FaceTime - page 3

Give your videoconferencing calls killer audio quality

By

Not every videoconference audio setup has to be as janky as this.
Not every videoconference audio setup has to be as janky as this.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You’ve probably made more video calls in the last few weeks than you’ve made in the previous few years combined. And if they were on your iPhone or iPad, then they probably sounded great. But what if you’re using a Mac, with its prehistoric mics1?

No worries. Through the magic of technology, you can use a better mic with your Mac’s Skype or FaceTime. (As a bonus, it also might make you feel more comfortable during videoconferences.)

Apple engineers guide iPhone manufacturing in China through FaceTime

By

A Group FaceTime call on the Mac.
Apple hasn't been as directly hands-on as usual.
Photo: Apple

Apple engineers have used FaceTime-style video calling to guide Chinese colleagues through iPhone prototype assembly, a recent report by the Wall Street Journal notes.

The report helps answer one key question about how Apple is able to get iPhone prototypes assembled at a time when travel restrictions stop Apple employees from making their usual trips to China. Apple tested out the process in January.

Apple’s latest updates kill FaceTime on older iPhone, iPad models

By

Group FaceTime is a great way to stay in touch with your family and friends during coronavirus quarantine.
It's not a good time to lose FaceTime.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s most recent software updates have reportedly broken FaceTime compatibility with older iPhone and iPad models, leaving many users unable to make voice or video calls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The issue affects devices running iOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4 when they attempt to connect with devices running iOS 9.3.5 or iOS 9.3.6 — or vice-versa. There is no fix for now.

Quarantined photographer executes fantastic FaceTime fashion shoot

By

Alessio Albi FaceTime model shoot
Alessio Albi makes screenshot magic on FaceTime.
Screenshot: Alessio Albi/Instagram

Quarantined photographers across the internet have used the lockdown to come up with personal projects they could shoot within the same confines of their home.

Condé Nast shooter Alessio Albi has one of the more interesting bodies of work to emerge from staying at home. He is using FaceTime for remote fashion shoots.

Beats 1 DJs move to FaceTime for musician interviews

By

Zane
Zane Lowe will interview musicians over FaceTime for the foreseeable future.
Photo: Apple

Beats 1 DJs on Apple Music are being forced to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic and while they’re stuck inside, they’re turning to FaceTime to get the job done.

Apple revealed Monday that its radio show hosts will record interviews with musicians and other artists from their homes by using FaceTime on iPhone.

FaceTime humor amid coronavirus is the laugh we all need

By

FaceTime coronavirus
FaceTime has been handy but is no replacement for face-to-face time.
Screenshot: Eva Victor/Twitter

With COVID-19 lockdowns walling us off from friends and family, the FaceTime feature on iPhones and iPads is saving our social lives.

But glitchy audio and periodic freezing of the video stream add to our mounting self-isolation frustration.

Apple pays up in patent case involving FaceTime technology

By

Facetime
Jony Ive and Steve Jobs talk during the first public FaceTime demo, which took place at WWDC 2010 in San Francisco.
Photo: Mathieu Thouvenin/Flickr CC

Out of appeals, Apple cut a check to VirnetX for more than $454 million to end a lengthy patent infringement case.

VirnetX, which sued Apple over patents relating to FaceTime, iMessage and VPN technologies, announced the payment in a one-paragraph press release Friday.

Court denies Apple’s appeal in VirnetX patent-infringement case

By

Apple wants patent trolls to stop ‘gaming the system’
The lesser-spotted patent troll.
Photo: Andrew Becraft/Flickr CC

Cupertino’s seemingly neverending legal battle with patent troll VirnetX Holding Corp. took another turn this week when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Apple’s request to reconsider an original patent-infringement decision.

VirnetX and Apple have been fighting in courts for a decade over patents related to FaceTime and other secure communications. VirnetX, which doesn’t produce any products, previously won more than $503 million in damages, but courts subsequently threw out the award.

iOS 13.3 finally lets parents set limits on texting, FaceTime and more

By

Screen Time Communication Limits
Screen Time Communication Limits is a boon to digital parenting.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Parents will soon be able to limit when their children use an iPhone or iPad to talk to their friends, thanks to a long-awaited new Screen Time feature. Communication Limits were supposed to come earlier, they debuted in the first iOS 13.3 beta that launched today.

What to expect from Apple’s innovation-focused iPhone event

By

Apple 2019 Fall press event invitation
Apple is promising tons of innovation.
Photo: Apple

A whole lot of innovation is in the offing for Apple’s biggest hardware event of the year. CEO Tim Cook recently promised that Apple will unleash its strongest product lineup ever, and next week’s “By Innovation Only” event could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Thanks to a glut of leaked info, we have a pretty solid idea about what new hardware to expect during the event. iPhones obviously will steal the spotlight, but Apple might unleash a few surprises as well.

This is what we think we’ll see during the 2019 iPhone keynote, which starts at 10 a.m. Pacific on September 10. Apple will live-stream it from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

iOS 13 uses ARKit to solve one of the biggest FaceTime complaints

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
The eye-line problem is finally fixed. If you own an iPhone XS or XS Max, that is!
Photo: Apple

There’s something weirdly off-putting about the eye-contact problem with video calling services like FaceTime and Skype.

It happens because users must choose either to look directly at the camera lens, and miss what’s happening on screen, or look at the screen and appear to be staring at the listener’s neck.

That’s not ideal for a tool that’s meant to make it seem like you’re having a face-to-face conversation. Fortunately, Apple fixes this shortcoming in iOS 13.

Apple’s new iPod touch is the fastest yet — and all too familiar

By

iPod-touch-2019
The new iPod touch looks just like the old one.
Photo: Apple

Apple just surprised us with a new iPod touch that promises to be its fastest yet.

Powered by a speedy A10 Fusion processor, it’s built for gaming and immersive augmented reality experiences on the go. It’s also affordable, with prices starting at just $199.

The only problem is it looks just like the old iPod touch.

Apple ‘fixes’ Group FaceTime bug by hobbling the app

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple took the easy way of removing a problem in FaceTime: it yanked out the affected feature.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s hasty fix for the serious Group FaceTime bug that was discovered last month apparently just disables the feature in this video-chatting software that was causing the problem.

We’ve reached out to Apple to see if they’re in the process of restoring full functionality.

Bug-spotting teen gets a thank you in Apple’s latest iOS update

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple has rewarded the kid who spotted its recent FaceTime bug.
Photo: Apple

Apple has rewarded the 14-year-old kid who discovered Apple’s FaceTime bug, letting people eavesdrop on other users in Group FaceTime calls.

As a thanks for Grant Thompson’s help — and a possible apology to his mom, Michele, who spent 10 unsuccessful days trying to warn Apple of the vulnerability — Apple has said that it will contribute toward Grant’s education, and compensate the Thompson family. Grant also gets a namecheck in the iOS update’s developer notes.

Apple finally squashes nasty FaceTime eavesdropping bug

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
You can safely FaceTime with friends again.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s fix for the huge FaceTime flaw that allowed people to eavesdrop on other iPhone and iPad users is finally here.

iOS 12.1.4 was released to the public this morning, bringing a crucial fix for the bug found by a 14-year-old boy who tried to contact Apple for 10 days before the company eventually clued in on the huge flaw.

Apple’s 4 new Animoji are now available to public testers

By

iOS12
iOS 12.2 is bringing a bunch of new features to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

The most fun new feature of iOS 12.2 is already available to members of Apple’s public beta testing program.

Apple seeded the second public beta of iOS 12.2 to public testers today, just one day after the new software was pushed out to developers. The new update includes a number of notable new features, including the addition of 4 new Animoji.

Apple will reward teen who discovered FaceTime bug

By

CNBC 1
Apple's FaceTime bug allowed people to eavesdrop on others.
Screenshot: CNBC

The 14-year-old kid who accidentally discovered the recent FaceTime eavesdropping bug has been told by Apple that he will be eligible for the company’s bug bounty program.

Apple set up its bug bounty program in 2016, offering rewards of up to $200,000 for security researchers who find vulnerabilities on the company’s software platforms. It’s not clear how much Grant Thompson can expect to claim from Apple — although it will reportedly go toward his college tuition savings.

Brilliant concept brings 7-inch display to iPod Touch 7

By

iPhone
The iPod Touch might finally get upgraded.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

The iPod Touch might make a comeback in 2019 now thanks to some new renders we’ve got a glimpse of what it might look like.

Apple hasn’t released a new iPod Touch since 2015. Rumors indicate that an update could come out this year. Details are pretty scarce on what the new features could be, so the folks at ConceptsiPhone busted out a brilliant imagining some sleek new additions that would make it truly lust-worthy.

Get ready to drool:

New York’s Attorney General wants answers about FaceTime bug

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple's FaceTime bug wasn't one of its greatest moments.
Photo: Apple

New York Attorney General Letitia James has said that her office is launching an investigation into Apple’s failure to warn customers about its FaceTime bug, which let people eavesdrop on other FaceTime users by exploiting a bug in the software.

James also wants to know why Apple was so slow to address the issue.

Amazon’s Drop In basically turns Apple FaceTime bug into a feature [Opinion]

By

facebook eavesdropping microphone
Smart speakers are microphones that other people can listen to.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You know the Apple FaceTime bug that everyone’s going crazy about? It’s a huge screwup, for sure, but at least we know it’s just a bug. Being able to call someone and eavesdrop on their conversations without them knowing is clearly a privacy nightmare, which is why Apple disabled Group FaceTime until it can issue a proper fix.

Amazon, on the other hand, offers silent eavesdropping as a feature for its Echo speakers. It’s called Drop In, and if you’ve enabled it, you should probably turn it off.

Lawyer claims FaceTime bug was used to eavesdrop on a client

By

2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple's FaceTime bug could land it in court.
Photo: Apple

Unsurprisingly, Apple’s recently exposed FaceTime bug — allowing other people to see or hear you before a call starts — is already landing the company in hot water.

According to a new lawsuit filed against Apple, the bug allowed an unknown individual to eavesdrop on a private conversation between a lawyer and their client.