iPhone 4G Front-Facing Camera Confirmed by Apple Patent? [Apple Patent Reveals Front-Facing Camera for Handsets; iPhone 4G to Gain Video Call Ability?]

You know how the drill with Apple patents is, don’t you, folks? Not everything we get to read from Cupertino gets implemented right away so there’s no point in getting overexcited yet about a front-facing camera in the next-gen Apple handset, the iPhone 4G.

The filing, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Compensating for Variations in Digital Cameras,” talks basically about the quality of the current cameras found in iPhone and iPod models and ways to improve those phone cameras in future models. While all that sounds good and dandy we’re more interested in the picture above which is taken from the patent.

As you can see Apple is considering a front-facing camera for its handsets and the upcoming iPhone versions could get it. In fact it has been suggested more than once that the next-gen iPhone will come with such a feature on board. After all it’s not the first time customers ask for video capabilities from the iPhone but maybe this time our wishes will be heard.

The iPad was rumored to come with two cameras on board, one for video conferencing and one for pictures and video recording, although the iPad doesn’t really seem fit for that. When Steve Jobs unveiled the device we were all unpleasantly surprised to find no camera on board.

Sure we also need the software to support a front-facing camera and maybe iPhone OS 4.0 will do that, among other spectacular things. As we’ve seen earlier on today iPhone OS 4.0 is rumored to be unveiled at some point in March. Would Apple really do such a thing? Unveil iPhone OS 4.0 before an actual iPhone 4G hits the market?

Either way this new patent gives us an idea of what Apple is planning to do in the future. Let’s just hope that the picture depicts the very near future. It will be really annoying to be disappointed for the third time in a row by the lack of a front-facing camera.