.
*IF* the iPhone were to get a front-facing camera, all other manufacturers will follow suit. Until the feature comes on a lot of phones then you won't see a point to it.
Go visit Japan, I'm surprised the iPhone3G sold as good as it did without this feature. Now you can say, well that's Japan... For the past 10+ years they have been ahead of the US and other parts of the world when it comes to consumer electronics.
Video chatting is thoroughly embedded in their culture. It's only a matter of time until it's available here. I do agree and I have concerns about AT&T's ability to cope with the traffic, only time will tell.
I have used Video Chatting on phones before, if the network can handle it, it's a great feature to have.
Don't think of this feature as something you have to do for every call, it's nice to have when you WANT to use it.
*IF* the iPhone were to get a front-facing camera, all other manufacturers will follow suit. Until the feature comes on a lot of phones then you won't see a point to it.
Go visit Japan, I'm surprised the iPhone3G sold as good as it did without this feature. Now you can say, well that's Japan... For the past 10+ years they have been ahead of the US and other parts of the world when it comes to consumer electronics.
Video chatting is thoroughly embedded in their culture. It's only a matter of time until it's available here. I do agree and I have concerns about AT&T's ability to cope with the traffic, only time will tell.
I have used Video Chatting on phones before, if the network can handle it, it's a great feature to have.
Don't think of this feature as something you have to do for every call, it's nice to have when you WANT to use it.
Very good point.
I think they should at least try it to possibly get the ball rolling over here in the states. It may take a few more versions of the iphone to perfect but whats the harm in at least giving it a shot?
I very much agree with you on the texting end. I rarely sent text on any other phone I had before my first smartphone and now it's just great to get a quick message sent out when you don't feel like or simply don't have time to chat.
I have a lot of friends that I work with that, well....don't keep up with the times per se and now most all of them have blackberries and a razor here or there that they text non stop with! Hell, my brother has a blackjack2 and hes prolly sends at least a couple hundred text back and for to his girlfriend a day. Now that's a bit ridiculous if you ask me, why not just pick up and call, I mean he sits and sends text for 2 hours! Call her already!!! Haha.
Anyways, back to what you were saying, texting is HUGE right now and more and more folks are wearing it out!
I'm sure if Apple were to design a phone with dual cameras (front and back possibly) with video recording (live) capabilities that most people would be very satisfied and they would sell like hotcakes.
How many iPhones have been sold so far? Roughly what? 13 million? I say the version 1 iPhone was the prototype for Apple to see how well it would do in the market based on if it would actually "sell" and be a winner. Then the iPhone 3G is the version that could be affordable to a degree and they could see how many millions of these things they could get off the shelves and out here with us (exposure, exposure, exposure). The iPhone/iPhone 3G has been a HUGE success, everyone knows about it, everyone's trying to get their hands on one, other phone makers are striving to beat it. etc. etc. etc.
What's Apples next big step? Maybe we'll see what they are really capable of this June? Who knows? But d*mn if this isn't fun!
Oh and btw, did anyone read this? (Quoted in this link)
http://www.9to5mac.com/iphone-viseo-conference
..."the position of the optical sensor can be changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing)"
I believe that was from the patent.
Heh. You never know how long it could take.
Back at the 1964's World Fair, Bell Labs showed video phones and promised us, "any day now". That was 45 years ago and we only actually got it because of Skype and the Internet, not the phone company.
Of course, we were also promised a helicopter in every garage, home lasers for cutting down trees, and mail delivered by personal rocket onto our front yard (ouch!).