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FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

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Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#131

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

reaperducer wrote: post #120
someonehere wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You want half assed? FaceTime when it was announced by Steve Jobs, he himself up on stage said it would be open source. The developers in the front rows looked at each other and said, “did we say it would be open sourced?” It’s still not open sourced to this day.

You want half assed? Not Apple's fault. See other replies in this thread that it was killed by a patent troll.

Why would Apple be afraid of patent trolls? If they wanted to release it as an open-specification, they could.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#132

Post by nso »

judge2020 wrote: post #70
nso wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to get upper management involved once when trying to buy an Airport Express, because they wouldn't allow me to make a purchase at the Apple store without leaving my name and contact details.

There's a privacy carve-out for stores and selling items because you effectively have to provide this information when paying with card for fraud prevention (both online and for in-store loss prevention).

I was paying cash. In my country you do not give any details when paying with card, you simply pay and you are on your way.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#133

Post by nso »

reaperducer wrote: post #123
nso wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to get upper management involved once when trying to buy an Airport Express, because they wouldn't allow me to make a purchase at the Apple store without leaving my name and contact details.

they wouldn't allow me to make a purchase at the Apple store without leaving my name and contact details Was this recent? I was able to buy a new Mac just a few weeks ago without giving any information.

It was some years ago, I haven't been back since.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#135

Post by NaturalPhallacy »

Someone1234 wrote: post #44

A lot of Apple's previous attempts at "web apps" have been pretty half-arsed. Including Apple Music currently. Let's see if this is any different. I'm currently using Signal on Windows/Android/iOS and apart from two annoyances it is fine. - No gif support on Windows (Android/iOS only) - Cannot add a second phone but can add a tablet. As soon as it detects a SIM card slot (with or without SIM in it) it only allows you…

>- Cannot add a second phone but can add a tablet. As soon as it detects a SIM card slot (with or without SIM in it) it only allows you to set it up as the primary device, rather than a secondary like a tablet.

This is so infuriating. I can have Signal with the same account on my phone, my macbook pro, and my windows desktop, but not my iPad Pro. It doesn't even have a SIM card in it. Just an empty slot.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#136

Post by dheera »

noja wrote: post #89
dheera wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Signal: requires disclosing a phone number to everyone you use it with

Which means the other person knows it's me, right?

There are better ways to verify someone is who you think they are, e.g. asking them about an inside joke that you only told them in person at some point in the past, or what art you have up on the wall in your dining room.

Also, you might in some cases want to share knowledge or evidence without disclosing your identity, and phone numbers miserably fail for that use case.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#137

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

Seanambers wrote: post #113
kwanbix wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a honest question, so, what is so good about FaceTime? I have not used an iPhone since version 3GS, so it has been a while, but I understand it is just something similar to whatsapp video calls, google meet, or even zoom?

I see from the responses that one thing that is omitted is the clearly higher audio/video quality. I had someone call me on facebook messenger, but had to ask them to call me on facetime purely because of quality, and its not the first time. As with all Apple products "it just works". I wonder if that may change when it goes to the web.

We defaulted to Facetime until it became obvious that it really couldn't cope with occasional bandwidth glitches.

We switched to WhatsApp and video quality is noticeably more reliable. It does a better job when - for example - someone is outside and the WiFi isn't 100%.

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#138

Post by lostgame »

CharlesW wrote: post #26
standardUser wrote: post #6

I always use WhatsApp or Instagram for non-work video chatting. FaceTime is completely irrelevant unless you just happen to have your entire social circle using one company's hardware with no exceptions.

> FaceTime is completely irrelevant unless you just happen to have your entire social circle using one company's hardware with no exceptions. No option is universal (not one of my kids' friends uses WhatsApp or Instagram, for example), although Zoom is near-universal in my family's world. FaceTime is a great option for friends/family who use iOS, and I'm glad to see Android and Windows support. It wouldn't surprise m…

>> It wouldn't surprise me to see it join Apple Music and Apple TV as an Android-native app.

I think the difference is those are paid subscription services - so the rare Android user who decides they want to pay for either of those services can - and the iOS user who is already paying with a family plan can share it with their kids' or SO's Android phones.

With FaceTime, it's a free service; and supporting it on Android would just be a cost sink.

My two cents. :)

Re: FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web

#139

Post by t-writescode »

teawrecks wrote: post #30
HatchedLake721 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're missing the point who FaceTime is made for. Jitsi - heard of it once ages ago, never used it Zoom - for business Discord - gamers/teens? They can carry on "killing it", but I'm not going to ask my mom to install and signup for Discord. I'll FaceTime her or send her a link she can 1-click join.

Discord voice chat works in browser without an account. Not sure about video, though. Discord has it's bugs, but IMO it's categorically better than zoom.

Not for my grandmother. All those chat programs and conversion stuff would confuse her.
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