Larry Dignan
for Between the Lines
| June 7, 2021 — 17:33 GMT (18:33 BST)
| Topic: Developer
Apple seems a bit miffed that Zoom is a verb, and now Apple is racing to add features to FaceTime that mimic those of Zoom. The upshot: Zoom can have the business, but Apple wants a big piece of shared consumer experiences.
At the WWDC keynote, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, outlined FaceTime updates in iOS 15 that include:
Portrait mode. Sharing FaceTime links and even (gasp!) connecting with those Android and Windows folks over the web. Screen sharing.Shared experiences via a feature called SharePlay where you can listen to music and watch video with others. An API in SharePlay that allows other apps to be integrated with FaceTime.
Sound a bit familiar? Zoom has those same features — except, perhaps, for the entertainment app integration.
Bottom line: Apple wants FaceTime to be more in the conversation along with Zoom, and the latter has encroached on developers as well as events. You can expect a business version to be in the mix as Apple evolves FaceTime.
Must read:
Zoom announces new platform for virtual eventsZoom’s new meeting option could make your video calls a lot more interestingZoom announces updated iPad app with support for Center Stage, expanded gallery viewZoom launches $100 million Zoom Apps fund to spur growth in developer ecosystemZoom launches Zapps, OnZoom as it builds out its ecosystem for developers, content creators
Here’s what Apple has in mind:
Apple
Apple
Apple
Related Topics:
Apple
Enterprise Software
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Larry Dignan
for Between the Lines
| June 7, 2021 — 17:33 GMT (18:33 BST)
| Topic: Developer