Two people can facetime at once. You can facetime with someone using a Mac, an iPad 2, or an iPhone. But only two people can facetime with each other at once. And only if you are on a WiFi connection. You can not facetime using 3G.

Apple announced that the iOS 4.2 was available for download for iPhone, iPad Touch and/or iPod Touch users on November 22, 2010. The iOS 4.2, often regarded as the most advanced mobile operating system in the world, will incorporate over a hundred new features from previous versions such as the iOS 4.0 and the iOS 4.1. These features will include Unified Inbox, Game Center and Multitasking among many others.

According to Steve Jobs, the iOS 4.2 will transform the iPad into a completely new gadget just in time for the holiday season. He stated that the iOS 4.2 will elevate the iPad to a whole new level and as such, the bar has been raised considerably higher for other tablets to compete with the iPad. This would make very few tablets, if any, worthy rivals of the new and improved iPad.

People who use the iPad would be able to switch between apps instantaneously and the apps themselves can run for long periods of time while preserving the battery life of the iPad, which is already well-known for having a long life. “Folders” allows for drag-and-drop options of various apps, so that users can organize their apps with ease. Also, Mail comes with a Unified Inbox, threaded message view and fast inbox switching for easier message accessibility and viewing.

Gamers can now challenge friends or be automatically matched with new opponents with Game Center. Everything from their scores to their achievements can be showcased and games played by friends can be easily accessed as well.

Music, Photos and Videos can be streamed wirelessly from the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to Apple TV using AirPlay. This feature can be combined with AirPort Express to wirelessly stream to any powered or stereo speakers, or to AirPlay speakers that will be available in stores soon.

AirPrint is a Wi-Fi print architecture that eliminates the need for printer drivers, thus making printing easier. HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet are a few printers that will be compatible with AirPrint, and as such users with an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch can print photos or documents with just a tap.

Users can now locate their phones without having to subscribe to MobileMe, as the Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch feature is free to use. They would only have to download the Find My iPhone app from the App Store to find missing devices. Not only that, the device can also be locked remotely and all data from the device can be erased to assure security of information in case the device is lost.

Other features of the iOS 4.2 include TV episode renting capability on the iPad using the iTunes app. Also, specific words and phrases can be easily found and highlighted in Safari; businesses can access higher levels of security with enhanced enterprise support; improved enterprise integration; and support for 25 additional languages.

The Multi-Touch user interface lets users connect with their in a revolutionary new way. And with a weight of 1.5 pounds, the iPad can easily be carried everywhere. Everything from business, news, and travel can be downloaded to the iPad and to date more than seven billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store.

By synchronizing their iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch with iTunes 10.1, users can download the iOS 4.2 update. The new release is compatible with a variety of Apple devices, such as the iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, the 2G and 3G generation iPod Touch and the new 4G iPod Touch.

With such tremendous leaps in technological achievement, it is no wonder that Apple a primal innovative force that is reshaping and redefining the future of computing.

In today’s world, video calls are becoming increasingly important as people prefer a face-to-face interaction that voice-only calls don’t allow. FaceTime, a video-calling software developed by Apple, allows users to make real-time video calls to their contacts. This software is compatible with various Apple devices such as the iPhone 4, the fourth generation iPod Touch and Mac Computers running on the Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4. But this severe limitation of FaceTime to a handful of devices is a major drawback for owners of previous versions of the iPhone or iPod Touch. As such, there arose a need for software similar to FaceTime that was not exclusive to a few devices. And because of this, companies are developing software to meet the ever-growing demand for clear, real-time video calls that can cater to a wider, more diverse audience.

One example of such software is Fring. Fring is a more flexible video-call software that runs on multiple platforms. It not only supported video-calls for the older generation iPhones but is also able to run on other 3G and Wi-Fi enabled smart phones as well. This software offers high-resolution graphics and is able to run in the background, while other tasks are running, for easier connectivity.

Fring users would be able to talk to their contacts on Skype but after a controversy that erupted between Fring and Skype, it is needless to say that the two companies are not the best of friends, and Skype would be better off developing its own video-calling software for Apple’s various handhelds. Skype is more than capable of producing an iPhone/iPod compatible video-call app that would allow two-way calling between Skype members on any Wi-Fi or 3G enabled smart phone. This would have a great advantage over Fring in that Fring only allows 2-way video-calls on iPhones with OS4.0.

Another FaceTime alternative that seems to be getting a lot of attention is Tango. This wonderful, recently-launched application is already a favorite among many people. It can make free video and voice calls over 3G, which is not possible in FaceTime, and once downloaded, it automatically adds contacts that are using the application as well. People who use Tango are highly impressed with its high-picture quality that transmits in real time, not to mention its clear, simply astonishing sound quality. Also, calls made using Tango seldom drop, which is a relief to a lot of people who have to constantly put up with video-calling software that fails. The flexibility of this app is another plus as it can make calls between iPhones and Android Phones. Additionally, invitations to this app can be sent easily via SMS or electronic mail.

These applications, among many others, are slowly changing the way calls are made and how people communicate with each other. FaceTime has been facing stiff competition from applications such a Fring or Tango because these apps provide more flexibility with fewer connectivity requirements. Given the rapid increase and development in applications, Apple should consider upgrading FaceTime for the iPhone or risk it being a distant memory in the minds of tomorrow.

Since it was introduced to the iPhone and iPod Touch, FaceTime has been a hit software with a lot of support and a huge user base. However, for a while, it was completely limited to the new generation Apple mobile devices, and as such, forced a lot of people interested in using FaceTime to look elsewhere for their VoIP services. In October, 2010, Steve Jobs announced the inclusion of the software on Mac computers, a much requested feature for those with older generation mobile devices; as such many of the users who were left out of the FaceTime circle the first time around are now able to jump right in and start video-calling.

One of the great features of the FaceTime app is its ability to support multiple email addresses. A lot of people nowadays have different email addresses for different purposes. For instance, John Doe might have “jonnyboy@emailprovider.com” for personal reasons but “dr_john_doe@emailprovider.com” for professional reasons. For people used to one address, they won’t find him on the other. Simply go to the Preferences dialogue in FaceTime and add a new email address, so people from all walks of one’s life can find and message them.

Another nice feature of the FaceTime for Mac is that it always works in the background, regardless of whether or not the app is actually open. Once a message is received, FaceTime automatically alerts the user with a caller ID dialogue. Of course, this can be turned off if avoiding calls is one’s prerogative; simply go to the Preferences dialogue and select “Off.”

Sometimes, videos just aren’t displayed properly and other times, you want to see a different angle. Maybe, for some reason, the video-call is showing the other person as being sideways or you just want to see them better from a portrait view. FaceTime allows users to adjust whether or not the video is supposed to be a portrait (vertical orientation) or a landscape (horizontal orientation).

One additional benefit of the Mac FaceTime is its ability to support high-quality full-screen video streaming. Sometimes, you just want it to be you and that other person, and that’s not a problem with the new full-screen ability.

Of course, like all new software, it has its quirks. The app populates the list of contacts directly from your Mac Address Book, so you should make sure it’s updated as you’ll need to provide a registered email address for someone using FaceTime. Also, FaceTime and iChat are still separated. While iChat requires an AIM, Jabber, .mac or, .me account, FaceTime only requires an Apple account and has the ability to chat with anyone using FaceTime as well. Of course, it would be nice to see the two merged, allowing for FaceTime chat through iChat, but in time, Apple might very well do just that.

These issues are minor, and with other fairly standard features such as the ability to mute the call, change the speaker and microphone settings, or change your own caller ID information, FaceTime is an innovative tool that allows for loads of fun and interaction from the comfort of your home or office.

Steve Jobs just announced Facetime will be available for the Mac at the “Back to the Mac” event at apple headquarters.

19 Million Facetime users in the first four months!

The Beta version of the Mac FaceTime application will be available for download starting today.

http://www.apple.com/mac/facetime/

On the eve of the much anticipated release of the iPhone 4, many people are reporting problems right out of the box. Here is a list of the few problems being reported around the internet:

Yellow Spots – Several people have reported yellow spots on their new retina display. Apple has reported that the yellow coloration may fade within a couple days, but so far it has been an unsightly discovery for the many iPhone 4 owners.

Reception Bar – There are several discussion about how the iPhone reception bar is not showing the true signal strength. Because Apple have programmed the iPhone to use the strongest signal, instead of the closest signal, sometimes the signal bar may drop to zero, but you are still within range to make a phone call. Although this is good news, it may be a source of panic and frustration for those trying to make a phone call.

Pre-Order Snafu – Of course perhaps the most famous of all the iPhone 4 problems is the fact that many people were not able to pre-order the iPhone on the early pre-order days. Many users were not able to complete their pre-order online and will have to physically camp out at an Apple store to get the new iPhone. Good luck to them!

For decades, simple high resolution video calling in the palm of your hand has been the stuff of the future, the science fiction future. FaceTime for the iPhone 4 not only brings the future to you, but provides you with an innovative and incredibly simple method of communicating with friends, family, and even business associates.

How It Works
The iPhone 4 has been designed two contain two built-in, easy to use, cameras. With a camera on the front of the device, above the display screen, and a camera on the back of the device right next to the built-in LED flash, video calling has never been more intuitive.
With the iPhone 4’s arriving with FaceTime already installed and ready to launch, there is no need for users to take extra steps to set it up or even create an account to use it. FaceTime is a fully integrated video call feature that will allow iPhone 4 users to interact with each other in a whole new way.

Apple is calling FaceTime for the iPhone 4 “one-tap simple.” This phrase indicates that all it will take to engage a caller in a face-to-face call is a single tap on the display. From initiating a video call with a family member to switching from voice to video in the middle of a phone call, this seamless feature is certain to be a hit amongst iPhone 4 users.

Initial releases of the iPhone 4 FaceTime application will only allow users with the iPhone 4 to interact with each other via the video call feature. However, plans are underway to allow other manufacturers the ability to have their handsets interact with this revolutionary iPhone app.

Unlike prior video call products and services, FaceTime is one that will efficiently and rapidly integrate its way into our lives; simply because of its ease of use and the networks of peer groups who will be utilizing it.

The Future
In a bold new leap, Apple has made FaceTime an open application which means that they are willing to work with other device makers, and service providers, to ultimately integrate FaceTime into other competing devices to further expand its user base. While several phone makers, and service providers, already offer video calling features to their users there is little to no crossover between products and services allowed. Skype offers affordable and user-friendly options for its users; if Skype were to make their products compatible with FaceTime they would essentially be placing their products in the hands of every iPhone 4 user. On the flip side of that, every iPhone 4 user would have the ability to contact any Skype user with “one tap.”
This partnership alone would be launching worldwide communication into an entirely new and exciting direction.

The introduction of FaceTime for the iPhone 4 is a brand new start in the communications world; brand and product awareness alone will help to launch FaceTime into the spotlight. Once iPhone 4 users begin using the application to communicate, its popularity is certain to expand exponentially.

As Apple ultimately works towards its goal of integrating FaceTime into its own product line, communication will be taken into an entirely new direction. FaceTime on the iPad? FaceTime on the iPod Touch? The options are only limited by Apple’s innovations and advances in technology.

With the incredible popularity of the iPhone, it seems nearly impossible to imagine that there could be failures or potential downsides to the latest offering by Apple – the iPhone 4. However, no product is perfect. For users, however, it will come down to a simple equation of: “Will the positives far outweigh any possible negatives?”

1. Durability.
With the introduction of the iPhone 4 came assurances from Apple that this new version was incredibly more durable than previous generations. However, recent third party tests have concluded that the iPhone 4 was not able to withstand even a short fall without sustaining an incredible amount of damage. Whether Apple addresses and corrects this issue before millions of iPhone 4’s start hitting the shelves remains to be seen.

2. The CDMA Market
Apple has yet to release market-ready CDMA version of their device; while the majority of the mobile phone markets around the world are GSM-based, they are neglecting a rather large market share in the USA and Asia. Apple enthusiasts had great hope that the release of the iPhone 4 would bring with it the announcement of a CMDA version that would do more than allow users on CDMA networks to get their hands on the popular iPhone, it would also allow iPhone users to take advantage of the stability and higher levels of customer care often offered by the CDMA providers.

3. The Network
While rumors of a CDMA version of the iPhone have been flying for several years, the Apple is still tied into an exclusivity contract for the iPhone with AT&T in the USA for another year. A CDMA version of the Apple device would open the iPhone 4 to users on the Verizon and Sprint networks, allowing for a greater market share. AT&T users have long complained about the reliability of their 3G network, so it remains to be seen if their current network offerings will provide iPhone 4 users with the blazing speeds that they are hoping for. While many mobile phone users jumped networks when the iPhone was launched, some were just not willing to leave their providers for another network with known reliability issues. If the dropped call rates and the network speeds can be readily improved upon, iPhone users will not only have an increased level of satisfaction, but it is also likely that a large number of new recruits will be making their way over to the iPhone 4.

4. The Price
Apple’s pricing structure has, historically, been set higher than other comparable products on the market. The iPhone 4 pricing is not going to vary much from the expected high price tag; this is definitely going to be something that iPhone enthusiasts will take in to consideration when they are debating upgrading their existing devices. If you are satisfied with your current iPhone, the high price tag of purchasing the iPhone 4 is certain to give you pause.

5. No Adobe Flash
A large portion of websites make use of the Adobe Flash Player; with Apple’s refusal to offer support for the Adobe line of products, they are isolating themselves and their users from many of the most popular websites that do make use of Flash. While it is more likely that the Flash-using websites will modify their content in order to be compatible to iPhone 4 users than Apple is likely to allow Flash support – this can still be an incredible inconvenience to iPhone 4 users.

Mobile device manufacturers have long been touting the introduction of an “iPhone Killer;” a mobile device that will be able to overtake Apple’s share of the mobile device market and render it a distant memory in the minds of even the most devout iPhone user. While the absolute “iPhone Killer” device has yet to be introduced to the market, there are certainly several devices that are comparable in the technology and features offered, as well as in the set pricing structure.

1. The Google Nexus One
The Google Nexus One is the second Google-Powered offering from the search engine giant; it follows in the very popular footsteps of the Google G1. Both handsets run the Android operating system, which is rumored to be growing in popularity at a more rapid rate than the iPhone OS. The Nexus One offers many of the same features that the iPhone offers device users; however, the Nexus One offers users full Adobe Flash support – a feature that has iPhone users somewhat envious of. Along with the operating differences, a key aspect of the Nexus One that users are able to rely on is a superior battery life. For all Google and Android fans, the Nexus One stands head and shoulders above any offering from Apple.

2. The Motorola Droid
The Motorola Droid is another Android based smart phone that, thanks to a very successful marketing campaign and a very stable device, is growing in popularity amongst mobile phone users who are in the market for an alternative to the iPhone 4. An attractive feature to this Verizon (CDMA) offered device is that it has the option for expanded memory; the iPhone 4 has no slots for an expanded memory card.

3. The Blackberry Bold
While the Blackberry line of smart devices has traditionally been a business-oriented device, RIM’s Blackberry’s have been steadily gaining in market share to the point where they now overshadow RIM by a good margin. For users who perhaps do not like the idea of a touch-screen, the Blackberry Bold’s full QWERTY keyboard offers users an easier method of communication. For business users who utilize their smart devices for answering business emails, the full QWERTY keyboard and the superior battery life are definitely two positives over the iPhone 4. The Blackberry Bold, and other Blackberry products, is available for both GSM and CDMA markets, allowing RIM to gain a deeper foothold in the marketplace – unlike the GSM only iPhone 4.

4. The HTC Evo
The newly released HTC Evo is one of the first devices built, and currently offered, to take advantage of Sprint’s budding 4G network. As 4G is rolled out in additional cities, the HTC Evo is likely to grow in popularity. The Evo, an impressive touch screen device, offers users the same two-camera features that the iPhone 4 does, leading way for the potential to have Evo users ultimately connect with iPhone 4 users by making use of Apple’s FaceTime video call app.

5. The Nokia N8
In the race to develop an “iPhone Killer” device, Nokia is leading the way; their recently released N8 phone puts them just one more step in the right direction. The Symbian based N8 offers users more than a device that can match the usability and functionality of the iPhone 4, it also offers a whopping 12-megapixel camera vs the 5-megapixel offering from the iPhone 4. While Nokia’s Ovi is not as popular and expansive as Apple’s iTunes is, it certainly offers Nokia users access to the music, apps, and other downloadable material that they are looking for.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, it is up to each and every mobile phone user to define their requirements for their mobile phones and make their selections based upon requirements vs. on simply the “cool factor.”

The announcement of the iPhone 4 brought with it resounding cheers from iPhone enthusiasts due, in large part, to several new and improved features that help to increase the usability and overall functionality of the device.

1. FaceTime
The iPhone 4 comes equipped with two built in cameras to allow for more than the ability to readily capture images and video; the two new cameras allow iPhone 4 users to communicate in an efficient, and fun, manner by making use of the FaceTime app. With a simple tap of a button on your iPhone 4, you will be able to communicate with your friends and family who are also in possession of an iPhone 4. Video calls are no longer a thing of science fiction!

2. App Grouping
One of the bigger complaints from users of previous generation iPhone users is the inability to sort and organize their installed apps. Device users with numerous installed apps would have to, oftentimes, scroll several pages just to find the app they were looking for. This is now a thing of the past with the introduction of the app grouping or folders feature. This new feature allows apps to be sorted into folders labeling them by type; for example: all of your travel related apps would be located in one folder instead of spread over several screens. App sorting and grouping is certain to be a popular and frequently used feature of the iPhone 4.

3. Multitasking
Previous generations of the iPhone have fallen short when it comes to the ability to multitask or run more than one app at a time. With the launch of the iPhone 4, this is no longer a defining issue for iPhone enthusiasts. A new user interface designed specifically for the need to multitask allows users to effortlessly switch between open or recently used apps; a double-click on the device’s Home button will pop up a menu bar at the bottom of the display. This menu bar will host a list of the apps that you have used most recently, scroll right or back left again to view all of the apps and simply tap on the display to open your selected app. The app will open up at exactly the same place that you left it – games will resume where you left off, web browsing will resume on the same page you left it. One of the best aspects to the new multitasking capability is the new ability to listen to music while performing other tasks on your iPhone 4. The multitasking feature is certain to be a huge smash hit amongst users.

4. Retina Display
The launch of the iPhone 4 brings with it the launch of the retina display; this is the highest resolution display built into a portable smart device and offers users a whopping 326 pixels per inch display. Nearly on par with the ease of reading offered by e-ink technology, this advance in technology for the iPhone brand is an incredible step forward in the right visual direction.

5. Increased Battery Time
The battery life of prior generations of the iPhone was not necessarily considered to be a weak point in the design. However, with the new iPhone 4 comes a battery that is not just larger in size, but it allows for a 40% increase in talk time versus what has been offered on previous generations.

The overall design and functionality improvements to the iPhone 4 make this the phone to have in 2010, and beyond. From the steel frame that works as a sturdy built-in antennae, to the durable glass screen – this phone has been engineered to impress.