Fully utilizing Apple’s new, yet familiar FaceTime features
Written by Austin Tibbs
iOS 15’s new FaceTime
With iOS 15 now here and loads of new exciting features to talk about, I wanted to start off by discussing an app we have all come to know and love — FaceTime. “Powerful updates to FaceTime audio and video features make calls feel more natural and lifelike. With spatial audio, voices in a Group FaceTime call sound like they’re coming from the direction in which the person is positioned on the screen.” These new sets of features when put together will enhance your overall call quality and give a more in-person presence to your video call using Spacial Audio. Also, with this new update you now have the ability to create links in the app to then share with anyone, on any device.
Scheduling a call has never been easier!
You can directly call someone’s contact just like before, or now you can create and specifically name a link for later or to just send out in masses (up to 32 people in Group Calls). All the receiving end needs to do is enter their name and click join. This will then notify you of someone requesting to join your call (this feature can be blocked from within the call if being spammed).
As depicted above you will also have the ability to simply delete the link if it is possibly compromised or is just no longer needed. They also deployed a new feature to allow you to create a video call straight in your native Calendar app. Just change the location of meeting to a video call as seen below, invite all people involved and boom. You’re set up with a video conference with all invited parties at the specified time. This link works normally as any other link would and can be shared in Emails, social media sites, and will even work with practically anything with a browser. FaceTime still uses end-to-end encryption for this service.
This is quite a bit away from Zoom’s platform as you cannot record the calls through the app or anything similar. You can still however put up text on the screen for viewers or use filters all while in a call.
On Apple’s latest devices you can now also use Portrait Mode while on FaceTime. These features give a whole new dynamic to work calls along while using the Noise Isolation as well. You’ll be nice and prepared for a busy coffee shop meeting while not disturbing your peers. I also can see Apple further improving on these features over time to compete with other similar providers but this is definitely a good start to build off of.
We also now have access to a feature known as SharePlay. SharePlay allows you to share video or music through a video call, all while being in sync with one another. While this feature is active, the volume will be automatically adjusted so you can always hear your fellow caller while also enjoying the show or music. This Apple API allows developers to utilize this service and their services to sync with any devices using this service. Hopefully in the future we will have major service providers in the mix such as Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify, but for now only seem to have Apple’s native services (Apple TV+, Apple Music)and ESPN. They have also implemented a new trial system so if a friend/fellow caller isn’t subscribed to Apple TV+ or a similar service then they can still watch for the time being, which is a nice touch.
