Using cameras and FaceTime with the iPad 2

The new iPad 2 has two cameras, one mounted on the front above the screen and one on the back in the upper-left. The one in the front is ideal for

video conferencing through FaceTime

as it is facing forward and is only capable of VGA quality video. The one on the back can take high quality still photos and 720p video.

To start the camera, just open the Camera application. Once inside, you can switch between cameras by using the camera switch icon in the upper-right. To toggle between still photos and video, just flip the slider in the lower-right corner. Tap somewhere on the screen to focus the camera on that position and to bring up the zoom meter. Tap the camera button to take photos or start video.

Using FaceTime on the iPad 2 allows you to go into video chat with anyone who has either an iPad 2 or an iPhone. At the bottom, you'll see buttons that allow you to either mute the volume or end the conversation. In FaceTime, you'll be able to also switch to the rear camera if you want to show someone something during a FaceTime session.

To start FaceTime, you'll first need contacts, which means that you'll need a phone number or an email address. Once you have at least one contact, you can start a FaceTime session just by selecting them from the list.