FaceTime

During the WWDC keynote, Apple announced that the Fall launch of iOS 6 will include a major update to FaceTime, the brand's video calling service. The upgrade to the latest operating system will let FaceTime users place calls on their cellular network, rather than being restricted to WiFi-only calls. It's a great solution when a reliable WiFi network can't be found, but in this age of capped wireless data plans, will a couple — or even one — FaceTime calls devour your month's worth of data?

A monthly 5GB data plan on both AT&T and Verizon is $50 in addition to the talk and text plan of choice. While cellular FaceTime is only available on the iPhone 4S and new-generation iPad, for comparison, according to one test of an iPhone 4 FaceTime call, about 3MB of data were used per minute over 3G service. Using this rule, a one-hour FaceTime phone call would use a scant 0.175GB of data.

Keep reading to learn the price of FaceTime on 4G plans.

Apple's FaceTime hit the big time when it was released on the iPhone 4 last year, and has since made its way to Apple's computers and the iPad 2. But if you're not calling between Apple devices, FaceTime isn't an option. Tango for iPhone and Android is a messaging application that allows users to make video calls between devices (including the iPod Touch) over 3G, 4G, and WiFi connections, similar to Fring.

In order to chat, both users must have the app installed. Tango pulls contacts from your existing phone list, and invites users to invite others via email or text. To make a call, simply tap the contact you'd like to reach in the Tango contact list. The recipient will receive a push notification alerting them to your call.

Tango is free, and available in the App Store and Android Market and works on phones with a front-facing camera.

Over 19 million devices have been shipped with FaceTime, and now that feature will also come to the Mac — as predicted. Just like iChat, you launch the FaceTime app and select a user to chat with — whether it be on an iPhone 4, a new iPod Touch, a laptop, or iMacs — and talk away, face to face.

Head to Apple.com and get a beta release of FaceTime for Mac starting today.

iPhone 4 owners and new 4th generation iPod Touch users have the ability to chat face to face on their devices thanks to FaceTime. It's a nice feature, but right now it may not seem all that useful, especially since you can only converse with other Apple customers. However, all that may change if FaceTime heads to Macs and PCs like a new rumor is suggesting.

According to one source, Apple is currently working on including FaceTime in Apple's iChat software, and developing a client for PC users as well. Why would this be such a big WIN for users? Find out when you read more.

Though Apple's iPhone has been taking off since it was first introduced years ago, a new report shows that 40 percent of iOS sales come from the iPod Touch. And now that a brand-new iPod Touch with more iPhone-like features hits stores today, I expect their sales will soar.

One of the most exciting features of the new iPod Touch is the introduction of a front-facing camera from which users can access the popular FaceTime feature, chatting with both iPhone 4 users and other iPod Touch users over a WiFi connection. Since the iPod Touch doesn't carry a 3G connection, though, it's impossible to use FaceTime (or other apps like Skype) on the iPod Touch similarly to an iPhone (from anywhere, without WiFi).

For more reasons I think this could happen (including a quote from Steve Jobs), and to share your own thoughts, keep reading.

Single with an iPhone 4? A new dating service works with the phone's popular FaceTime feature to bring users together in the next generation of online dating. Sure, if you're looking for someone to use FaceTime with, you could call Apple, but where's the fun in that? If you're looking for love (or just to flirt), check out Visual Friend, an online community of iPhone 4 users. To get started, register with the site, upload a photo, and answer a series of questions like, "Do you consider yourself a flirt?" and "Do you live with your parents?"

For more details on how Visual Friend works, keep reading.

A source inside Apple revealed last month that the company would begin offering email-based FaceTime calls on (camera-equipped) iPod Touches and iPads, and now there seems to be some solid proof of the claims — an option in the latest beta version of iOS 4.1 contains a new email option for FaceTime calls the device's Contacts folder.

This means that any device not associated with a phone number could make a FaceTime call over WiFi via a phone number or email address as previously reported. This, coupled with the recently "leaked" photos of an iPod Touch with a forward-facing camera, make these claims seem even more solid than before. However, I'm still curious to find out how many iPod Touch and iPhone 4 owners will use the FaceTime feature. I suppose there would be more of an option, since the pool of devices compatible with FaceTime would expand, but tell me — would you use FaceTime on an iPod Touch, or if you're an iPhone 4 owner, do you use FaceTime now?

According to a source inside Apple, FaceTime is coming to the iPad and iPod Touch. Once the functionality was announced on the iPhone 4, speculation started about when and how the service could roll out to more Apple devices. The problem: the iPhone is the only product with an actual phone number . . . so how would it work?

Find out after the break.

• Will the next iPod Touch be FaceTime-ready? — CNET
• Google Street View partially broken on Android phones — Gizmodo
• Avatar is being rereleased in more 3D theaters this August — Cinematical
• James Patterson is the first author to sell 1 million ebooks — Switched
• YouTube's new Leanback feature formats video for TV and second monitors — Lifehacker

Stoked about your new iPhone 4 but bummed that you can't try FaceTime since you're the only one in your group of friends to have one? Apple has a solution to that! If you want to check out the new feature, you can call an Apple representative to test it out. Just call 1-888-FACETIME during normal working hours (8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Central time) to video chat with someone who will walk you though how to use FaceTime.

I had a chance to see FaceTime in person at this year's WWDC, and it's pretty sweet! Since it works only over WiFi connection, there's no worry about finding a strong enough 3G signal. Plus, since you're not using the 3G network, there's no worry about draining your precious data usage.

While this service is super-helpful for anyone who wants a quick demo or even more advanced demonstration, it seems a little Chatroulette-y to me! Have any of you tried 1-888-FACETIME yet?