• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

FaceTime audio is AWESOME!

J

JackBurton

Lifer
Just tested FaceTime audio with an iMac and it is awesome. Seamless integration and super intuitive to use. Telcos have got to be hating this. Apple has already eaten into their SMS bullsh!t plans with iMessage, now it's time to start eating into their traditional voice plans. My brother has unlimited data but has limited voice minutes. Guess he's not going to need to have to pay for additional minutes. 🙂
 
Assuming he has good coverage, or is in wifi a lot, then yea.

I really like FaceTime Audio, when I game online with friends, we'll use that to talk to each other instead of Skype. Skype always has this weird background noise and will disconnect sometimes. With FaceTime the noise floor is so low that the first time we connected, we both thought that the call had dropped because there was no noise in the background.

The drawback is that last I checked, you couldn't connect to multiple people at once. So if a bunch of us want to talk, we have to use Skype.
 
I actually didn't discover Facetime Audio until a couple days ago when I accidentally clicked it...I thought it was only video chat haha. Although I still mostly use Skype because Facetime, while better-performing, has a lot of connection issues (half the time it won't connect, either on 3G or Wifi). And like TheStu said, you can video conference with multiple people on Skype, which is hand with family.

I'm curious if Apple is ever going to come out with an AppleTV camera. I use stuff like Cisco & LifeSize video conference systems at work, which are basically Bluray-quality camera systems and are absolutely incredible in terms of picture quality, but they also cost an arm & a leg.

Also, I've had my share of issues with iMessage. It works well for the most part, but there's always problems when people switch to an Android phone for an upgrade and their iMessage account is still receiving their texts. I believe you have to disconnect the phone in your AppleID device list on Apple's site in order to stop receiving SMS to iMessage. This has been a huge pain for me when texting coworkers & friends who jump ship to different phones & don't receive my messages 😛
 
Kaido said:
Also, I've had my share of issues with iMessage. It works well for the most part, but there's always problems when people switch to an Android phone for an upgrade and their iMessage account is still receiving their texts. I believe you have to disconnect the phone in your AppleID device list on Apple's site in order to stop receiving SMS to iMessage. This has been a huge pain for me when texting coworkers & friends who jump ship to different phones & don't receive my messages 😛
Click to expand...

That's not an issue with iMessage. That is an issue with your friends who leave iOS for Android.

😉

MotionMan
 
JackBurton said:
Just tested FaceTime audio with an iMac and it is awesome. Seamless integration and super intuitive to use. Telcos have got to be hating this. Apple has already eaten into their SMS bullsh!t plans with iMessage, now it's time to start eating into their traditional voice plans. My brother has unlimited data but has limited voice minutes. Guess he's not going to need to have to pay for additional minutes. 🙂
Click to expand...

I have unlimited minutes, but limited data. I am not sure I am a candidate to use FaceTime Audio.

Why would someone like me choose it over a phone call?

MotionMan
 
MotionMan said:
I have unlimited minutes, but limited data. I am not sure I am a candidate to use FaceTime Audio.

Why would someone like me choose it over a phone call?

MotionMan
Click to expand...


Because facetime audio uses an abysmal amount of data, around 500kb/min, which means a small 1GB data plan will give you last you about 2000 minutes of world-wide talk time, without even counting time spent on wi-fi. Oh and it sounds 100x better than a gsm call.
 
JAG87 said:
Because facetime audio uses an abysmal amount of data, around 500kb/min, which means a small 1GB data plan will give you last you about 2000 minutes of world-wide talk time, without even counting time spent on wi-fi. Oh and it sounds 100x better than a gsm call.
Click to expand...

Good points. Another great reason to use Facetime audio over standard voice calls is when you are in a location with crappy coverage but you have access to a wifi connection. My brother for instance has crappy Verizon coverage in his area and instead of installing a micro-tower, he can now use his wifi. Super easy with better call quality. 🙂
 
It's a lot harder to use when others aren't integrated. And living where there is wifi available really helps, but for me (out more in the country), wifi is rarely an option 🙁
 
facetime.png
 
So how's the audio quality on iOS devices? Significantly better that cellular voice calls?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top