httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M1r-xsFw0Q
We’ve been playing around with the new beta release of FaceTime, and while it’s slim on features, we’re fairly pleased with the app considering it’s still in the beta phase. So far FaceTime for Mac is a simple replication of FaceTime from iOS, but it’s simplicity is what I like about it so far.
It doesn’t have backgrounds or effects like in iChat. There’s no 3-way conference calling, and the options are pretty limited on what you can do. I find it a little bit interesting that they decided to create an entire app for FaceTime instead of integrating it with iChat. I suppose that the benefit of having two simple programs is that iChat won’t become a bloated beast like iTunes as they try to stuff more code into it. Also, iChat connects through Jabber and AIM, whereas FaceTime is entirely run through Apple.
An annoying part with FaceTime is that you have to add someone’s iTunes email address to their contact info in Address Book. Address Book is synched up with FaceTime, but it’d be nice to be able to enter and address or phone number manually from the FaceTime window.
I harp on the things that FaceTime doesn’t have yet, but also have to remind myself that FaceTime is in it’s infancy even in iOS. The application will assuredly expand to include many new features in the future, and possibly merge with iChat into one application (although that’s purely conjecture at this point).
The video quality with FaceTime is really nice. I used it Mac to Mac, and Mac to iPhone and didn’t have any problems. There was noticeable quality differences when FaceTime-ing with an iPhone 4 over 3G, verses the fairly clean line David and I had while connected Mac to Mac. But that’s to be expected.
Users can switch back and forth between portrait and landscape mode just like Steve’s demo. One interesting bit is that whenever you change from portrait to landscape it also changes the view on the other user’s Mac as well. So if you want to annoy your friend you can click back and forth between portrait and landscape mode. There’s also a mute button, and full screen mode if you want to totally immerse yourself in the Jetsons-esque technology.
Interesting, Apple decided not to include a PC version of FaceTime. As presently constituted, FaceTime for Mac and iPhone coupled with a PC version would be a knockout punch for Apple. I wasn’t a big fan of FaceTime when it first came out for iPhone, but now that it’s on the Mac as well, I can see it becoming one of my favorite modes of communication.
