New iOS communication tools such as Group FaceTime and Walkie Talkie give fresh outlook to live chats.
SAN JOSE: Soon you will be able to have live group video chats with up to 31 of your friends with the introduction of Group FaceTime, a video communications tool for iOS devices which allow for two people to talk to each other.
Another enhancement to communications tool made by the Cupertino-based company is the introduction of Walkie Talkie feature, which turns the Apple Watch into a walkie talkie.
All these enhanced communication features will be available when Apple release its latest OS, the iOS 12 in third quarter this year.
Better group communications
Apple demoed how the new Group FaceTime works at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2018 (WWDC18), and it opened up to a new level of live group video chats.
Looking at the increased productivity point, such feature would be able to bring people together for discussion or just casual chats more effectively, without having to travel and meet up at a specific venue.
And Apple is not talking about video conversations between three to five people, but up to 32 people can talk live via the video call at one session.
How it works
When you are invited into the Group FaceTime, you will be able to see, on the main screen, three to four people who are currently talking, but below the main screen is a small screen of people in the FaceTime group, all in live mode.
The Group FaceTime will be supported across iOS and macOS. When multiple people are on a call, their video windows will get larger when they’re speaking and shrink when they’re not.
And during the conversation if you find your face a bit boring and want to add some excitement, you can replace your face with Animoji and the new Memoji characters that you created.
Group FaceTime will not only be great for a quick group meeting or discussion, but also for casual chatting between friends and family members.
Participants can be added at any time, join later if the conversation is still active, and choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad and Mac and even participate using FaceTime audio from Apple Watch.
Walkie Talkie made easy
Besides the Group FaceTime, Apple also showcased its version of Walkie Talkie, which makes use of the Apple Watch as the walkie talkie device, when Apple launch its WatchOS 5 this third quarter too.
Walkie-Talkie, as Apple named this new communications feature, is an entirely new way to communicate with voice.
During the demo session, Apple showed how it works on the Apple Watch.
First time users need to send request to their friends who can then accept or decline the Walkie Talkie session.
Once accepted, they only need to tap and hold the watch screen and start talking by bringing the watch close to the mouth, just like you do when using a real walkie.
This watch-to-watch connection works over Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, for Apple Watch that has such feature.
Such connectivity tool will surely add more fun to a two-way communications, and makes the things, in this case the Apple Watch, you wear more functional besides just showing time and tracking fitness level.