3 ms·

This is interesting because it shows how far behind the US is in the telecoms space. In Europe this has been a basic feature of all 3G phones for around five y

by mixmax 16y ago

This is interesting because it shows how far behind the US is in the telecoms space. In Europe this has been a basic feature of all 3G phones for around five years. If you want to videochat you just press the button and call somebody up using their normal phonenumber. It was pretty hyped up, but it never really caught on because there simply aren't that many usecases where you want to videochat with people on the go. Especially as you have to hold out your phone in fromt of you in a somewhat awkward way. Now it's just old and tired.

moe 16y ago
Same in Asia.
henrikschroder 16y ago
Over WiFi instead of 3G is somewhat of a novelty though, but still, the problem with video conversations isn't technical, it's that most people do not want to do them. I remember six years ago when 3 launched over here and tried to convince everyone and their mother that video calls were the future. I had some colleagues who got their phones, and I saw them use the video call once, maybe twice, only for testing. I also remember seeing some people do video calls on the subway. It all quickly stopped though as soon as people realized the drawbacks of video calls for everyday conversations and now you never see it, even though all phones have the capability.
- mixmax 16y ago
  Over WiFi is a novelty - but it's also a hack to get around the fact that the US carriers are way behind Europe and Asia.
  - henrikschroder 16y ago
    Oh, I just assumed the US went through the same cycle of consumer disinterest as the rest of us.
gojomo 16y ago
My arms got tired just watching all the people in the Apple video holding their phones for video calls.
- swombat 16y ago
  Of course, it's not like you need to hold your phone for audio calls. You just put it next to your ear and it hovers there unsupported. Obviously they just need to adapt the technology so the phone can hover in front of you without tiring your arms out.
  - henrikschroder 16y ago
    Sarcasm aside, you're wrong. It's a completely different position to hold the phone in. It's more restful for your arm to hold the phone against your ear, than to hold it out in front of you. There are also a lot of other considerations for making a successful video call, you have to be dressed, in a decently lit space, have room in front of you, have silence around you, and be able to focus only on the face in the screen. Contrast that with voice calls which I can make in the dark, while naked, on the toilet, in my car, on a crowded subway, while walking, while having sex, while lying about where I am, in my bed, without makeup, and so on. Video calls are awkward, and they don't bring enough value to the conversation to make up for the inconvenience of making one. They have their places, video conference calls are great. Having small children and calling your grandparents is great. Being deaf and calling someone to sign with them is great. Other than that it's just not worth it.
  - gojomo 16y ago
    (1) Let's hypothesize a contest like those old 'hands on a hardbody' endurance competitions to win a car. You hold an iPhone at a distance and angle which frames your face, and I hold an iPhone physically propped against my ear. Who'll lose positioning first? (2) I often use a headset or bluetooth speaker phone so I'm not holding my phone at all for audio calls -- just as good as the 'hover' your posit! I can't wait to see the rigid hat accessory that props my iPhone in front of my face at optimal FaceTime distance! No doubt video calls are great for some, short situations -- but holding the iPhone in front of you as pictured in Apple's ads will quickly tire most people far faster than an audio call.
iamcalledrob 16y ago
I completely agree. Whenever I'm in a position to video chat, I'll be sitting somewhere, in private, with time on my hands. That means I'll probably have Skype handy. I've had video calling on my phone since forever, but I've never been inclined to use it – because I tend to call people when I'm on the go, and who the hell would want to watch my dull commute?
cesart 16y ago
Whoever outsources designs to China for an iPhone 4 FaceTime head harness wins.
MWinther 16y ago
At least some of the problem is that at least here, cost is prohibitive. It's ridiculously expensive per minute compared to normal calls. I don't know if FaceTime is going to be a hit or not, but I definitely see myself using it more often than the built-in 3G video phone call capabilities I used to have.

by mixmax 16y ago

moe 16y ago

Same in Asia.

henrikschroder 16y ago

Over WiFi instead of 3G is somewhat of a novelty though, but still, the problem with video conversations isn't technical, it's that most people do not want to do them. I remember six years ago when 3 launched over here and tried to convince everyone and their mother that video calls were the future. I had some colleagues who got their phones, and I saw them use the video call once, maybe twice, only for testing. I also remember seeing some people do video calls on the subway. It all quickly stopped though as soon as people realized the drawbacks of video calls for everyday conversations and now you never see it, even though all phones have the capability.

mixmax 16y ago
Over WiFi is a novelty - but it's also a hack to get around the fact that the US carriers are way behind Europe and Asia.
- henrikschroder 16y ago
  Oh, I just assumed the US went through the same cycle of consumer disinterest as the rest of us.

gojomo 16y ago

My arms got tired just watching all the people in the Apple video holding their phones for video calls.

swombat 16y ago
Of course, it's not like you need to hold your phone for audio calls. You just put it next to your ear and it hovers there unsupported. Obviously they just need to adapt the technology so the phone can hover in front of you without tiring your arms out.
- henrikschroder 16y ago
  Sarcasm aside, you're wrong. It's a completely different position to hold the phone in. It's more restful for your arm to hold the phone against your ear, than to hold it out in front of you. There are also a lot of other considerations for making a successful video call, you have to be dressed, in a decently lit space, have room in front of you, have silence around you, and be able to focus only on the face in the screen. Contrast that with voice calls which I can make in the dark, while naked, on the toilet, in my car, on a crowded subway, while walking, while having sex, while lying about where I am, in my bed, without makeup, and so on. Video calls are awkward, and they don't bring enough value to the conversation to make up for the inconvenience of making one. They have their places, video conference calls are great. Having small children and calling your grandparents is great. Being deaf and calling someone to sign with them is great. Other than that it's just not worth it.
- gojomo 16y ago
  (1) Let's hypothesize a contest like those old 'hands on a hardbody' endurance competitions to win a car. You hold an iPhone at a distance and angle which frames your face, and I hold an iPhone physically propped against my ear. Who'll lose positioning first? (2) I often use a headset or bluetooth speaker phone so I'm not holding my phone at all for audio calls -- just as good as the 'hover' your posit! I can't wait to see the rigid hat accessory that props my iPhone in front of my face at optimal FaceTime distance! No doubt video calls are great for some, short situations -- but holding the iPhone in front of you as pictured in Apple's ads will quickly tire most people far faster than an audio call.

iamcalledrob 16y ago

I completely agree. Whenever I'm in a position to video chat, I'll be sitting somewhere, in private, with time on my hands. That means I'll probably have Skype handy. I've had video calling on my phone since forever, but I've never been inclined to use it – because I tend to call people when I'm on the go, and who the hell would want to watch my dull commute?

cesart 16y ago

Whoever outsources designs to China for an iPhone 4 FaceTime head harness wins.

MWinther 16y ago

At least some of the problem is that at least here, cost is prohibitive. It's ridiculously expensive per minute compared to normal calls. I don't know if FaceTime is going to be a hit or not, but I definitely see myself using it more often than the built-in 3G video phone call capabilities I used to have.