Webex App Will Soon Be Available on Apple TV for Video Conferencing

[MacRumors]

Cisco today announced that its Webex Meetings app will soon be available for the Apple TV, allowing for video conferencing on a TV.

tvOS 17's new Continuity Camera support will allow Webex users to wirelessly connect their iPhone or iPad to the second-generation Apple TV 4K or newer and use the device's camera and microphone to participate in meetings. After installing the Webex app on the Apple TV, users will scan a QR code on the TV with their iPhone to log in.

Apple previously announced that video conferencing apps like Webex and Zoom would launch on the Apple TV later this year. Continuity Camera is the same feature that powers Apple's own FaceTime app for video calls on tvOS 17.

Article Link: Webex App Will Soon Be Available on Apple TV for Video Conferencing

 

[tuckerjj]

Continuity camera is a good first step, but I hope Apple adds support for external cameras and mics via the usb-c port in tvOS 18.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

This is cool. would also be great to get ability to add a webcam or such to the Apple TV hardwired. for other apps like FaceTime, Skype, Whats App and more.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

This is great. Hopefully all of the others add the ability too. And I'll third building an ability to use wired cameras so that there can be a dedicated one instead of leaning on mobile devices sometimes not available. Resurrect the old iSight, reinvented with modern technology, add a normalized USB-C port to AppleTV and maybe power the thing via either that port of a USB port on some televisions.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I have zero use for this, but it's cool either way. It's always good to see new features.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Very cool. I will definitely try this out. I wonder how sharing would work.....maybe not at all? Could I share from my Mac? Btw - in all the Webex meetings I almost never use the camera but sharing most of the time...

 

[ipedro]

Continuity camera is a good first step, but I hope Apple adds support for external cameras and mics via the usb-c port in tvOS 18.

What external USB-C port? The Apple TV 4K hasn't had a USB port of any kind for the last two generations.

What Apple seems to be doing by including Thread in the newest Apple TV is to adopt the upcoming Matter standard update for cameras so that Thread/Matter enabled cameras can work with Apple TV.

 

[tuckerjj]

What external USB-C port? The Apple TV 4K hasn't had a USB port of any kind for the last two generations.

What Apple seems to be doing by including Thread in the newest Apple TV is to adopt the upcoming Matter standard update for cameras so that Thread/Matter enabled cameras can work with Apple TV.

Oh wow, you’re right, I just checked mine! I hadn’t realised they’d removed that. I guess wireless is more “Apple” anyway. I just hope that it’s as reliable 😬

 

[iFunk]

We have used FaceTime via AppleTV thus far and it has been fantastic. It is somewhat crazy that video conferencing is getting better and better and many employers are ramping back up return to work. I'm remote 2 days a week which is fine by me.. 3 days a week would be great but no complaints here.

 

[sesnir]

The woman in the top right is also in the bottom right… magical

 

[jarman92]

Still absolutely inexplicable that Apple is limiting Continuity Camera to the second-gen TV 4K. The 1st gen has an A10X, which still supports iOS 17.

 

[Le Big Mac]

The woman in the top right is also in the bottom right… magical

Twin sisters - they're discussing with their mom's doctor her prognosis, and one has assembled a team of expert financial advisors to help with that aspect of the question.

 

[karen999]

Something tells me we are getting an Apple TV with built in camera.

 

[ipedro]

Oh wow, you’re right, I just checked mine! I hadn’t realised they’d removed that. I guess wireless is more “Apple” anyway. I just hope that it’s as reliable 😬

Continuity Camera isn't something I would have though I'd want to rely on, but during a live broadcast for a client, one of my Sony cameras went offline and in a pinch, I threw my iPhone on the tripod and holy crap, it worked like a charm. It used Center Stage to zoom in on the subjects and follow them around on set. Apple has wireless video figured out.

 

[Ultracyclist]

I’d hoped for continuity camera support on iPad. Except for the iPad 10 the camera position and in all cases the camera quality leaves a lot to desire…
Fingers crossed, next year.

 

[dasmb]

Anyone else notice the woman in the upper right is also in the scene in the lower right -- but not doing or wearing the same thing?

If you have a working teleconferencing app, why would you mock up its usage? Just use the thing!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Something tells me we are getting an Apple TV with built in camera.

This idea flies every time but think it through. If your AppleTV is hanging right above or right below your TV, then great. Camera will be in the right place. Else, simulate this by starting a FaceTime call with anyone and propping up your iDevice wherever you currently have your AppleTV now. Be sure the camera points in the same direction as where this hypothetical AppleTV camera would be now. See how that goes.

Unless camera is right above or right below screen, the person on the other end will be seeing you looking left or right... or not at all for those who mount their AppleTV behind their TV (vertically). The flaw in this idea is that it DEMANDS very specific placement of AppleTV. Else, FaceTime won't work well because you won't be looking right at the camera while looking towards the TV.

I like the idea of a hardware-based, direct-link camera to AppleTV... but use a wire for that, so that the camera can be positioned in the optimal spot regardless of where one wants their AppleTV (and that camera can be powered over the same wire).

And yes, that means new AppleTV that resurrects a USB-C port. If so, normalize that port to also resurrect the ability to add storage and sync media to that storage... so that it is at the AppleTV instead of back at a Mac (for those who want sync resurrection too).

 

[erikkfi]

Still absolutely inexplicable that Apple is limiting Continuity Camera to the second-gen TV 4K. The 1st gen has an A10X, which still supports iOS 17.

Oh it’s explicable.

 

[jarman92]

This idea flies every time but think it through. If your AppleTV is hanging right above or right below your TV, then great. Camera will be in the right place. Else, simulate this by starting a FaceTime call with anyone and propping up your iDevice wherever you currently have your AppleTV now. Be sure the camera points in the same direction as where this hypothetical AppleTV camera would be now. See how that goes.

Unless camera is right above or right below screen, the person on the other end will be seeing you looking left or right... or not at all for those who mount their AppleTV behind their TV (vertically). The flaw in this idea is that it DEMANDS very specific placement of AppleTV. Else, FaceTime won't work well because you won't be looking right at the camera while looking towards the TV.

I like the idea of a hardware-based, direct-link camera to AppleTV... but use a wire for that, so that the camera can be positioned in the optimal spot regardless of where one wants their AppleTV (and that camera can be powered over the same wire).

And yes, that means new AppleTV that resurrects a USB-C port. If so, normalize that port to also resurrect the ability to add storage and sync media to that storage... so that it is at the AppleTV instead of back at a Mac (for those who want sync resurrection too).

It’s a good point, but I think the problem is very solvable with Center Stage and that “maintain eye contact” feature Apple uses in FaceTime.

Or they could release an TV that fits on top of the TV 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It’s a good point, but I think the problem is very solvable with Center Stage and that “maintain eye contact” feature Apple uses in FaceTime.

Or they could release an TV that fits on top of the TV 🤷🏼‍♂️

Even with Center Stage, just try it now with Continuity Camera... but put the iDevice camera wherever you currently have your AppleTV. You'll see the problem really quickly... or, more specifically, those on the other end will see the problem "scary fast" because odds are high you won't look like you are roughly looking at them... UNLESS you happen to have your AppleTV right under or right over your TV now.

I could be wrong but I would guess most people do NOT have their AppleTV right over or right under the TV screen and many don't even have any part of their AppleTV visible (it's behind the TV, in a cabinet, behind other stuff, etc).

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

In my experience, Cisco (and their partners) are the only one's that actually use Webex. It used to be the gold standard, and now it's trash.... the only time I ever use it is when I need to screenshare with Cisco TAC.

 

[jarman92]

In my experience, Cisco (and their partners) are the only one's that actually use Webex. It used to be the gold standard, and now it's trash.... the only time I ever use it is when I need to screenshare with Cisco TAC.

Apple uses WebEx internally.

I also used it for school all through Covid and never had an issue 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

Apple uses WebEx internally.

I also used it for school all through Covid and never had an issue 🤷🏼‍♂️

"Trash" is an exaggeration. For the average end-user, it's.... fine. Video meetings work acceptably. But on the admin side, it's a licensing rat's nest, and a hodgepodge of legacy products, jammed together and regularly renamed to match whatever nonsense marketing jargon Cisco has adopted this year.

I've no idea if or to what extent Apple uses it, but I'm not surprised. They're a big name and have a TON of momentum on their side. If you had asked me 10 years ago, or even at the start of the pandemic, I would have bet BIG on webex. They were the "IBM of" collaboration software. But Cisco is too big, too uncoordinated, and did the most IBM thing in the world.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

"Trash" is an exaggeration. For the average end-user, it's.... fine. Video meetings work acceptably. But on the admin side, it's a licensing rat's nest, and a hodgepodge of legacy products, jammed together and regularly renamed to match whatever nonsense marketing jargon Cisco has adopted this year.

I've no idea if or to what extent Apple uses it, but I'm not surprised. They're a big name and have a TON of momentum on their side. If you had asked me 10 years ago, or even at the start of the pandemic, I would have bet BIG on webex. They were the "IBM of" collaboration software. But Cisco is too big, too uncoordinated, and did the most IBM thing in the world.

When the pandemic hit we had WebEx as the official solution and had only recently enabled Teams. Our users (~15K) selected Teams all on their own organically.

Our Cisco rep was pissed when we cancelled, but I told him it was the users and not us. Not sure he ever believed me.

 

[svish]

Good to know about the change on Apple TV