For years, FaceTime and FaceTime Audio have been the Apple-exclusive mediums for communication. Until now, you needed an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or a Mac to make and receive FaceTime calls. That ends today because Apple wants to expand the availability of FaceTime to Android and Windows using a brand-new web interface.
Apple FaceTime arriving on Windows … soon!
The web interface brings FaceTime calls to those who do not have an iPhone or Mac. Apple made this unexpected announcement during the keynote speech of WWDC 2021, where it also announced iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey. However, the company has not specified when FaceTime for the web would be made available, but the fall of 2021 is an educated guess.
The decision to expand FaceTime to non-Apple devices is considered a part of the move to plot FaceTime as a direct competitor to Zoom and Google Meet. Unlike Zoom and Google Meet, FaceTime now includes many innovative features as well. During the WWDC 2021 keynote event, Apple also introduced new features like the grid view and sound quality improvements.
With the right accessories, users can now choose between good isolation and ambient sound mode. There is also an option to blur the background in the new Portrait Mode on FaceTime. All these features require the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. You may also need a pair of AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to enjoy all the spatial audio features.
As mentioned earlier, all these features convert FaceTime into an ideal platform for serious meetings, casual watch parties, and anything between. Earlier, the service was considered an effective way to talk to your friends or family. The newly launched options from SharePlay also contribute in this respect.
SharePlay can make it easy to share the media you are consuming with anyone else on the other side. There are options for screen sharing as well. Since SharePlay is integrated into FaceTime, customers would find an easy time creating amazing watch parties.
