With rumors of the new iPhone’s video recording and editing capability abound, it seems clear that Apple is focusing their attention on one of their mobile juggernaut’s weakest points. So much so, in fact, that rumors also peg the new iPhone as having a front-facing camera for honest-to-goodness video chat (as opposed to AT&T’s one-way Video Share streaming service). According to a screenshot leaked to TUAW from an unpublished AT&T support website, though, Apple is so enamored with their new focus on video that they may name the whole damned phone after it. That’s right – we may well be hearing news of the iPhone Video come WWDC in a few days.
At this point though, everything is still conjecture – after all, we saw a flood of fake ads and faux-phones right around this time last year. Looking at the screenshot itself, it would be easy to mock up in Photoshop based off of a few reference images, not to mention any number of Firefox web dev plugins that could replicate the same effect within the browser. After all, it supposedly comes from an unpublished version of AT&T’s support site – who would be able to verify it? If we assume that the leak is real, it would be hard to resist the temptation of giving Apple the award for Most Uninspired Product Name of 2009. Given Apple’s track record with unassuming product names, though, it seems like iPhone Video would be right up their alley.
It could also be called iPhone video because it will have a OLED screen and be HD?
It’s intresting if it does go to iPhone video. What would be next? “iPhone nano, shuffle, mini, classic…”
I think Apple is going to flip mobile video (including TV and Video calling) on its head. Instant Youtube uploads, TV etc
http://bit.ly/ijWFY
I really don’t see video chat happening unless it’s restricted to wifi, and then I don’t really see the point of adding it so much because it’ll then lose major cool points. I just can’t see AT&T being upset over slingplayer and all the data strain from iPhones and then being able to support a usable video chat experience.
The actual video taken by the new phones actually looks pretty good… it’s a nice addition. I’m not sure why you’d really need video phone on your iPhone, tho. Any call I make when I’m out, I’m pretty ok w/ being audio only. At home, give me Skype and I’m pretty much satisfied.
The front facing video could potentially give Skype a run for its money, given its greater accessibility and wireless phone capabilities. Next time you seen someone “hunched over” their mobile they might be conducting a video conference or even a job interview! There is a greater need for private communication and the iVideo mobile may be the answer.