Video chat done the Apple way
FaceTime, the excellent video calling application originally introduced for the iPhone 4, is Apple's answer to Skype. It allows you to keep in touch with friends and family on Apple devices via video chats. Open Facetime and you'll immediately see yourself on screen and you must sign in with your Apple account to get started. Once done, FaceTime will sync with your address book, allowing you to immediately call anyone with an iOS device.
Stable, high quality video calling from Mac to iOS devices
The best way of keeping in touch for Apple devices
FaceTime is an excellent chat application that's certainly the best option for communication between your Mac and friends or family using Apple devices.
Calling an iPad or iPhone is easy, once your contacts are added via your Apple ID. Image quality is excellent, and the display is pleasantly free of distractions. If the iPhone is rotated, the image also changes on FaceTime for Mac, from landscape to portrait and back. All round, it's a very smooth, simple and comfortable video call experience. Although much will depend on your internet connection, the quality of calling on Facetime is generally better than Skype.
FaceTime is not perfect though. While integration with your contacts on the iPhone makes perfect sense, on the Mac it's less useful and some users may find contacts get duplicated or confused on their Mac. This is complicated by the fact that you can't add contacts to FaceTime directly, but have to do it via Address Book so if you don't use Address Book, you'll have to start. It would also be nice to have FaceTime open without constantly seeing video of yourself!
Improves performance when FaceTime is taken full screen. Update only available via the Mac App Store.
Changes
Improves performance when FaceTime is taken full screen. Update only available via the Mac App Store.
User reviews about FaceTime
by Anonymous
I have used it on my iPhone to connect with family, friends and clients. It has been very useful. Now I hope it will be as useful to me on my MAC.
by Anonymous
Works just about fine..
Great app for socializing. I love it cos of the video and audio quality.
Pros: Video/Audio quality.
Cons: Not supported on other devices.
Connectivity issues. More
by Anonymous
FaceTime is the best video chat application..
FaceTime is by far the best way to video call somebody owning an iDevice. It offers a far greater quality and stability than competitors like Skype, especially in low-speed networks, FaceTime remains clear while Skype gets all pixels and the sound gets delayed. Given a medium network strength and a FAST internet connection, FaceTime offers the much clearer image and sound experience. I have now been using and testing FaceTime for more than 1-and-a-half years for several hours daily (my girlfriend lives in Australia whilst I am from Germany), thus am honest calling FaceTime clearly superior to Skype.
Pros:
Audio Quality
Video Image Quality
Stability
Simplicity
Echo suppression
System integration and notification, if called
Adaption to network strength and speed
Says paused when minimised, image doesn't just freeze like Skype
Cons:
Calls between more than 2 people are not implemented
Should show more than the last 100 calls in the log More
by Anonymous
Sound problems.
Using facetime on mac desktops or laptops flags unresolved audio problems where one or both users loose sound although video remains. More
by Anonymous
you can add contacts! :D.
Actually, you can add contacts to facetime! You have to do it via Adressbook:add a contact into your adress book, and it will appear on your facetime contacts! Simples! *squeak* More
by Anonymous
Fun, but....
It's really pretty, and really fun. It does what it's supposed to do and does it pretty well! I can't wait for it to be more standardized and work with non-apple products....
Pros:
easy as heck
pretty UI
Cons:
can't rotate (I think?!)
need a camera on computer (can't just stream from iPhone) More