Apple debuts slick new Group FaceTime feature supporting up to 32 participants
FaceTime is receiving its first major update in years -- on both iOS devices and Macs -- with long overdue support for group video calls and even fun effects.
Users can now join calls with up to 32 participants, a feature competitors have had for years. A carousel along the bottom shows all participants, while those talking are brought into the majority of the screen. Individual windows can be brought full-screen as well.
Effects such as stickers and the just-announced Memoji can be applied in real time during the call for a more fun experience.
It will work not only on iOS 12, but macOS as well. Calls can be answered right on the Apple Watch, before jumping over to the video FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad.
Stay abreast of Apple's announcements by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos from the event.
Can't watch Apple's livestream of the keynote? AppleInsider has you covered with a live blog covering all the announcements.
Users can now join calls with up to 32 participants, a feature competitors have had for years. A carousel along the bottom shows all participants, while those talking are brought into the majority of the screen. Individual windows can be brought full-screen as well.
Effects such as stickers and the just-announced Memoji can be applied in real time during the call for a more fun experience.
It will work not only on iOS 12, but macOS as well. Calls can be answered right on the Apple Watch, before jumping over to the video FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad.
Stay abreast of Apple's announcements by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos from the event.
Can't watch Apple's livestream of the keynote? AppleInsider has you covered with a live blog covering all the announcements.
Comments
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Is this for riot-planning?
I see in the beta downloads there's an app called Classroom. I wonder if that's an included feature. If that was in the keynote I missed it.
Without screen sharing like Zoom and the lack of cross-platform availability I doubt business will consider using it. This is clearly for consumers.
Had another failed Skype for Business meeting just yesterday. The IT department insists we use it (MS product of course). On one of our externally funded projects we have purchased a licence for Zoom. So much more reliable than Skype, better bandwidth and sound management, let alone visual clarity.
edit:typo
Still, MS is moving from Skype for Business to Teams, which has a better experience.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/journey-skypeforbusiness-teams
VERY VERY surprised they didn't announce ARKit support for FaceTime along with Animoji. With the iPhone X camera we could have been able to add backgrounds and effects like cars crashing and exploding in the background, space or boat cruising etc.