Would you video chat with your Apple TV?

[gnomeisland]

Video chatting using our TV is something I've done from time-to-time over the years. AirPlay makes it a little easier but it is still pretty clunky. However, since the pandemic and months of lockdown and homeschool, it is something we've started doing on a regular basis. For me, native support (even if through an additional accessory) of video chatting through an AppleTV would make the next generation hardware an instant buy. Wondering how many other people feel the same.

 

[Edd70]

Privacy issues concern me. Not a lot, but enough. My Sony TV, which the Apple TV is connected to, has a camera mounted on top. You can swivel it upward, towards the ceiling. But I still don’t have the TV connected to the internet because of that camera. The built in Skype app on the TV never worked even when it was brand new.

 

[gnomeisland]

Privacy issues concern me. Not a lot, but enough. My Sony TV, which the Apple TV is connected to, has a camera mounted on top. You can swivel it upward, towards the ceiling. But I still don’t have the TV connected to the internet because of that camera. The built in Skype app on the TV never worked even when it was brand new.

I think those are valid concerns. Apple's privacy record isn't spotless but it is mostly security gaffs and poor management choices, not a "feature" or revenue stream so I would trust it much more than something built into a smart TV which have pretty terrible track records for privacy invasion.

My concern would be if the camera isn't built into the device, which I don't think it would be unless the Apple TV morphs into the Apple Soundbar or something like that, it is likely to be developed by a third party, like Logitech and the trackpad keyboards for the non-Pro iPads. Logitech I trust, but the knocks off that will follow if this takes off, not so much.

I do wonder after Facebook's Portal failed, whether the issue is that people don't trust the companies selling the product (personally why I never considered Portal) or whether they just really don't want the dedicated device.

 

[PilotC150]

I do wish the Apple TV supported accessories like cameras. If they did I'm sure we'd see apps like Zoom, Hangouts, and Facetime available for use on the TV. I would love to be able to do a video call with my mom on the TV without having to hook up my laptop.

I don't know how privacy concerns with a camera on your Apple TV would be any different than the camera that's on your phone everyday. Just get a camera that has a physical lens cover for when you're not using it.

 

[Beerstalker]

I used to think this would be a neat feature until I actually started using Facetime and Zoom more while staying at home per the orders.

Since then I realize it is much better to have a device like my iPad that I can set up on a stand so I don't have to hold it, but you have the ability to move it around easily if needed. During hour long conversations with my buddies I want to be able to walk out and get another drink without missing the conversation, or leaving them stare at the wall behind my couch. I just pick up my iPad and carry it with me to the fridge.

When we are talking with my parents I want to be able to grab the phone/iPad and turn the camera around to show them the funny things their grandkids decide to get up and do in the middle of the conversation.

Stuff like that is hard to do with camera's built into a laptop, let alone something like a TV mounted to the wall or even a smaller device like the AppleTV that is plugged into the wall and maybe hiding behind the TV.

I think what could make this feature work OK would be if it was easy to show the people you are talking to on your TV screen, but then just use your phone or iPad as the camera. Or maybe even make a small wireless camera that hooked up to the AppleTV that you could move around easily.

 

[gnomeisland]

I think any camera would either need a zoom and/or man feature or simulate that with an oversampled, high-megapixel sensor. Facial/spatial recognition could help the camera automatically crop/zoom in on the relevant persons.

One advantage of Apple implementing it would be a handoff (at least in FaceTime) So if you wanted to take the call with you on another device you could.