Jun 8

I watched Apple's unveiling today of the iPhone 4 (and yes I want one or two) but what really struck me (and others) was their video chat app FaceTime. Sure it's WiFi and iPhone 4 only - but it foreshadows an interesting "social future."

 

 

 

The FaceTime video/commercial is compelling - you can see the potential

Apple always has great ads - and this marketing video is no different. It demonstrates how wonderfully FaceTime will connect people in a way Facebook currently can't - in real time. Sure you could argue that Facebook is one to many – but FaceTime is personal, it's more than a text message or a phone call – it's what we've all been waiting for since Dick Tracey. To be able to video chat with your wife and kids or friends nearly anywhere, anytime, around the world – that's revolutionary – that's marvelous – that's beyond words.

 

What truly struck me was the genius of allowing the iPhone 4 to switch cameras - so during your conversation you could switch to showing the person on the other end what you were looking at. That's a personal dream come true. In a prior post, I spoke about longing for my bluetooth headset to incorporate a camera - so I could share a video stream during my conversation. Well this is it. Sure, it's not in my headset, but let's face it - that's probably only a few years from now.

But how might FaceTime change Facebook (or other social networks)?

It's not going to replace social networking but FaceTime will certainly change it. To me, the missing component of all social networking has always been the true face-to-face socializing. I can follow and chat and share with my friends on Facebook or Twitter or others, but it's never really been the same as hanging out with them in person.

 

Well, the future is here - even if not fully realized yet. Apple's new iPhone 4 and their FaceTime app will evolve in typical fashion. This year WiFi & iPhone 4 only, next year it'll be on 3G (or 4G) and it'll work with the newest iPad and iTouch and it will probably work with the Mac too. I'll even predict that by early 2012 Apple's FaceTime will offer multiple party video chats (iChat does it now). And this will be only the future according to Apple - I can't even imagine what developers will be able to do.

 

So imagine the not-to-distant future - instead of Facebooking or Twittering to your friends - you'll FaceTime them one by one or as a group - and you can all talk "face-to-face" and decide where to go tonight or comment on each other's outfit or let everyone see what's going on around you. That's being social!

 

Of course social networking will adapt

There's already video streaming and sharing services (i.e., http://www.ustream.tv/ or http://chatroulette.com/ ) but the shortcomings of these technologies (besides the obvious issues of seeing things you wish you could forget) have always been you're tied down to a webcam hooked to a computer. In the near future that limitation will disappear. If Apple's FaceTime takes off and mobile carriers embrace (or rather allow) the technology - you'll be able to "broadcast yourself" from anywhere. Facebook and others will certainly adapt and become hubs to "video chat" or to find and connect with your friends to have some "FaceTime." Whatever the future, it's certainly going to be a different world - and I predict it's going to be a lot more social – video style.