iPad and iPod Touch Get FaceTime Feature

Regardless of all the iPhone 4 recall madness going on, there seems to be one feature that still has some users pleased: FaceTime. According to Boy Genius Report (BGR), it's headed for the iPad and iPod touch. Wait, how?

Obviously, both the iPad and iPod touch lack built-in cameras, and neither has a phone number attached to them. However, there have been plenty of rumors in the last six months about the iPod touch getting a digital camera, and a new iPod touch this fall seems likely to us.

But as for how to actually log on and make phone calls, BGR says all you need is an Apple ID, which will in turn register your device for FaceTime and use your email address for phone calls. The push notification system will prove even more useful now as that will be how users are alerted to incoming calls. Looks like you'll need at least iPhone OS 4.1 beta installed on your device as well.

Universal Camera Lens for Cell Phone

Whatever is said of the "cheap Chinese crap" by BoingBoing about e-tailer Virtualvillage, it's absorbingly fascinating trolling through the endless pages of OEM gadgetry on offer. I know colleagues who are addicted to the site and have put in good cash for the said "cheap Chinese crap". In fact, one of them recently purchased a brandless watch phone which, to my amazement and his self-justified glee, came with a touchscreen, a tiny stylus in its own discreet slot, and a respectable Bluetooth earpiece. A 3-in-1, all for a mere US$157; what we frugal Asians would call "a damn good deal", free shipping, too.

So out of curiosity, yours truly dug into DealExtreme's bag of tech goodies. And surprise, surprise. What came out was a Mobile Phone Telescope. We've heard of camera lens addons, but a telescope attachment with a 7 x 18mm magnification? It's a little silly to counsel caveat emptor since this gizmo is only going to set you back a sushi lunch special, or just US$17.90. All in, a cool deal, if it works. Particularly if you're into bird watching. The feathered kind, of course.