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FaceTime Audio Coming to Macs With Next OS X Update

I thought this was already possible? I guess that was Line & Skype only. Jeez, talk about behind the times Apple.

Btw, why the hell is there no text chat with video? Sometimes I am unable to speak but can watch video and chat. This would be invaluable. Not to mention handy for hearing impaired!

Maybe iMessage chat bubbles under the video.
 
unlinked said:
At least until they remember they charge for data too.
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Of course no one was expecting it for free. But at least the device is far away from the grips of the carrier when they decided what apps you can have.

I remember my Motorola Star tac from AT&T and Sprint with a data connection which back then cost me 10 dollars more I think. Not sure. But all I got was this screen....

1.Text Browser
2.Weather
3.News
4.Stocks

Buy a wallpaper or ringtone for 99 cents.. splattered all over the rest of the diminutive LCD screen.
 
WilliamLondon said:
Sorry, but Apple promised it would be an open standard and would become available on other platforms, whether it's cost effective or not - that is the reality. Saying there is no prospect, saying Apple doesn't have the kind of business model... ignores the original and very clearly stated promise that it would be available. Add to that, that the entire worth of the platform for those who already have an Apple device, is that it increases the worth of those Apple devices immediately if people can message and call others who don't have Apple products (which is the majority of the world).

This needs to become what they originally promised, an open standard.
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Ok, I've given you the reasons, now I'm giving you the facts- FaceTime will NOT be made open irregardless of the fact that an employee who is now dead misspoke in 2010. Sorry, not happening. #dealWithIt
 
Klae17 said:
Just type in iMessages. Or apple messaging. Or Mac messages app. Very simple to add another word to the search. Many people already know about this though. No brainer.
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Thanks, I know how to use Google. It often doesn't work, especially with more complicated searches since Google will pick up on the extra "Mac" or "Apple" word and do something undesired. "iMessages" is the worst option and will give you results about the iPhone.

I usually have to end up using "iChat" to search. That's fine as long as I don't need anything specific to Messages.
 
proline said:
Ok, I've given you the reasons, now I'm giving you the facts- FaceTime will NOT be made open irregardless of the fact that an employee who is now dead misspoke in 2010. Sorry, not happening. #dealWithIt
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Irregardless [rolls eyes], you aren't an Apple spokesperson (perhaps a fortune teller?<smirk>) and one thing of which I'm sure is that Apple promised this, I don't give a rat's arse hair whether it was given by someone who is dead or not, the corporation (who is not this dead person of which you speak) promised this. Your fortune telling aside, that is the fact.
 
proline said:
Ok, I've given you the reasons, now I'm giving you the facts- FaceTime will NOT be made open irregardless of the fact that an employee who is now dead misspoke in 2010. Sorry, not happening. #dealWithIt
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Whence did you get that info?

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djtech42 said:
Glad it's here, but I wish it was called something different. Like...iChat? :eek:
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Yes. The reasoning behind renaming the stuff is to make it like the iPhone... but why didn't the iPhone have iChat?? Biggest disappointment when I tried the iPhone and couldn't find it on there. "Great, now I have to use the horrible AIM app."
 
newagemac said:
My wife and I both have Macs and iPhones. In fact most of my friends and clients do as well. With almost 50% of smartphones in the U.S. being iPhones and with Macs, iPod Touches, and iPads as well added to that number, there are going to be a LOT of people finding this useful.
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I think you may be a bit too optimistic. iPhone market share is closer to 40% in the US and less than that globally, it's decreasing even. I haven't had an opportunity to use FaceTime thus far, because only few of my friends have iPhones or Macs and even fewer have FaceTime enabled. FaceTime only works if your social hub uses Apple products. If you want to VoIP, Skype is still first choice. I wish that there would be more cross-compatibility. FaceTime and iMessage have so much more potential if only they were more widely available.
 
9000 said:
Then some scumbag with a random phone sends you text message... 30 cents down the drain. Unless you have a carrier that lets you totally cancel SMS.
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I blocked all SMS with AT&T so that I don't get junk messages. It is free to do that.

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While I am a fan of apple and not google, I use google hangout app on my iPhone to call my family in canada from the US for free. I can even call a regular home phone number for free. When can apple do that?
 
The real story is, what's up with those black notifications? How the heck can we get that?
 
9000 said:
Thanks, I know how to use Google. It often doesn't work, especially with more complicated searches since Google will pick up on the extra "Mac" or "Apple" word and do something undesired. "iMessages" is the worst option and will give you results about the iPhone.

I usually have to end up using "iChat" to search. That's fine as long as I don't need anything specific to Messages.
Click to expand...

You lose the internet....

m9h78jd.png
 
9000 said:
Thanks, I know how to use Google. It often doesn't work, especially with more complicated searches since Google will pick up on the extra "Mac" or "Apple" word and do something undesired. "iMessages" is the worst option and will give you results about the iPhone.

I usually have to end up using "iChat" to search. That's fine as long as I don't need anything specific to Messages.
Click to expand...

Searching for Mac messages app works perfect. Google is quite sophisticated.
 
DeSnousa said:
I fail to see how this is going to be practical when Facetime is not open. Can't use it with my wife because she has an Android phone.

Don't get me wrong it is good that this is addressed but I don't really know who would extensively use this apart from one or two friends.
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I guess it is dependent on your situation. All my family and friends are on iPhones, Macs, or iPads. I will find this useful.
 
hansonjohn590 said:
Well said. What good is a calling feature if it's not open? I thought way back when Facetime was introduced, Apple said it would be made open.
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That is true. Then Apple was sued by patent troll Virnetx, and lost in the first round. Currently, Apple is appealing the decision. It can't make the technology open because another company is claiming it has a patent on certain parts of the technology.

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proline said:
The reality is that FaceTime / Messages are not free. It costs Apple money to run the servers and it costs money to maintain the software. Apple doesn't have the kind of business model that allows it to provide messaging services free of charge to the entire internet. Neither does anyone else for that matter- there is no prospect of being able to monetize the idea of sending messages over the internet with all the free alternatives. As a result, they aren't going to open it up unless they think it will increase their hardware sales.
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Then explain Webkit. It costs Apple money to maintain that. Apple is OK with making technology open source when it makes sense. It makes sense with Facetime. Apple, however, is being sued over Facetime. If it makes the technology open source and all these other platforms adopt it without the patent issues being worked out, Apple would be on the hook not only for its own platform but others as well.
 
slu said:
No kidding. FaceTime audio is a really stupid name that makes no sense.
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Uhh, VoiceTime has already been suggested by a couple of people here. It's the logical choice.

I'm guessing that Apple may secretly be trying to obtain a trademark on "VoiceTime" at this very moment. And it's about 100% certain that some small company smartly claimed (squattered) the trademark already. So then comes the next move of Apple having to buy out the already-trademarked name.
 
DeSnousa said:
I fail to see how this is going to be practical when Facetime is not open. Can't use it with my wife because she has an Android phone.

Don't get me wrong it is good that this is addressed but I don't really know who would extensively use this apart from one or two friends.
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Um.... wha? It means people with Macs can call people with Macs or people with iPhones/iPads. Just because your wife made the wrong choice, don't be a hater! :p
 
9000 said:
Then some scumbag with a random phone sends you text message... 30 cents down the drain. Unless you have a carrier that lets you totally cancel SMS.
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$0.30 vs $20, I'll take $0.30 on the off chance I get some random text message. I think this year I've gotten maybe 5, so $1.50 vs $240...
 
newagemac said:
My wife and I both have Macs and iPhones. In fact most of my friends and clients do as well. With almost 50% of smartphones in the U.S. being iPhones and with Macs, iPod Touches, and iPads as well added to that number, there are going to be a LOT of people finding this useful.
Click to expand...

OriginalMacRat said:
Get a new wife.
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Can we have an annual best comments poll on macrumors please. You my friend would have my vote.
 
DeSnousa said:
I fail to see how this is going to be practical when Facetime is not open. Can't use it with my wife because she has an Android phone.

Don't get me wrong it is good that this is addressed but I don't really know who would extensively use this apart from one or two friends.
Click to expand...

It's plenty practical for folks with Apple products...which is Apple's goal obviously. The fact your wife has an Android phone doesn't negate the usefulness for everyone with Apple products.
 
WilliamLondon said:
Irregardless [rolls eyes], you aren't an Apple spokesperson (perhaps a fortune teller?<smirk>) and one thing of which I'm sure is that Apple promised this, I don't give a rat's arse hair whether it was given by someone who is dead or not, the corporation (who is not this dead person of which you speak) promised this. Your fortune telling aside, that is the fact.
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You can get mad, you can whine, but Apple is under no obligation to keep their word on this one, and they won't. The situation has changed and plans change with it. You aren't getting BB10 on your playbook either, going to complain about that promise? You need to learn the difference between a credible promise and idle chatter.
 
9000 said:
If you look at your own screenshot, all but two of the results are about the iPhone, and the rest that have anything to do with OS X are about the iMessage service itself, not Messages.
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OSX never had iMessages so I don't understand the issue.
If you do the same search for Messages you get instant Mavericks results.
 
how about fixing the facetime app first so the audio doesn't keep cutting out after you've been talking for a while and getting facetime to be compatible with other non apple users??

Always have to keep restarting the app cuz the audio on either side goes silent..
 
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