Apple has unveiled a major facelift for FaceTime, its video calling app. iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 introduce spatial audio that makes voices sound like they are coming from the person’s portrait image.
Other improvements include Wide Spectrum voice isolation, mute alerts and Grid View to make group calls easier to manage.
Enhancements
In a FaceTime call, users can now replace their head with an Animoji or Memoji avatar. It uses the same head and facial tracking as iMessage stickers.
Apple also improved audio in FaceTime calls with Spatial Audio, which makes voices sound like they are coming from where the person is on screen. There is also a new grid view that better broadcasts everyone’s faces and SharePlay, which lets people watch movies or listen to music together during a call.
In iOs 15, dien thoai iphone 15 added reactions to FaceTime, similar to those in the Messages app. These are triggered by gestures and can flood the display with effects such as hearts, balloons, and confetti. Lastly, the FaceTime app now shows whether a missed call was a video or audio message. It also allows for blocked calls to be sent as a voicemail or notification on other Apple devices. And if you use FaceTime on the web, non Apple device owners can join by using a link that can be shared in messages or Calendar.
Spatial audio in FaceTime
FaceTime is Apple’s video calling service for iPhone and Mac that lets you connect with friends and family. It’s also a convenient alternative to phone calls for business meetings and global collaboration.
During a FaceTime call, you can enable Spatial audio to make voices sound like they’re coming from where each person is positioned on the screen. You can also use Voice Isolation to filter out ambient noise from your surroundings, and Wide Spectrum mode conveys all the sounds around you during a call.
The new Portrait mode blurs the background to put the focus on you during a video call. And with Grid View, you can see up to six faces at once during a Group FaceTime call in equal-sized tiles. With iOS 15, FaceTime is better than ever. And with features like augmented reality and new audio enhancements, it’s easy to see why it’s the choice of many people for remote work and global communication.
Wide spectrum voice isolation
During a FaceTime call, the iPhone can filter out ambient noise and prioritize your voice. However, for those who want the full picture of their surroundings during a call, Apple has introduced Wide Spectrum mode (available on supported models).
This microphone setting works the opposite of Voice Isolation mode and enhances the sounds around you during a FaceTime call. It uses machine learning to recognize the sound patterns of your environment and concentrates sounds that other participants can hear.
The feature is easy to activate and requires a compatible device running iOS 15 or later. To enable it, open a FaceTime call and swipe down diagonally from the top of your iPhone screen to launch Control Center. Tap Mic Mode, then select Voice Isolation or Wide Spectrum mode. Once you’re done using Control Center, you can swipe up to dismiss it and return to your call. You can also change between modes during a call by returning to the Control Center.
FaceTime on the web non Apple devices
FaceTime has emerged as a benchmark for communication innovations with its ease of use and high quality. It spurred the launch of video conferencing apps like Zoom, Google meet and Microsoft Teams which allow users to communicate with each other regardless of their device or operating system.
Earlier, FaceTime calls could only be started with an Apple device but the latest update allows you to create a link for a FaceTime call that can be used by non-Apple devices as well. You can share the link via text, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram and other apps or manually copy the link from the FaceTime app on your iPhone.
Once the link is clicked by a non-Apple user, they will see your camera and microphone turn on and will be able to join the call on their web browser. However, they will not be able to access features such as Animoji or Memoji and can only view your screen.