iOS 15 FaceTime Guide: New Features, SharePlay, Screen Share, Updates

[pdaholic]

I installed the developer beta today. These little improvements are nice, but I’m interested to see what happens when the new safari is unleashed on everyone. Unless Apple makes some changes by the time of the public release, it’s gonna be an ugly launch.

 

[Octavius8]

Even PIP for most video apps does not work until now, who will choose to develop for this gimmick?. I dont think I have used Facetime more than once or twice since it launched many years ago. I only use whatsapp. I think my operator charges extra for it, so, no thanks. My whatsapp has free megas included, facetime nope.

 

[kk200]

Contrary to the recent "survey", I think this is a solid update and look to see what is in store as ios 15 proceeds through the development cycle.

I don‘t care. Switched from Facetime to other solutions since 2018.

 

[Makosuke]

Speaking from a "person who does remote tech support for friends and family" perspective, iOS screen sharing is a feature I would have loved to have since... well, pretty much day 1. Still, glad to see it finally arrive.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Some may find this trivial, but we have used Zoom at work long before the pandemic and, having family overseas, FaceTime has also been a huge daily/weekly driver in my life. One of the nice tweaks/improvements in iOS/iPadOS 15 is (A) you can now directly set-up that FaceTime Link/Scheduled FaceTime directly in Calendar itself; and (B) if you add a Zoom (or other videoconference app) event/invite to Calendar—even if you’ve copied and pasted the meeting info from Mail or Messages, etc., into the Calendar event Notes field—iOS automatically detects which video conference app/service you’re using and can launch you into the call from Calendar when it’s time. A “Join” button appears in the event. No copying, no pasting. No back-and-forth: Click “Join” when it’s time—or automatically jump in from an event alert notification—and voila, you’re in the meeting.

Is that a groundbreaking, revolutionary tent-pole feature? No. Is it a really nice, actually significant improvement to day-to-day life? Absolutely. Especially great for my family who sometimes forget how to copy or join zooms, etc., or when we agree to FaceTime.

Finally, given how stable iOS 15 Beta 1 is, overall (compared to previous Beta 1 releases, especially iOS 7, 10, 13, 14), I would much rather have polishing & ground work or foundation laid for a huge upgrade in iOS 16, versus tons of bugs and issues this year. It’s like Snow Leopard: Most, in hindsight, now regard that as one of the best Mac OS X updates ever—even though it was, much like iOS 15, not super “flashy” or full of “major” new features; rather, lots of smaller improvements that added up to a better user experience and without tons of bugs. I suspect, as others have noted, the pandemic played a big part in having 15 be smaller. Again, I’ll take it. It’s honestly a solid update in day-to-day life — and still less buggy than iOS 14 has been of late.

Super cool feature! So the button that appears is literally the same action as clicking the link. For zoom does it still take you to the annoying launch page in Safari where you just say open zoom or does it deliver you right to the app?

 

[RumorConsumer]

Overall, SharePlay will be an “opt-in” experience or feature for devs on a per app basis. So, while HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+ and Apple TV+ have all committed to adopting the feature and integrating it for launch, others, like Netflix, have not yet and won’t have to. Then, I suspect that even if you’re sharing your screen, which—based on super limited Beta testing, coupled with the information and demos from the WWDC21 Keynote—certain apps, like Netflix, will be “dark” or simply “blacked out,” so they can’t be shared or the content viewed by others. It’s like how you can’t simply access foreign Netflix pages (e.g., Netflix Australia) on an iPhone with a VPN and then AirPlay the content to your Apple TV 4K, because Netflix has blocked AirPlay use.
That said, a growing number of devs have indicated they’ll embrace the feature — it’s going to be a competitive advantage; eventually Netflix will possibly cave — and most apps do seem to function OK when doing Screen Share via SharePlay. Finally, the catch to the apps is, especially for streaming platforms and music (so, Apple Music): Everyone in the call, at least for the super majority of apps/services, has to have their own account w/ the service. So, you can’t so a SharePlay movie night for Disney+ unless everyone in the FaceTime has a D+ account (it’s not clear yet what happens if you password share, such as across family or a “household…”, so that could be a loophole…).

That’s for sure? About everybody needing their own account? What if i play a song in music that is just a regular mp3 or something or a m4v video in the tv app that i made with handbrake? Will those stream to my buddy via share play so we can both see them?

 

[LV426]

This sharing business sounds abysmal, a sort of premonition of the apocalypse where humans no longer live real lives. Maybe it’s just me, but I like to focus on a movie when I watch it. The last thing I’d want to see is a bunch of remote people watching it at the same time.

 

[mac98aop]

If you can now collaboratively add to a music queue whilst on a FaceTime call, might that mean collaborative playlists are coming to Apple Music generally? Would love to do that with family and friends.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

This sharing business sounds abysmal, a sort of premonition of the apocalypse where humans no longer live real lives. Maybe it’s just me, but I like to focus on a movie when I watch it. The last thing I’d want to see is a bunch of remote people watching it at the same time.

I think these updates would have been a home run last year when everyone was sequestered in their houses. Not sure that’s a popular plan this year. The last thing I want to do this year is stay inside and hang with people remotely.

 

[Barbs]

How would the following two different situations be handled:

1) I have Disney+. I select a movie on my account and stream it to a group of three of us. Two of us have Disney+ but the 3rd person doesn’t. Will the person that doesn’t have Disney+ be able to see the movie?

2) I have movies in MP4 format saved in my iCloud Drive and accessed by the files app. Will I be able to host a FaceTime get together and stream those MP4 movies to everyone? And if so, will the others be able to pause or control playback in any way?

Thanks!!

 

[PlainviewX]

Only took Facetime a decade to get a grid view.

 

[PlainviewX]

I must have OCD, because the thing that stood out the most to me was that the Portrait Mode screenshot was landscape. Seems weird when almost all the other screenshots were portrait.

Can't really show a good "portrait mode" of a face when viewing it in portrait orientation.

 

[jopeppi]

iOS 15 seems boring. And just when I thought I was going to replace my 2018 11 iPad Pro, nope, not gonna do it. There’s absolutely no need to replace a 2018 iPad pro for most people. The 2021 is so capable of doing so much more, but with so many restrictions, it’s just an iPad.

 

[I7guy]

I think these updates would have been a home run last year when everyone was sequestered in their houses. Not sure that’s a popular plan this year. The last thing I want to do this year is stay inside and hang with people remotely.

I personally can understand that sentiment. However, as work spaces reopen, some later than others, this might be a useful feature. Don't think Apple could turn on a dime and slam something like this as a feature without many months of testing.

 

[NMBob]

How would the following two different situations be handled:

1) I have Disney+. I select a movie on my account and stream it to a group of three of us. Two of us have Disney+ but the 3rd person doesn’t. Will the person that doesn’t have Disney+ be able to see the movie?

2) I have movies in MP4 format saved in my iCloud Drive and accessed by the files app. Will I be able to host a FaceTime get together and stream those MP4 movies to everyone? And if so, will the others be able to pause or control playback in any way?

Thanks!!

Not if the Copyright Police have anything to say about it. I can see lawyers wringing their hands now. 🙂

 

[citysnaps]

These new FaceTime features look killer to me. Can't wait to start using them.

Same here!

But bro, instead of being upbeat and thankful about the useful additions, I need to start my day mustering up a big eye-roll and mini-moan about how these features have existed X years ago on another app.

I'm still steamed about the new Honda I'm thinking about purchasing starts with the push of a button (rather than a key); something that other cars had years ago. And don't get me started on it also sporting memory seats - def old hat. Thanx Honda for being so late. Wah.

 

[svish]

Ability to use FaceTime links and contact someone with android/PC is the best new feature.

 

[alex2792]

The FaceTime cross platform “support” is a joke. You can only start a call on an Apple device so it’s a non starter when it comes to competing with Zoom, WhatsApp, Viber, WebEx etc.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I’m wondering if now with shareplay, does FaceTime finally offer all the features that were available in iChat? 15 years ago I was video conferencing with multiple people, using a shared whiteboard, and messing around with background effects for the video feed. Such a shame iChat was deprecated.

 

[Digital Dude]

I read all of this while trying to keep an open mind. I just can't imagine that I would wanna share so much with others at the same time I'm trying to pay attention to a movie or song. Then again, the Spatial Audio may appeal to me on those rare occasions where I may want a three-way conversation.

 

[MacAddict1978]

I personally can understand that sentiment. However, as work spaces reopen, some later than others, this might be a useful feature. Don't think Apple could turn on a dime and slam something like this as a feature without many months of testing.

no one is using this for work. NO ONE.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Ability to use FaceTime links and contact someone with android/PC is the best new feature.

A browser based experience for Android PC people though? People might do it once.... and then they are going to tell you to use something else cross platform with real features for all. I think this is all coming because of antitrust ligation and those leaked emails about deliberately not making iMessage cross platform for fear some Android users would not switch to iPhone. Apple knows this experience will suck for non i-device people. They just need to make a cross platform app and be done with it. Facetime and iMessage being sperate experiences in 2022 is still a head scratching affair.

Disney+ and other streaming apps have the "watch together" feature and no one uses it because it's well... stupid?? Even during a pandemic. I get pissed when people talk during a movie in person much less on a platform that somewhat invites it....

Zoom/Team's have features best for meeting type experiences.... and for fun experiences, there are apps like House Party which, post pandemic, aren't going to be the experience most people want when they can have an actual house party again. This is where Apple frustrates the hell out of me with their choices.

Yes, this is a far better experience than what exists today... but really what they should have done was merged iMessage and Facetime (because it's like 2021 and all and every other platform out there has a unified experience) and make it cross platform.

 

[RumorConsumer]

I read all of this while trying to keep an open mind. I just can't imagine that I would wanna share so much with others at the same time I'm trying to pay attention to a movie or song. Then again, the Spatial Audio may appeal to me on those rare occasions where I may want a three-way conversation.

Right. Cool feature but like... for annoying people who watch things and constantly talk? For commenting on creative work in progress or other collaborative things I could see, but not sure if that supported to be shared.

 

[I7guy]

no one is using this for work. NO ONE.

Is that an opinion or fact…because I’d certainly like to see how you know “no one” is using Group FaceTime for work.

A browser based experience for Android PC people though? People might do it once.... and then they are going to tell you to use something else cross platform with real features for all.

I think this is going to be a hit over time. It took Apple Pay a few years to gain traction, all the while there was sentiment on MacRumors, as I can recall, that Apple Pay really won't make it big. That prediction by some didn't turn out well and this won't age well either.

I think this is all coming because of antitrust ligation and those leaked emails about deliberately not making iMessage cross platform for fear some Android users would not switch to iPhone. Apple knows this experience will suck for non i-device people. They just need to make a cross platform app and be done with it. Facetime and iMessage being sperate experiences in 2022 is still a head scratching affair.

Why? They have different functionalities. If anything bundling them together could make a product that worse than two separate products. And whether this has anything to do with anti-trust investigations, we probably will never know.

Disney+ and other streaming apps have the "watch together" feature and no one uses it because it's well... stupid?? Even during a pandemic. I get pissed when people talk during a movie in person much less on a platform that somewhat invites it....

Zoom/Team's have features best for meeting type experiences.... and for fun experiences, there are apps like House Party which, post pandemic, aren't going to be the experience most people want when they can have an actual house party again. This is where Apple frustrates the hell out of me with their choices.

IMO, I am not enamored of Teams' meeting experience. Zoom's are good, but I am looking forward to not having to create a sign-on and just have the darn thing work without installing any client. Teams' web meetings are just okay. In other words, it just works.

Yes, this is a far better experience than what exists today... but really what they should have done was merged iMessage and Facetime (because it's like 2021 and all and every other platform out there has a unified experience) and make it cross platform.

Maybe, maybe not.

 

[I7guy]

Same here!

But bro, instead of being upbeat and thankful about the useful additions, I need to start my day mustering up a big eye-roll and mini-moan about how these features have existed X years ago on another app.

I'm still steamed about the new Honda I'm thinking about purchasing starts with the push of a button (rather than a key); something that other cars had years ago. And don't get me started on it also sporting memory seats - def old hat. Thanx Honda for being so late. Wah.

As @Abazigal noted, the more criticism a feature of Apple receives, the bigger success it seems to be. While everybody is entitled to their own opinion, Apple seemingly does their homework and (mostly) gets things right.