Apple has announced new features for FaceTime on iOS as well as finally coming to the living room on Apple TV for the fist time.
FaceTime now lets users leave messages, whether audio or video, meaning you can still share an important moment even if the person you’re calling isn’t available at the time you call. You’ll also be able to react within a FaceTime call with hearts, balloons, fireworks and lasers which seamlessly display behind you. These new effects can be triggered simply by gestures, making them simple to use. These additional effects can not only be used in FaceTime, but other video conferencing apps like Zoom, Webex and Teams.
FaceTime is also coming to the biggest screen in your home, the TV. Using Apple’s Continuity Camera, introduced at last-year’s WWDC, users will be able to make and receive calls from Apple TV while the iPhone cameras take care of video for the call. The iPhone cameras also offer Center Stage, having a wide enough field of view they are able to crop into the video and follow faces identified in the frame.
These new FaceTime features will arrive along with iOS 17 in September, while developers can download the beta versions today at developer.apple.com.
