iPad 2 Gets Dual Cameras, Ready for FaceTime Video Chat

The curtain has been drawn on the iPad 2, finally revealing the long-awaited dual cameras everyone has been clamoring for these past few months. Now, it is time iPad users learned a little something about the networking tool.

For starters, Apple’s FaceTime is a popular application that allows video calls on the iPhone 4, the newest version of the iPod Touch and Mac computers using a Wi-Fi connection. It enables devices with cameras to perform video chat functions with others while keeping an eye on themselves in the lower corner of the screen. Until today, FaceTime was not available to be used on the iPad because the original device lacked the front- and rear-facing camera setup required to use the video chatting feature.

How it works

Activate FaceTime by clicking on the camera-shaped icon (after it has been downloaded from the App Store ) and search for any contacts that also have access to the tool. However, before connecting, look for the FaceTime function on the menu located between the “add call plus” symbol and the human-shaped contacts figure.  If the user you’re connecting with has a compatible device (an iPad 2, iPhone 4 or newer iPod Touch), then a connection is made within seconds.

However, some connectivity options may need to be adjusted — depending on which iPad 2 model you are using — and you might need to look for a strong Wi-Fi network before dialing.

One of the reasons the iPhone 4 is popular is because users can dial up their friends and spend a little “face time” using a built-in camera. The iPad 2, with its 9.7-inch screen,  will provide a more impressive view, especially when compared to the cramped space of the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch.

Video-conferencing capabilities

Having a front- and rear-facing camera setup is key in Apple’s efforts to grab a larger piece of the businesses market. The dual cameras make possible business video conferencing. The single-camera format doesn't allow  two-way viewing and would have limited the iPad’s potential to grab the attention of business users — a segment Apple has been slow to reach with the device.

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