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How Does FaceTime Work?

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Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#51

Post by FemmeAndroid »

throwthere wrote: post #41
dylan604 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have 25Mb/s connection while anyone on the other end has only 1.5Mb/s connection, then you have a 1.5Mb/s connection. Just because you pay for fiber doesn't mean you always get that speed. Most benefits of highspeed badwidth at home allows for multiple connections to reach their "full" speed without forcing other connections to lower speeds.

Even if you have a 1.5Mb/s connection you should hear crystal clear audio.

I wonder how much of this has to do with the speed of a connection and how much has to do with Jitter? Especially on wifi, Jitter can become a huge barrier to overcome, even if the speed of your connection is extremely high.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#52

Post by jeffbee »

elzbardico wrote: post #45
the-dude wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Landlines have been digitized too, a distinct difference to what an analog landline offered. It was more intimate, you could hear breathing for example.

I think that at least for long distance calls, landline calls have been digitized and packet switched since the 70's, didn't they?

Digital yes, packet switched no. Traditional long-distance telephony was digital and circuit switched.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#53

Post by lotsofpulp »

throwthere wrote: post #39
sgt wrote: post #3

FaceTime is amazing. I keep in touch with my entire family using FaceTime video, often across thousands of kilometers. It's also such an equalizer, allowing even the non-computer literate to use it and focus on the actual conversations. In fact, my 103 year old grandmother is able to do video calls with me, which is great because I rarely see her in person these days. I don't think there exists an alternative she wou…

Semi-related question since I'm looking to get my grandma setup. Waffling between an iPhone and iPad, maybe an iPad mini but don't know if the air would be better (lighter I think). What device does your grandma use to FaceTime? Do you know does she do anything else with it?

I think iPad Air is worth it for older people since it does not cost much more and the grandparents in my family appreciate the size of the screen, especially since they use it with enlarged text size.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#54

Post by philjohn »

EGreg wrote: post #49
elzbardico wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that at least for long distance calls, landline calls have been digitized and packet switched since the 70's, didn't they?

No. Otherwise why would things cost $3 a minute until VOIP?

Because VOIP hadn't come along, so they had a monopoly and could charge pretty much what they wanted.

They switched to digital because it reduced their costs, instead of multiple trunk lines you could get away with fewer fibre lines.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#55

Post by jagger27 »

MrGilbert wrote: post #12
imagine99 wrote: post #10

Can anyone recommend a similar service that provides true high-quality video chat functionality on par with FaceTime but not requiring Apple hardware (but still easily usable on mobile)? We're looking for such a service for use in developing countries where iPhones are rare and connectivity is often mediocre at best. Tests with the like of Telegram, Duo and others have been okay-ish for voice-only calls but pretty ba…

Discord's video quality is rather high, at least on the desktop.

With Nitro, anyway.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#56

Post by lotsofpulp »

dylan604 wrote: post #43
dahfizz wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone already has cellphones, so a landline is an extra monthly cost for something that you're already paying for.

Unless you're of a certain age. People that already had long established landlines continue to pay for them even after getting a cell phone. And people still call them on those numbers as thats the number people know and remember vs just storing a cell number in their contacts. Also, for people getting an internet signal from the phone company (DSL), the landline was usually bundled in a package. They tried to make t…

All the houses with grandparents in my family have lost landlines since all the grandparents have phones.

Even the older grandmas who did not go past grade school who do not know a non English non Latin language like to use their WhatsApp to consume media from their cousins and other friends/relatives. And of course, FaceTiming grandkids.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#57

Post by dylan604 »

throwthere wrote: post #41
dylan604 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have 25Mb/s connection while anyone on the other end has only 1.5Mb/s connection, then you have a 1.5Mb/s connection. Just because you pay for fiber doesn't mean you always get that speed. Most benefits of highspeed badwidth at home allows for multiple connections to reach their "full" speed without forcing other connections to lower speeds.

Even if you have a 1.5Mb/s connection you should hear crystal clear audio.

Wow, take things litteral much? The numbers were just used to demonstrate, and not meant for actual comparisons. If the other party has a lower bandwidth than you, you are limited to that lower bandwidth. Fat pipe connected to little pipe means fat pipe can only move little pipe's worth of volume. If the other party has kids that are playing games, streaming youtube, listening to music, downloading torrents, etc, their bandwidth is fractioned too. If no QOS is enabled for ensuring mom&dad's phone calls are good before little Timmy's Fornite and little Suzzie's TikTok videos, then mom&dad can get the short end of the stick. Let's also not forget those IoT devices and Ring doorbells, and blah blah all cutting into that available bandwidth. People forget and take for granted how many things in their homes feed on that bandwidth

Yes, with 1.5Mbps one should hear crystal clear audio, but you have no idea how much bandwidth is actually being used.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#58

Post by dekoruotas »

throwthere wrote: post #39
sgt wrote: post #3

FaceTime is amazing. I keep in touch with my entire family using FaceTime video, often across thousands of kilometers. It's also such an equalizer, allowing even the non-computer literate to use it and focus on the actual conversations. In fact, my 103 year old grandmother is able to do video calls with me, which is great because I rarely see her in person these days. I don't think there exists an alternative she wou…

Semi-related question since I'm looking to get my grandma setup. Waffling between an iPhone and iPad, maybe an iPad mini but don't know if the air would be better (lighter I think). What device does your grandma use to FaceTime? Do you know does she do anything else with it?

Just three days ago I've set up my 93 year old grandfather on a Lenovo Smart Display 7. I think it has multiple benefits over an iSomething: - Always plugged in - no need to remember to charge - Shows our family picture albums that I can remotely update via my Google Photos - It is loud. Left the volume at 3/4 - Sits on a table and you're never holding it wrong™ - No settings to mess up, two previous tablets were too complicated

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#59

Post by lotsofpulp »

FemmeAndroid wrote: post #51
throwthere wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if you have a 1.5Mb/s connection you should hear crystal clear audio.

I wonder how much of this has to do with the speed of a connection and how much has to do with Jitter? Especially on wifi, Jitter can become a huge barrier to overcome, even if the speed of your connection is extremely high.

I wish other statistics about connections were more public, since there is much more to a connection than just bandwidth.

Re: How Does FaceTime Work?

#60

Post by daemoon »

dekoruotas wrote: post #58
throwthere wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Semi-related question since I'm looking to get my grandma setup. Waffling between an iPhone and iPad, maybe an iPad mini but don't know if the air would be better (lighter I think). What device does your grandma use to FaceTime? Do you know does she do anything else with it?

Just three days ago I've set up my 93 year old grandfather on a Lenovo Smart Display 7. I think it has multiple benefits over an iSomething: - Always plugged in - no need to remember to charge - Shows our family picture albums that I can remotely update via my Google Photos - It is loud. Left the volume at 3/4 - Sits on a table and you're never holding it wrong™ - No settings to mess up, two previous tablets were too…

You're one those who cannot let other people use and enjoy Apple products just because you do not like them.
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