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Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Lets Video Calling Apps Turn Off Reactions

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Apple today publicly confirmed that iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 allow developers of video calling apps to turn off the Reactions feature by default in their apps.

ios-17-facetime-effects.jpg

As we reported earlier this month, developers can control the default behavior of Reactions in their apps with a new API for iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and likely macOS 14.4. The updates are expected to be released to the public in March.

Apple's developer notes for the iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 Release Candidates:
Developers can control the default behavior of Reactions with the key […] This is controlled per application and user choice will override application declared defaults.
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For example, video conferencing app Zoom could use Apple's new API to turn off the Reactions feature in its app by default. iPhone and iPad users who manually turn Reactions back on in Control Center would still be able to use the feature in the app.

Reactions remain turned on by default on iOS 17.4 overall, so they still work in FaceTime and in apps that do not use the API without any further steps required.

Reactions

Starting with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, you can make hand gestures during video calls in the FaceTime app and other video conferencing apps to fill the screen with 3D effects. For example, you can hold two thumbs up to show fireworks on the screen, or make two peace signs with your hands to show confetti.

Unfortunately, many users are unaware that this new feature is turned on by default, which has led to some awkward and embarrassing moments during important video calls, such as online therapy sessions and business meetings.


Instead of turning off Reactions by default altogether, Apple is allowing developers to control the feature on a per-app basis with this new API.

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris assisted with this story.

Article Link: Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Lets Video Calling Apps Turn Off Reactions
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/27/apple-confirms-ios-17-4-reactions-change/
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Reactions: iSuzan, gusmula, sinoka56 and 1 other person
This is great... Now I can video call my therapist without the fireworks

I have so many issues... whether I should buy now, or wait a little... if I got the right device when I did buy... which memory configuration and GPU option... and if I should charge to 80 % or just let it be... and if I am really seeing jelly scroll or if its just me...

It just goes on and on...

and then there's the bugs... bugs everywhere... and now I think there might be bugs in my blood... they are everywhere....
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, !!!, Victor Mortimer and 6 others
Fuzzball84 said:
This is great... Now I can video call my therapist without the fireworks

I have so many issues... whether I should buy now, or wait a little... if I got the right device when I did buy... which memory configuration and GPU option... and if I should charge to 80 % or just let it be... and if I am really seeing jelly scroll or if its just me...

It just goes on and on...

and then there's the bugs... bugs everywhere... and now I think there might be bugs in my blood... they are everywhere....
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There's an app for that!
 
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Reactions: Fuzzball84 and SidricTheViking
I haven't had any video calls yet, but how do I nuke this feature entirely? Not only am I not interested in it, I literally don't want it to happen, ever. This kind of thing should have been purely opt in only, or at least the first time you went to do a video chat, there should have been a prompt asking if you want to enable it or not. It should be able to be disabled from a system level.
 
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Reactions: !!!, Victor Mortimer, michaelnugent and 7 others
eicca said:
Once again Apple backtracking on shoving features down our throats.

It doesn’t matter if you think it’s cool, Apple, you’re not always right.
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The company has been spinning their wheels (software wise) since Snow Leopard in my opinion.

Apple should be ashamed that something like that happened to a Senator on live TV using their software.
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, EmotionalSnow, Victor Mortimer and 8 others
brofkand said:
The company has been spinning their wheels (software wise) since Snow Leopard in my opinion.

Apple should be ashamed that something like that happened to a Senator on live TV using their software.
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It's this stupid annual cycle they decided they needed to do for some reason. Computers are a mature platform, there just isn't much to add anymore that's actually useful so they stuff it with all this gimmicky crap to make it seem new and fresh. I'd like to go back to a new OS every 2-3 years with a longer run time to allow more bugs to be fixed. The annual cycle is tiring and I'm over it.
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, !!!, RuralJuror and 17 others
These should be disabled by default period. It was completely embarrassing to have that crap appear during a business call. People use Macs for work - not just facetime with junior high kids.

Putting the preference buried and only accessible when the camera is on was just adding insult to injury.

Right up there with the touch bar as a bad idea that never should have seen the light of day.
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, !!!, RuralJuror and 8 others
HVDynamo said:
I haven't had any video calls yet, but how do I nuke this feature entirely? Not only am I not interested in it, I literally don't want it to happen, ever. This kind of thing should have been purely opt in only, or at least the first time you went to do a video chat, there should have been a prompt asking if you want to enable it or not. It should be able to be disabled from a system level.
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You have to activate the camera, then on the green camera icon in the tool bar, there's an option to turn it off.

Yeah, they hid that pretty well.
 
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HVDynamo said:
It's this stupid annual cycle they decided they needed to do for some reason. Computers are a mature platform, there just isn't much to add anymore that's actually useful so they stuff it with all this gimmicky crap to make it seem new and fresh. I'd like to go back to a new OS every 2-3 years with a longer run time to allow more bugs to be fixed. The annual cycle is tiring and I'm over it.
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This is why I miss Jon Saracusa at Ars Tech. I never cared about the GUI flourishes, and Jon would dive deep into what was happening with the actual OS. There was always a lot happening under the hood, and I'm sure there still is, but if it's visible at all it's scattered across WWDC talks. It was nice to have that all distilled into a long form essay and put into context.
 
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Reactions: bice, amartinez1660, .wojtek and 1 other person
Maybe they are starting to realise that some people buy Apple devices to work not just to scroll on TikTok.

Maybe the drop in iPad sales helped them to understand that not only kindergartens buy iPads.


Hopefully it’s a fresh start..
 
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Reactions: amartinez1660 and .wojtek
I find the function very premature like and do not understand why you cannot disconnect it.
So unprofessional, should an attendee by accident show a gesture on a conference call you get "confetti" -seriously what age do the developers have. Seemslike APPLE think they are TikTok, and do not understand the phone may be used fo business and not to entertain school children.
 
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Reactions: amartinez1660 and StralyanPithecus
It took months of awkard business meetings for me to realize this was an apple feature.

Thought it was Google Meet initially. But after a while I noticed it only happened to me and realized I was the only one upgrading my OS… Great roll out!
 
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Reactions: Victor Mortimer
They cant even innovate on with software anymore residing to adding turning on/off features that should have been there at the start to .1 releases.
 
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