eTeleporter allows eye contact calls on Facetime

It's kind of sad to see that, with so much technology available, there are still so many tiny things that are completely disregarded - but that could do wonders for us. For instance, how do you feel about videocalls? We can now do Facetime, Skype, Hangouts, videocalls from anywhere around the world... but do you feel there's still something missing? Indeed you're right. As the camera and screen are in different places, videocalls become a interaction between two people that seem to be looking at... somewhere else. Not exactly the thing you'd expect when talking to someone. This eTeleporter hopes to change that, allowing eye-contact on videocalls, and is counting on Kickstarter to make it happen.

The eTeleporter uses a clever mirror system (using a two-way mirror) to project the video image while allowing the camera behind to record your face looking directly at the image. The result is that you can actually look at the person you're talking to and be recorded as doing so.

The only drawback is that its designed to work solely with the iPad and it costs $99 (or $85 if you're fast enough to get one of the first units). But if you spend most of your time doing FaceTime calls during the day and use an iPad to do it... it may not be such a bad deal after all (though for best effect you'd also want the person on the receiving end to have an eTeleporter as well.)

Facetime over 3G in iPhone

Now that anyone can easily jailbreak their iPhones (including the latest iPhone 4) with JailbreakMe, it was just a matter of installing the right hacks in order to make Facetime videocalls over 3G (officially you can only do it over WiFi.)

All you need is My3G, a small App that tricks your iPhone into thinking it's connected over WiFi even when it's on 3G. (And allowing you to use your unlimited 3G data plan to its fullest: downloading 20MB+ Apps over 3G, and watch high-quality YouTube videos - things you can only currently do over WiFi.)

Facetime over 3G in iPhone? Fring Does it Better

Facetime video-calling in the iPhone 4 was received with high regards (even though videochats are nothing new - its been around for ages - though no one really ever uses it).

However, as much as I would like to brag about Facetime, it has two major limitations that make it a lot less useful than it could be:
First of all, it works only over WiFi! No Facetiming while you're out on the street or moving around (unless you have a mobile portable hotspot.)
Second, it works only between iPhone 4's (Apple does want other services/developers to implement FaceTime protocol, but for the time being... there's nothine else out there.)

But... fear not: Fring, the well known multi-service multi-platform App comes to the rescue!

In its latest version you can make videocalls with the iPhone 4, over WiFi and... over 3G as well!

Besides, you can use it to call all your friends, as it's available for Android and Nokia as well. (The iPhone version is also compatible with the latest iOS4 multitasking features, meaning you can use your iPhone while doing other stuff.)

Highly recommended app for all supported mobiles:

iPhone 4 WWDC Keynote

The new iPhone is here, and here's the short list of what's new - with more being detailed over the next few days.

Update: check the quicktime video here.

iPhone 4

It's official, forget the iPhone HD, the new iPhone is the: iPhone 4.
The design is the one that was floating around with the leaked prototypes - not exactly the world's best kept secret :)
Super slim, super tight device, with everything highly integrated and packed into a small format.

As for those odd groves everyone was complaining about, it looks like I was right in my assumptions: it indeed is to serve as enhanced antenas.

It also has the same A4 CPU as the iPad, two microphones (noise cancellation), WiFi N, HSDPA/HSUPA, etc.

HD Retina Display

The screen indeed get a much needed upgrade. It has 4 times the resolution (960x640) uses an IPS panel, 4x better contrast 800:1.
The 326ppi density is very close to what the human eye can actually resolve, hence the Retina Display title. I'm sure we won't be able to live without it once we've seen it.

Battery

Excellent improvements, considering the enhanced CPU and screen: 7h 3G talk, 6h 3G browsing 3G, 10h WiFi, 10h video, 40h music, 300h standby.

Cameras

Beside the extra frontal camera, the back camera gets a bump to 5Mp and uses a backside illuminated sensor, offering a much better light sensitivity. You also get 720p HD video recording at 30fps, and in-phone video editing with iMovie on the iPhone.

You also get videochat capabilities with Facetime.

Although it works only over WiFi for now (more to do with operators than the hardware itself) Apple wants Facetime to become a standard and gets used by other developers.

Gyroscope

Just like what Nintendo did with their Wiimote, improving it with the Motion Plus (which is a gyroscope) Apple also pushed the envelope in motion detection forward. This gyroscope allows Apps to better track movement through space (instead of just accelerations.)


iOS4

The new iPhone OS update, now called iOS4 will be available June 21st, for free for all!
Multitasking, folders, selectable search engine (Yahoo, Google, Bing), and lots lots more.

Launch date

The iPhone 4 will be available June 24th in 5 countries: USA, France, Germany, UK, Japan.
In July it will be available for some more, and in September to 88 more.
Unfortunately for me, the new iPhone 4 is only coming to Portugal in September... still a long way off. :(

The price seems to be the same as before, $199 for the 16GB version and $299 for the 32GB version (with 2year contracts.)

In Europe I expect we'll get the same 599€ and 699€ prices as before.


[Photos via GDGT e Engadget, data via Apple iPhone 4 PR]