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story category Next iPhone To Be Video Focused
Patents indicate oodles of video functionality
(old news - 03:54PM Monday Feb 02 2009)
tags: business · wireless · hardware · alternatives
At the 1964 World's fair, AT&T wowed attendees with a video phone, and their 1969 annual report predicted that by 1980 they would sell $1 billion worth of the devices. That never happened, obviously, with opinions on why ranging from device and network limitations or the fact it's harder to lie -- to customer fear of transmitting their bedhead. But now Information Week digs through some new Apple patents to find that a centerpiece of the next iPhone will be video communications. At the very least, the phone will be able to record video (a long lacking function right below cut/paste), but the patents indicate there's a flurry of video-related functions looming. Maybe AT&T should shift from HSPA to LTE sooner rather than later.

Related:
  1. AT&T Dead Quiet After PR Hell Week
  2. FCC To Investigate Exclusive Handset Deals
  3. Motorola Androids To Hit T-Mobile, Verizon
  4. Femtocells Slow To Catch On
  5. Analyst: Apple Will Stick With AT&T Exclusivity
  6. Rumor: Apple Tablet Will Support HSDPA
  7. MetroPCS: LTE In Late 2010
  8. AT&T To Launch Femtocells Next Week
Forums » Next iPhone To Be Video Focused
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ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA

When?

It needs to come out within the next two months. My currently contract will be up then.

Homunculus
Pipsquack
Premium
join:2000-12-14
Dar al-Harb
clubs:

Re: When?

Copy/paste and MMS look to be taking the back burner. Again.
--
Islam is a hate crime: »www.thememriblog.org

Nemokrad

join:2002-04-24
Miami, FL
You realize you can let your contract expire without a problem right? The last two iPhone were released in June/July so expect the new version around that time.
RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
I'll wait until they release one which is Phone-call Focused (you know, like a phone should be). Everyone I know who has an iPhone complains how bad of a phone it is. Meanwhile me and my two year old LG are still doing fine.

Mchart
Super Joe

join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: When?

I've had no issues with the phone capabilities. When I first got my 3G back in August there were the reception issues, but those issues were fixed a while back. The 'phone' part of the iPhone is definatly a lot better then the phone aspect of the many Treo's i've owned in the past.

ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
Well, most people have been switching to email/web focused. I need emails more than I need phone.
DarkLogix

join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX

fear of transmitting their bedhead

Wouldn't it be easy enough to put in a "don't send video" button like the "mute" on some phones where you hear them but they don't hear you (good for conferance calls)

GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

Re: fear of transmitting their bedhead

said by DarkLogix See Profile :

This is why many people won't use videophones:


en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: fear of transmitting their bedhead

I'd wonder if there are some security concerns...
I.e. big brother (or a hacker) remotely activating your camera / watching your feed - at a 'bad' time.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs:

Joys of jailbreaking....

I use Cycorder on my 3G iPhone that is jailbroken and it records video just fine. It can do it now, it is just a matter of Apple/AT&T allowing it.
watice

join:2008-11-01
East Elmhurst, NY

Re: Joys of jailbreaking....

said by ptrowski See Profile :

I use Cycorder on my 3G iPhone that is jailbroken and it records video just fine. It can do it now, it is just a matter of Apple/AT&T allowing it.
same here.. not to mention the straight to youtube streaming apps. The camera quality is lacking tho. A front side video camera for video conferencing is the only thing that would prompt an upgrade on my part.

Tha ReAlEsT
The King Is Back, Where My Crown At?
Premium
join:2002-09-28
the past

said by ptrowski See Profile :

I use Cycorder on my 3G iPhone that is jailbroken and it records video just fine. It can do it now, it is just a matter of Apple/AT&T allowing it.
Yes there was a program for the 2g iphone for some while now. Funny how apple is probably gonna make tons of money on a feature that's been available for years.

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL

said by ptrowski See Profile :

I use Cycorder on my 3G iPhone that is jailbroken and ....
How do you keep up with the "upgrades"? I just went to 2.2.1. Seems an upgrade is out every month or so, and each one breaks the "jailbreak", or so I read.

Bob
--
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." -- Voltaire

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs:

Re: Joys of jailbreaking....

Each upgrade is usually jailbroken within 48 hours or so. It's not too bad.

Big Pete 82

join:2009-01-30
Corona, CA
·Verizon FIOS

HSPA, LTE

"Maybe AT&T should shift from HSPA to LTE sooner rather than later."

When they first started developing 3G we were all told 3G would give us the ability to video conference with our cell phones on a widespread basis and now it won't be until LTE is rolled out? Does anyone really think the carriers are even serious about video conferencing via cell phone?
cchhat01
The Guru

join:2001-05-01
Elmhurst, NY

Re: HSPA, LTE

I don't even know what to think anymore.
It just seems to me that handsets are way way advanced compared to the network's capabilities. For once, I'd like them to be in sync. The Video Call feature has been available since 2006 when 3G phones first started coming out, why the networks haven't paid careful attention to detail and making a 3G network capable of processing video call and superfast (in terms of data) is just beyond me.
To sum it up a 3G network is fully capable of supporting the video call feature, its just the implementation thats lacking.
--
Chirag's Website

luviPhones2

@sigmanet.com

Forced on ATT to get this?

Please tell me ATT's exclusivity agreement is only with the current generations of the iPhone...

I don't want to be forced onto service with ATT just to get this. It's not fair that as a consumer our only choice (sans illegal unlocking) of getting one of these it to be bound to a network full of outages and dropped/garbled calls.

Hopefully Apple can lanuch this across all carriers. I use T-Mobile USA and wish to stay with them. (I just left ATT/Cingular last month after my 7 year stay)

perki

join:2008-12-01
Santa Maria, CA
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
·VOIPo
·Vonage
·VoipYourLife

Iphone 3g does it now, in away.

There the qik app that you can download on a jailbroken iphone. »qik.com/info/supported_phones

See all they need to have video calls is make a mp4 compatible streamer and walla. The Tech is out there all there is to do is to make it mobile. But the problem is that 3g data towers are not enough bandwith.
MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Southwest

I made a call with the videophone in 1964

believe it or not.

I was 14 years old and went to the NY World's Fair. I was at the AT&T pavilion and got picked to do the demo of a videophone call to Disney World in LA.

I talked to whoever was on the other end and saw his face and lips moving as he talked.

I think we discussed the weather.

I remember thinking even at that young age, "So why would I want to buy this?"

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

You have to give them credit.

People are going to go out and buy the exact same thing they have now with either a reversible camera or a second front facing camera. Apple really knows how to milk a product.

Dread
Deadlifts are not fun.
Premium
join:2005-02-28
Bronx, NY
·Optimum Online

Re: You have to give them credit.

said by insomniac84 See Profile :

People are going to go out and buy the exact same thing they have now with either a reversible camera or a second front facing camera. Apple really knows how to milk their fangirls.
I agree
--
My E71 > Your iphone
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

said by insomniac84 See Profile :

People are going to go out and buy the exact same thing they have now with either a reversible camera or a second front facing camera. Apple really knows how to milk a product.
I second that.

I'm getting sick and tired of Apple beta testing their product on the backs of the "loyal" followers only to get it right and later release a "fix" at a price.

The first iPhone was released and the price immediately dropped. They rewarded their loyal customers by offering them a few pennies back while dropping the price to all the new buyers.

When the first iTouch came out, of which I have, they released it for $299 which I paid. Well, just a few months later, they released a software release that added a few new functions to the phone.. for $20. Nice huh? Oh, it gets better.. remember, they dropped the price of that iTouch and then included the NEW software to the new users and made the current, loyal, early adopters, pay for the update. Then they made iTouch users pay another $10 to get the next software release. They call it a release, I call it a service pack or fix.

Apple has been milking their customers for way too long.. I think they do it on purpose to keep their customer base low to avoid breaking the monopoly game in the computer world, while also keeping their prices artificially high.

I can buy the 2nd gen iTouch now for the same reduced $229 which added some volume buttons on the side and the ability to run my Nike +... woohoo!

So, I guess that does count for the reversible camera you're talking about. I bet the Nike+ can be added by software alone.
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY

Re: You have to give them credit.

said by fiberguy See Profile :

said by insomniac84 See Profile :

People are going to go out and buy the exact same thing they have now with either a reversible camera or a second front facing camera. Apple really knows how to milk a product.
I second that.

I'm getting sick and tired of Apple beta testing their product on the backs of the "loyal" followers only to get it right and later release a "fix" at a price.

The first iPhone was released and the price immediately dropped. They rewarded their loyal customers by offering them a few pennies back while dropping the price to all the new buyers.

When the first iTouch came out, of which I have, they released it for $299 which I paid. Well, just a few months later, they released a software release that added a few new functions to the phone.. for $20. Nice huh? Oh, it gets better.. remember, they dropped the price of that iTouch and then included the NEW software to the new users and made the current, loyal, early adopters, pay for the update. Then they made iTouch users pay another $10 to get the next software release. They call it a release, I call it a service pack or fix.

Apple has been milking their customers for way too long.. I think they do it on purpose to keep their customer base low to avoid breaking the monopoly game in the computer world, while also keeping their prices artificially high.

I can buy the 2nd gen iTouch now for the same reduced $229 which added some volume buttons on the side and the ability to run my Nike +... woohoo!

So, I guess that does count for the reversible camera you're talking about. I bet the Nike+ can be added by software alone.
You fools know there are competitive products in the market place, yet you willingly go like sheep and buy Apple. It's your own fault Apple is so successful. Nobody hit you over the head and took your money, you may have even waited on line for one of these products at launch. There is no magic monoply patent on most of the features which make up the Iphone or Ipod Touch devices. Do your research and find something else which fits your needs.

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

Re: You have to give them credit.

Watch who you call a fool. I don't buy apple products. First they are expensive for no reason, and second they trickle out features to get you to buy a single product 5 times.
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Don't call me a fool.. j***k. Did I say I purchased the second one? No! I said they CAME OUT WITH ONE and ROLLED OUT THE SOFTWARE, to which yes, I did buy. $30.. didn't break the bank, but still pissed me off none the less.

Do I have an iPhone? Nope! So you know, I'm waiting FOR that competing product.. the Palm Pre.

And, no magic monopoly patent? hahah.. you sure? How much you want to bet that when Pre is launched that Apple doesn't jump all over Palm for their screen control becuase they own a patent?

And, I'll still say that the iPod iTouch is better than most players out there.. still doesn't mean I can't be angry about what they do in roll ups.. I personally am not buying past it is all.

So go bastardize someone else, Mmkay?

DooD

join:2002-02-10
Jacksonville, FL

Re: You have to give them credit.

said by fiberguy See Profile :

Do I have an iPhone? Nope! So you know, I'm waiting FOR that competing product.. the Palm Pre.

And, no magic monopoly patent? hahah.. you sure? How much you want to bet that when Pre is launched that Apple doesn't jump all over Palm for their screen control becuase they own a patent?
all.
I wouldn't bet on that just yet. it's still early enough for Palm to make changes; however, Palm's got a few patents of their own that it looks like the iphone is infringing upon. it's going to be interesting for sure.

Ray H

@verizon.net

Uhmm...why?

I don't really get the video phone thing. As a "novelty," I could see people's interest in it initially (the first few times, or "newness" effect). But, why would I need to be looking at the person on a phone call? Or for that matter, have them looking at me?

I'd pass.
boast

join:2005-09-03
Miami, FL

Re: Uhmm...why?

watch the Cisco Telepresence commercials

Ray H

@verizon.net

Re: Uhmm...why?

Yeah, I get the novelty of it, as I stated. But in everyday application? Not so much.
gmoney_indy

join:2004-01-29
Fishers, IN
These phones are being marketed to the webcam generation. Think about it.

Ray H

@verizon.net

Re: Uhmm...why?

LOL!!! Yeah, that's another thing I never really got.
Forums » Next iPhone To Be Video Focused


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