Apple has recently announced that their AppStore has  more than 10 billion iPhone and iPad apps been downloaded since it was launched on the 10th July, 2008. Yes, it is not a typo error. It is 10 billion apps with a “B”(10 zeroes behind the “1″) and not an “M”.  This is a really incredible and impressive number of downloads from the Apps Store. What does that number mean? It means that on average, there are 18 million apps downloads per day or more than 200 apps per second. So, by the time you finish reading this very short posting, more than 1000 apps has been downloaded.

Last month Skype introduced a new version of its widely used iPhone app that includes video calling support. After evaluating numerous different poor quality video calling applications for smartphones, we were wondering if Skype would be any different. Fortunately, it is. Although video calls over Skype may not be as great as over FaceTime, Skype 3. 0 can make calls over the 3G network and to desktops, making it the best overall mobile video calling application out there.iPhoneMalaysiaBloggers tested Skype on an iPhone 4 over both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. Phone calls needed a bit longer to be connected than anticipated. Audio came through first with video appearing a second or two later. Audio and video quality began somewhat jerky for each call up, but they got better within a few seconds.
Once fully hooked up and past the initial jerkiness, calls were actually pretty fine. Sound came through pretty clear, and video quality, though not amazing, was steady and consistent. Using an iPhone 4, WE were able to have a clear conversation together with another person using Skype 3. 0 on a desktop Mac.The phone calles over 3G were equally good as phone calls made over the Wi-Fi network. Of course, the quality will be very dependent on the quality of the 3G connection.Skype says it produces calls in 320×240 image resolution, at up to 15 fps, and it appeared to live up to its promises. Video quality was also mostly smooth throughout the entire calls we made, even when we moved the cameras around considerably.We also did some direct comparability tests between Skype 3. 0 and FaceTime. We looked at sharpness, frame rate and overall video call quality. As per the video listed below the FaceTime won over Skype throughout all the three tests, although the differences aren’t so drastic as to render Skype useless.FaceTime’s video is meant to reach 30 fps, which is twice the price of Skype. In our tests FaceTime had a frame rate about 35% greater than Skype’s. That made for smoother, clearer video. But Skype still looks good enough for a video call to work just fine.And while FaceTime might be sharper, it is also a lot more limited in scope. Skype is the best video calling software available right now if you want to make calls over the 3G network, or make calls between a device running iOS and a desktop PC.Skype 3. 0 is certainly a step in the right path for Skype as well as for video calling in general. However Skype still requires to add video calling support for phones running operating systems other than iOS. Luckily, a Skype rep told us.

Below is a video showing the comparison between the iPhone 4 running Skype on 3G vs iPhone 4 running Facetime on 3G.