Wired
With iOS 15, Apple is again giving full attention to its FaceTime app, which has been somewhat neglected in terms of functionality in recent years, and has given the video chat application a whole range of new features. Among other things, the application receives a portrait mode as you already know from the camera app. For the first time, non-iPhone users can also take part in FaceTime calls. The SharePlay function widely announced by Apple. For example, you can still share films, music or your iPhone screen with other chat participants in real time. We’ll show you how you can use the new functions!
3D audio & grid view
With the major software update, Apple has integrated a 3D audio function in FaceTime, which ensures that the voices of the chat participants can be heard according to their position on the screen during video calls in order to create a spatial effect. Conversations in FaceTime should appear even more natural and lively than before. The only requirement: an iPhone with an A12 Bionic Chip or newer. So you have to be in possession of an iPhone XR or XS (Max) or newer.
Another new feature concerns the tile look for group calls. The more chat participants gather on FaceTime, the more difficult it becomes to keep track. The new grid view therefore ensures more order for group video calls by showing all participants in tiles of the same size and automatically showing the person who has the word in a larger size.
Microphone modes & portrait mode
A common problem with video calls is that either annoying noises make communication difficult or some acoustics do not really arrive. Apple has now taken care of this with special microphone modes.
The “voice isolation” option ensures that disturbing background noises, such as B. from a television or dog barking, can be filtered out by means of machine learning and the other person hears your voice even more clearly. The “broad spectrum” mode, on the other hand, lets your conversation partner perceive even more of your surroundings. B. at events or guitar lessons via FaceTime makes perfect sense.
The portrait mode, which most of you are probably already familiar with from the camera app, has now also made it into FaceTime with iOS 15 and optionally provides a considerable depth of field effect for video calls.
The background is blurred, so that the chat participant in the foreground is more in the center. The function can provide a little more privacy as well as conceal any clutter in your own four walls. If you want to use the portrait mode in FaceTime, you also need an iPhone XR or XS (Max) or newer.
To activate the functions during a FaceTime call, simply go to the control center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (iPhones with home button) or swiping down from the top right corner of the display (iPhone without home button). Then press the respective button to get to the settings level.
Create & share FaceTime links
With iOS 15, Apple also opens FaceTime for other operating systems such as Android or Windows. With the new “FaceTime Links” you can invite iPhone users as well as people who do not have an iPhone to FaceTime calls. This means that your chat partners can take part in the video call not only via iPhone or other Apple devices, but also with an Android smartphone or on the desktop via the browser (Chrome and Edge). With the latter, Apple could seriously compete with top dogs like Zoom or Skype in the future.
The new FaceTime links can be created directly in the FaceTime app and shared in apps such as Messages, Mail or WhatsApp. To do this, open FaceTime on your iPhone and tap “Create link” in the top left corner. Then you can select an app in which you want to share the web link.
For example, you can post this in an iMessage group to invite all participants to the FaceTime call. Before someone can join the chat, you have to confirm the request to join by tapping the green tick.
Or you can create a FaceTime link for an event in the calendar app to which you can invite your contacts. They can then join the FaceTime call in due course.
SharePlay: Experience films & music together
Another exciting new feature in FaceTime is “SharePlay”. The wording already gives an idea of what it is about: The function makes it possible to watch films and series or listen to music together and in real time via FaceTime. The content is then played synchronously on the Apple devices (iPhone, iPad or Mac) of the chat participants. Meanwhile, the FaceTime call will continue in a small and moving window. Everyone has the opportunity to see each other, comment on what is happening on the screen and even control the playback. You can also share your own current iPhone screen with the chat partners to show websites, apps, photos and more in the FaceTime conversation.
SharePlay is a great feature to enjoy films, programs or music together with friends and family despite the physical distance and thus create the feeling of a real meeting. However, we will have to be patient a little longer, because unfortunately Apple had to withdraw the feature at short notice and will not make it available for the iPhone 15 release as planned, but will only roll it out later via a later software update. On its own developer website, Apple describes the delay with the words:
“SharePlay has been deactivated for use in the iOS and iPadOS 15 developer beta 6 and will be deactivated for use in the initial release of the first version this fall. SharePlay will be reactivated in future developer beta versions and made available to the public in software updates in autumn. ”
Source: iPhone Tricks