Freezing Issues With iPad 2 and FaceTime?
There are some users who have been reporting that they have been experiencing issues with FaceTime while on the iPad 2. Reportedly, users of the new iPad have been submitting claims that the FaceTime application on the device has been frequently freezing during a FaceTime call requiring the users to restart the device in some instances. A thread in the Apple Support Community seems to be growing with users asking for help with and discussing the situation.
“When I opened up FaceTime the first time, the camera was working fine, but now whenever I open it up, it just shows a still image from when I left, How can I fix it?,”
Apple Updates FaceTime for Mac. Improves Full Screen Performance.
Apple this week administered an update to the FaceTime for Mac application available on the Mac App Store. Based on the release notes of the software, the update is to improve full screen performance of the application.
“What’s new
Improves performance when FaceTime is taken full screen.”
The FaceTime application for the Mac had been free during the beta testing, however, due to some accounting issues, Apple charges $0.99 for the software through the App Store on the Mac. Being that the new feature was not advertised on the previous machines during the beta testing, Apple is, in so many words, forced to charge a small nominal fee for the official release of FaceTime for Mac. Apple conducted the same measure for the unlocking of 802.11n capabilities in Macs before they were advertised of having the feature.
FaceTime for Mac Released Out of Beta for $0.99
A couple days ago Apple released FaceTime for out of beta for $0.99 on the Mac App Store. This occurred just in time for the release of the new MacBook Pro’s with HD FaceTime cameras. FaceTime for Mac allows you to video conference with a bunch of Apple’s devices whether that is another Mac, an iPhone, or the latest iPod Touch. To find out more about FaceTime for Mac, check out our preview here.
FaceTime for Mac comes free on every new MacBook Pro and is available to earlier machines on the Mac App Store for $0.99. Click here to check it out here.
FaceTime, Camera and Photo Booth Coming to the Next iPad
With the release of the iOS beta, developers are finding new things that are providing more confirmation on what Cupertino is planning to do with not only the final release of the “world’s most advance mobile OS”, but with future iDevices. Devs are now discovering the Camera icon from the iPhone as well as two new icons for FaceTime and an iOS version of Mac OS’s Photo Booth. Take a gander at this image recently posted to the Net showcasing the icons.
Mac OS X: Lion Launchpad + Mission Control + App Store + Full Screen Apps
With the introduction of the next generation operating system for the Mac, Apple has based this rendition of Mac OS X on the mobile software that it help build, iOS. Demoed this week at the Back to the Mac event, Cupertino showed off three aspects of the new OS that is patented iOS and will be making its debut this summer with the Lion release: Launchpad, Mission Control and the every so familiar App Store.
Launchpad has been designed to behave like the Home Screens on iOS. Using the power of Multi-Touch through your Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse, users can navigate through multiple home screens (there was no limit mentioned at the event) to launch all the applications that are currently installed on your Mac. Users can even drag applications on top of one another to create folders, just like it’s done on iOS.
Apple Adds Email Support For FaceTime
The new iOS 4.1 beta that was released to developers earlier this week probably has presented the most supportive information to the theory that Apple will be applying FaceTime to devices that are not iPhones. Cupertino has given email address support for FaceTime calls. That means the future possibility of you calling your friends whether they are on an iPhone, iPod, iPad or even a Mac has gotten ever-so bright. A new option in the Contacts app gives you the option to place a FaceTime call through email.
Jailbreak Allows For 3G FaceTime Calls
As if it wasn’t expected, the ability to use Apple’s FaceTime video calling feature over 3G is now active in the JBed version of iOS. This is made possible by a company called Intelliborn who created the My3G software that makes this happen.
Based on what we have observed, My3G, simply put, makes the same features that are Wi-Fi only usable on 3G networking. Of course, videos have made their way to YouTube demonstrating how FaceTime looks over 3G (we posted one below for your viewing pleasure). While FaceTime does work over 3G (decent we might add), it isn’t smooth like it is over Wi-Fi, which Apple has restricted the software’s use to for obvious reasons.
FaceTime compatibility coming to Macs and PCs?
Apple had their quarterly conference call this week and while most of the stuff discussed were financials and other miscellaneous questions, some questions about the future of Apples core business, software, arose and was avoided being answered. The main software that was mentioned was the future of FaceTime and its potential to become universal as Apple has plans to make the source code open. Although some of the analysts try to squeeze something out of the tight-lipped company, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook simply replied punting that one for another day and stressed that the call should be channeled for financial related inquires.
Facetime For iPad And iPod To Be Carried Out Through Email
It’s been stated that more Apple mobile devices will see FaceTime integrated with the addition of the new iOS software and Apple’s initiative to spread their standard to more people (that means that the iPod and iPad are going to have a front-facing camera soon). With that being brought to light, many people have asked how Apple plans to do that without phone numbers on the iPod and iPad. Well, the Boy Genius Report (BGR) has reported that they have received information from a “source” that states FaceTime for iPad and iPod will be carried out through email addresses. Apparently, through some investigation of the iOS 4.1 beta released Wednesday night, this “source” has discovered this email method that Apple might use.
Fring/Skype Feud Could Propel Even Faster Adoption of FaceTime
After enabling the ability to initiate video calls over 3G connectivity, Fring announced that it would have to disable the ability to video call users of the Skype network for unspecified reasons. Later, Fring released a statement informing their users that the Skype network “cowardly” disabled the ability for use of Fring’s network to contact Skype users.
