At today's Back to the Mac event, Apple released a not-so-surprising application called FaceTime for Mac. The beta version of this application, which is completely free to download, does just what the name implies. It allows you to FaceTime with someone on an iPhone 4, iPod touch, or another Mac. Though the application hasn’t been out very long, we have compiled together our favorite tips and tricks for using FaceTime on the Mac.

1. Add more than one email account

FaceTime on the Mac works just as it does on the iPod touch. You use your Apple ID email address an account with an email address. But, maybe you use another email address other than your Apple ID email address to correspond with friends and family. You can add additional email accounts to the app.

To enter a new address, simply navigate to FaceTime > Preferences and under the section labeled "You can be reached for video calls at," specify a new email address by clicking on the Add Another Email button.

2. It works even when the app isn’t opened

Somewhat surprising is that FaceTime for the Mac works even if the application isn’t opened and running. When someone sends you a FaceTime call, the app will open and display a caller preview window similar to what is displayed on an iPhone or iPod touch. It's always on.

If you wish to turn off this feature, visit FaceTime > Preferences and toggle the switch labeled FaceTime from ON to OFF. This will turn off FaceTime on your Mac.

 

3. Change the Caller ID

 
If you have multiple email addresses linked to your account, you may want to change which address shows up when you call someone from your Mac. To change the caller ID, navigate to FaceTime > Preferences and click on the email address that shows up under the section labeled Caller ID.

From the list of email address that are linked from your account, you will be able to select which one you want to show up when you call someone.

4. Switch microphones

 

When you’re in a call, you may want to switch the microphone that FaceTime is using for the call. You can do this by selecting the appropriate microphone from the video menu.

5. Mute a call

If you need to mute a current call, you can either click the microphone mute button that appears when you mouse over the FaceTime window, or you can click mute in the Video menu. This will mute the audio of the call therefore making you a mime.

6. Portrait or Landscape?

The great thing about FaceTime on the iPhone is that you can use the video feature in either portrait or landscape view. With FaceTime on the Mac, you can still switch between these two views. When someone on the other end switches between the views, the Mac version of FaceTime will automatically flip from portrait to landscape and vice versa.

In the Mac version of FaceTime, you can also switch your views from portrait to landscape by clicking either Use Portrait or Use Landscape from the Video menu. You can also click the small arrow that appears when you mouse over your video viewer. You can also use Command + R to rotate from portrait or landscape.

7. Enter Full Screen

FaceTime for Mac is also fully capable of doing full screen video. While in a video chat, click Enter Full Screen from the Video menu, press Command + Shift + F, or press the small full screen button that appears when you mouse over the video chat window.

Have we missed one of the coolest features of FaceTime for the Mac? If we have, let us know in the comments below.

 

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