What happens if you get a FaceTime call request from someone but you're not connected to a WiFi network at the time? Does it ask you if you want to accept the request and connect to WiFi (assuming you're around a wireless network you can connect to) or does it just not notify you at all?
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FaceTime and WiFi
- Thread starter BGTHEMOGUL
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That sucks. Some of us don't like to keep WiFi on all the time because of battery drain. I thought it would pop up asking if I want to connect to a WiFi network and accept the FaceTime request or simply decline it.
While on this topic does anybody know how badly keeping WiFi on all the time actually drains the battery?
It depends on how good your 3G signal is. If you have only 1-3 bars, having the WiIF on and connected will be better on your battery. If the iPhone has 4-5 bars then you may have better battery life with WiFi off.
That's what I'm afraid of and what makes the way FaceTime is configured not make any sense. So basically it's just a roll of the dice and hopefully whoever you try to invite to a FaceTime video chat has WiFi on at that exact moment?
The odds of catching people exactly when they have WiFi enabled and connected to a network seem like a longshot which makes the FaceTime service seem not very useful or realistic.
The odds of catching people exactly when they have WiFi enabled and connected to a network seem like a longshot which makes the FaceTime service seem not very useful or realistic.
Why is this? I don't understand the logic here. It would still search for and use the same WiFi signal regardless of your 3G signal.
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I actually use Qik to video chat via 3G that's not what I'm getting at here. I personally like the FaceTime more than Skype, Tango, Qik, etc. It just doesn't seem logical that they would make you "guess" when someone is on a WiFi network to invite them to a FaceTime video chat.
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Haha well they need to focus on reality and not their perfect little world.
In areas of low cell coverage the phone works harder and uses more power to maintain cell connectivity. Using Wifi in this case might use less power (assuming the cell is turned off, which you can do by using Airplane mode and then enabling Wifi).
With good cell coverage the phone can use less power to maintain connection. It's possible this can be less power than Wifi.
All of this is moot anyway because FaceTime requires wifi regardless.
iPhone's almost always have at least one active internet connection or one on stand by. 3G radios can use less power to connect to the internet, if there is a good signal. But if there is a low signal, the 3G radio must generate a more powerful signal. At one point, around 3 bars, it becomes more power efficient to have the iPhone's active internet connection be the WiFi.
Thanks for the explanation behind that. That's what I figured you were suggesting. Still baffled by the fact that it doesn't notify you of an incoming FaceTime video chat request and give you an option to connect to WiFi to accept the call so you don't have to keep it on all the time. Seems like it would have been quite simple to implement.
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So you keep the WiFi enabled all the time? What about while you're out isn't it constantly searching for and trying to join other networks besides just your home network when you're at your house?
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That's a bit ridiculous in my opinion to have to call or text somebody first to set up a FaceTime meeting. It should be spontaneous.
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As soon as I enter my home my Iphone connects to our home network and I see no difference in battery drain whatsoever
So you keep the WiFi enabled all the time? What about while you're out isn't it constantly searching for and trying to join other networks besides just your home network when you're at your house?
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That's a bit ridiculous in my opinion to have to call or text somebody first to set up a FaceTime meeting. It should be spontaneous.
Why wpuld ypu expect otherwise, after all, facetime is coded to work egalitarianly on all iOS devices. This includes the ipod touches and the wifi ipads, which all never have any cellular connection, it only make sense to turn off the app when wifi is not available.
If on the other hand the app has different versions where it depends on whether the device has cellular data, then it would make sense to have that functionality that you mentioned. Might as well work with tango now instead of facetime, since FT is pretty limiting when you have large data plans.
In my opinion it only makes sense to have it give you the option to connect to a WiFi network if one is available to accept a FaceTime video call. That's what seems logical to me but hey, to each their own.
Guys I have some odd news. Last night, I had a notification on my screen of "Missed Facetime Call" from one of my contacts. And I was not connected to a WiFi network at the time.
Sounds like he tried to contact me while I was on 3G and it went thru???
Sounds like he tried to contact me while I was on 3G and it went thru???
Wifi does not cause any undue strain on the battery. Keep it on. Turn off "ask to join networks"
That is how I have it set up but that doesn't help or fix anything. If you're out and about and didn't voluntarily choose to connect to a WiFi network you still won't ever know about any FaceTime calls or requests. The only time it helps is if you're at home connected to your network but that still doesn't help you if you're trying to initiate the video call with absolutely no idea if the people you're trying to FaceTime with are on a WiFi network.