iOS 17.4 Allows Video Calling Apps to Turn Off Hand Gesture Reactions to Prevent Awkward Moments

[MacRumors]

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, leading to some awkward and embarrassing moments during important video calls, such as online therapy sessions and business meetings.

Fortunately, Apple has come up with a solution.

Alongside iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, Apple is releasing a new API that allows video conferencing apps to turn off the gesture-based reactions by default in their apps, according to information obtained by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. We have not yet confirmed if Apple has also made the API available for macOS 14.4.

iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and macOS 14.4 are currently in beta, and the software updates are expected to be released in March.

Users can already easily turn off the feature on their own end on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Article Link: iOS 17.4 Allows Video Calling Apps to Turn Off Hand Gesture Reactions to Prevent Awkward Moments

 

[zach-coleman]

I think this should be a system toggle because every app is immediately going to turn them off. They're really not that easy to trigger.

 

[escargot3]

Does this mean that they are completely blocked if the app does this? Or it turns off the system toggle but it can be manually turned back on by the user?

 

[Fraserpatty]

I think this should be a system toggle because every app is immediately going to turn them off. They're really not that easy to trigger.

No, they’re not that easy to trigger. My kids have been trying to trigger that without success.

 

[Izauze]

Even with the silliest feature (maybe especially then), you have to ask yourself at some point "how could this go wrong" and apparently no one ever did.

 

[GMShadow]

Makes sense, apps like Teams are supposed to only bring misery. Having a spot of joy would ruin that intended effect.

 

[ApostolisApo]

One of the dumbest oversights I've seen Apple make with their software design. Even with the silliest feature (maybe especially then), you have to ask yourself at some point "how could this go wrong" and apparently no one ever did.

Ok calm yourself, Apple will compensate for any reduced revenue due to this catastrophic oversight

 

[epox999]

one of the Top 10 stupidest features of all time, why would this ever be on by default

 

[cjgrif]

I would think giving two thumbs up or double peace signs to the camera would be more embarrassing in those situations than the actual effects being triggered unexpectedly.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

When I read about turning off hand gestures to avoid awkward moments, I had something totally different in mind. Like probably most men who read that.

 

[Motawa]

This is proof that the feature is half baked because if it weren’t, it wouldn’t need such an option

 

[Rychiar]

This sounds hilarious. I’m for it😂

 

[antiprotest]

Apple has a pattern of introducing new features touting them as improvements, only to have to introduce new toggles to turn off those new features, and touting those toggles as improvements.

 

[G5isAlive]

Even with the silliest feature (maybe especially then), you have to ask yourself at some point "how could this go wrong" and apparently no one ever did.

They apparently forgot the line 'why so serious?'

 

[srbNYC]

I find them fun. And a moment of whimsy in deadly zooms. Even with my therapist.

 

[contacos]

Didn’t even know this existed, then again I hate making calls

 

[alexandr]

This is proof that the feature is half baked because if it weren’t, it wouldn’t need such an option

The feature's fine, but you may not always want it enabled.

 

[klasma]

Apple has a pattern of introducing new features touting them as improvements, only to have to introduce new toggles to turn off those new features, and touting those toggles as improvements.

Double win! 👍👍🎇

 

[alexandr]

When I read about turning off hand gestures to avoid awkward moments, I had something totally different in mind. Like probably most men who read that.

Sure, but those damn computers ain't gonna get in the way of this!!!

 

[therunningman]

My father recently passed, and I have been unable to travel. I did a facetime call with the funeral home, and I noticed a "thumbs up" emoji appear on the right side of the screen toward the end of the call. I'm wondering if I (or the funeral rep) accidentally triggered it? I was wondering what caused it.

In any case, it wasn't all that bad.

 

[alexandr]

Apple has a pattern of introducing new features touting them as improvements, only to have to introduce new toggles to turn off those new features, and touting those toggles as improvements.

Well, I mean... a mute switch on the phone is a very welcomed feature, but not because ringtones are bad, it's just there are times when you prefer them not to blast.

 

[Arran]

Shabby Product discipline. Any nonessential new feature should be released with an on/off switch and it should be OFF by default. Who’s in charge over there?

 

[antiprotest]

Well, I mean... a mute switch on the phone is a very welcomed feature, but not because ringtones are bad, it's just there are times when you prefer them not to blast.

Yes, but the analogy stands only if the phone has no ringing to begin with, then they introduce ringing to it without the option to turn it off -- the phone rings all the time -- touting it as an improvement, and then later after complaints they introduce an option to turn it off to make it like it was to begin with -- fixing a problem that they created -- and touting that as an improvement. They should just make the ringing optional at launch.

Another example is memoji stickers in the emoji panel. A more recent example is inline predictive text.

 

[ifxf]

Who decides the usability of apple apps? This feature is not obvious to me. Why not use checkmarks instead of light/dark for the options selection? Also if you turn off features the preferences appear as a small camera, which in the control center, initially it didn’t occur too me to select.

 

[alexandr]

Yes, but the analogy stands only if the phone has no ringing to begin with, then they introduce ringing to it without the option to turn it off -- the phone rings all the time -- touting it as an improvement, and then later after complaints they introduce an option to turn it off to make it like it was to begin with -- fixing a problem that they created -- and touting that as an improvement. They should just make the ringing optional at launch.

Another example is memoji stickers in the emoji panel. A more recent example is inline predictive text.

Not to disagree with your last statement, phones didn't always have a way of silencing the ringer, or did I miss something?)