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FaceTime is Coming To Android and Windows Via the Web (theverge.com) 57

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Android and Windows users will finally be able to join FaceTime calls. From a report: During its WWDC keynote, Apple announced that FaceTime is going to be available on the web so users can call in from Android devices and Windows PCs. The video calling service was previously only available on iOS and Mac devices. Apple is turning FaceTime into a bit more of a Zoom-like video calling service with this update. FaceTime is also going to allow you to grab a link to a scheduled call, so that you can share it with people in advance and join in at the right time.
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FaceTime is Coming To Android and Windows Via the Web More

FaceTime is Coming To Android and Windows Via the Web

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  • And iMessage, too? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by kriston ( 7886 ) on Monday June 07, 2021 @02:13PM (#61463182) Homepage Journal

    Will iMessage also be added to Android? If not, there's no point.

    • Nope, because that would actually be fixing the problem of device messaging all relying on the lowest common denominator of 25-year-old shitty SMS.

      Apple's not interested in fixing issues that it can use to wedge you out of your non-Apple device, into an Apple device. And that's even after realizing that the one thing that turned iPod from a niche curiosity into a multi-billion dollar market leader and foundation for iPhone / iPad, and trillions of dollars of revenue was the adoption of cross-platform stand

      • Is there any reason why Android doesn't have a competitor to iMessage?

        • Mostly because Google can't get their shit together on messaging, and their "upgraded" version of MMS required the carriers to go along with it, and they are obstinate customer-surly entities that exist to vacuum up money at the highest rates allowable while doing the bare minimum of network build-out necessary to stay alive.

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by bn-7bc ( 909819 )
            Ofc it did, because google wanted to outsource the message storage etc to the carriers, and they dud nit trusr a lot if their customers ( hanset makers) to implement things in a compatible manner

  • Not to use it.
    Why would we use it over alternatives? Especially since a web app is going to be crappy (can you even receive a call without first opening the browser?).

    • Re:Can't wait (Score:4, Interesting)

      by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) * on Monday June 07, 2021 @02:30PM (#61463236) Homepage Journal

      They have to try, but Zoom already owns the market. They stayed proprietary too long and lost.

      • Exactly. Zoom won because it's OSS.

      • Not only zoom, but Skype, Teams, Meet, Facebook and many others.

        I make the distinction between video calls (where the other party's device rings, just like a phone call) and video conference.

        Video calls are Skype, Duo, Facebook, Whatsapp and I put Facetime into this category.
        Video conferences are Teams, Meet, Webex and others. It's possible Apple is trying to enter that market too, which is obviously not possible by remaining Apple-only.

        They are fine for video conferencing, but web-apps are not practical fo

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by jeremyp ( 130771 )

        No. Teams is winning.

        Which is a shame because Zoom is much better.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Corbets ( 169101 )

          No. Teams is winning.

          Which is a shame because Zoom is much better.

          Aside from lying for half a year or more about having end-to-end encryption, and therefore making it very difficult for anyone to believe that they have appropriate security and privacy controls in place.

          Never mind the big vulnerabilities last spring, including the stupid default open config of meetings.

          Maybe they’ve gotten better. But it’s damned difficult to trust them when they claim so.

    • Even Google Duo is better than this, and Google has no fucking clue what they are doing with messaging and video calling, as evidenced by their ever-shifting strategy and shitting all over themselves with gchat, hangouts, google+, allo, duo, "chat", etc. etc.

      • Maybe Duo is but I won't try to get anyone to use Google Duo. It was an uphill battle getting by friends to use Google Voice, the hangouts, etc.

        • As it should be. It should always be an uphill battle to use a new service, when they are already using one which is working just fine.
          People are already using video calls and video conferencing solutions. They have no reason to switch to FaceTime.

          • I'd like to have to option since that is the easiest way for me to communicate with my family that only uses iphones. That said, I'd rather they make imessage available. I get left off a lot of messages since it's not possible to add a non-iphone user to a named group chat.

            • That said, I'd rather they make imessage available. I get left off a lot of messages since it's not possible to add a non-iphone user to a named group chat.

              Which should tell you how much you are worth to them. Of the hundreds of possible instant messaging protocols, they chose the only one which you can't use.

              • Re: (Score:1)

                by bn-7bc ( 909819 )
                While there is sone truth in what you're saying, it might not be e consiosh choice to cut him/her out. Let's think about this for a second, the hwole family ( apparat from the poster) uses iMessage for the family chat, possibly they also use iMessage with most/all of their friends, so to include op they would need to change their habits, that us hard. And ant way, at keast the way I read it, they at keast post the critical info to op, this is unfortunately the price if being on "the other platform" ie you

                • Yes - and to add, they have their routine established from before I came onboard.

                • I often hear this argument, but nobody not living under a rock only has friends with iDevices, so they always end up needing to use a cross-platform application.

                  People in general use X instant messaging or video calls applications. People I know with iDevices tend to use X, or X+1 if they use iMessage/FaceTime as well.

    • "can you even receive a call without first opening the browser?"

      Push notifications?

      • "can you even receive a call without first opening the browser?"

        Push notifications?

        Sure! They sell these "iPhone" and "iPad" devices that let you do so.

        I'd suspect that this feature is intended for "Apple users who are away from home" more than for "Android users looking for more options". A lot of Apple's other services are like this as well. For instance, you can access your synced notes, calendars, contacts, and other data from the browser, but no one really uses it much in practice. After all, the people in that ecosystem already have native devices and apps for accessing that data, a

      • yes, so is my Firefox browser on Android going to do that, and I will be able to change the ring tone? Will it follow my phone's do not disturb mode and ring volume/vibration mode?
        If I reboot my phone, does it work instantly, or do I have to first launch the browser?

        Not that I care, I am not going to use it. But I see many reasons why it could fail in practice, or not be convenient enough.

        • If this capability becomes an actual thing more than a rumor, someone will make an Android app designed to make sure this page is loaded and push notifications coming through at boot.

    • One of the doctors I frequent uses a video chat that sends you an SMS with a link, and opening it starts a web browser driven video call that is as good as any app I've seen, (in fact, better than several I've used) all you have to do is allow it to use the mic and camera. The url is to evisit.com, so whatever tech they use. It even works with Firefox for Android perfectly, so no chrome specific hacks/API involved. Best of all, no stupid app to download.

      • Having the OPTION of a web app is a must for video conferencing solutions.
        However it is not really appropriate as the only option for video calls. At the minimum you should have a browser extension with an icon showing you are online and ready to receive calls.

      • Also sending SMS is a very bad way to start a video call. You then have to send yourself the link and open it on your computer if you don't want to do your doctor's appointment on your tiny screen when you are sitting in front of a large monitor.

        • Unless you're on a Mac. Then all SMS AND iMessages come into all your Apple products (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch & Macs). It's what they call an "ecosystem" and Apple is the only one with it.

          • I also get my SMS on my computer (google voice) but it's still an ugly solution for a video CALL platform. It could be OK for a video CONFERENCING platform, but then email should be used instead of SMS.
            SMS should just die, really.

            The problem with that Apple-only ecosystem is that while you a times get a few conveniences, most of the time you are just vendor locking-in yourself. It's very hard to get out when you are fully invested. So if the next iPhone sucks or is too expensive, you'll get it anyways.
            I pre

            • One of the new features of FaceTime is that it gives you a URL/web link. It's up to you to communicate it to whomever you want to participate, in any manner you want: e-mail, SMS, written, etc. I'm not locked in - I want the services/ecosystem. If I'm ever not satisfied with it, nothing is stopping me from leaving it. I get a LOT of conveniences (not a few). I personally feel macOS is 100% better than Windows, and I only use Unix based systems for servers (FreeBSD of choice). My iPhone is almost 4 x

              • I never said every year. But when you'll want to replace your phone, you'll have to purchase an iPhone. You are vendor locked-in to the bone.

                • You missed my point - it ADDs value for me. I'm not locked in. If I ever don't see the value, I'll get something else. BTW - you can use iMessage & FaceTime without a phone... They work perfectly fine on a Mac & iPad with any phone number, or Apple ID.

      • https://meet.jit.si/ [meet.jit.si] works like this. And you can set up your own. Maybe it's a paid implementation meeting whatever HIPAA requirements there are for video chat?

  • Apple won't be able to have it both ways here. They are trying to both maintain the advantage of the proprietary service, that keeps users "in" and capture wider market of those who are still out.

    To that end, they decided that a half-assed experience "over the web" is the way to go. Their logic must go something like - we have a great product that everyone would like to try, so they will join even if over the web, and then as they see how good it could be in a native app, switch to Apple. That's wishful thi

    • Apple won't be able to have it both ways here. They are trying to both maintain the advantage of the proprietary service, that keeps users "in" and capture wider market of those who are still out.

      Isn't Zoom a proprietary service?

      • It is, but it also exists as a native app for any platform that matters. Including Linux.

        The shitty web client is only a last resort, not the one-and-only solution for >85% of all hardware.

    • Re:Can't have it both ways (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Scott Wunsch ( 417 ) on Monday June 07, 2021 @02:52PM (#61463290) Homepage
      No, this makes sense. FaceTime has worked well in the past to encourage people to stay within the Apple ecosystem. All their friends use FaceTime, so they can't switch to an Android phone. But now, as people use more and more other videoconferencing solutions because of the pandemic, they might be more open to switching to accommodate that one friend who has an Android phone and can't join in. So here's the solution to make sure they don't switch. That one Android friend can still get in. There's no need to start experimenting with Zoom instead of FaceTime. But they still aren't going to get rid of their iPhone, because they know the experience won't be as good. It's not about attracting new customers. It's about keeping the existing customers.

  • I can't hide behind not being compatible with android, now I have to be upfront that I refuse to use Apple products!

    • Nah, you can still hide behind it with the modification of "yeah, it's a web client, which means I don't get notified of incoming calls, and if I originate the call it's still a web app so it kills my battery."

  • Can't wait till scammers/spammers figure out how to script the site, start sending massive facetime calls (audio or video) and starts using VPNs to hide the fact they are doing this from a certain location where they can be prosecuted.
    Then combine that was AWS/Cloud, then you have massive computers using pre-recorded videos/audio doing this, leading to people having hundreds of calls.
    Anyone remember when iCloud was made available for iCal events to automatically be added to calendars and apple had to do spa

    • Just go to Libre rather than bitching that Apple is finally attempting to come up with ways for non-iphone people to facetime.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Coius ( 743781 )

        When I get the money. I'm spending most of my money on bills like electricity, gas and whatnot. With my injury, my video business failed, and to tell you the truth, back injuries are the worst. My iPhone is like 4-5 years old and it's not replaced unless I can get the money to replace it. My medical bills alone are $1,200-$2,000 /month to treat a broken back.

        Other things are priorities. I've already sold off all my Apple computers and replaced with PCs (Windows 10/Linux) with my professional systems. So fo

        • I understand that. I had back surgery in 2019 and ended with 2 rods and 4 screws. What I lost in mobility I gained in pain (less pain) movement.

  • Ya, this isn't a malware nightmare.
  • Wait? So Apple is bringing Facetime to other platforms via a browser, but refuses to let their browser do the same on iOS? Got it!

  • Anyone remember that time Steve Jobs said he'd open source FaceTime? [cnet.com].

    Now, FaceTime is based on a lot of open standards -- H.264 video, AAC audio, and a bunch of alphabet soup acronyms -- and we're going to take it all the way. We're going to the standards bodies starting tomorrow, and we're going to make FaceTime an open industry standard.

    And this is why people take Apple's gestures and see them for the pile of shit they are. If you may promises and then subsequently don't keep them, then future promises and gestures get diminished because you are looking like you don't keep your promises.

    Either deliver on a promise OR just don't fucking make a promise. It's super simple shit.

    All that said, I'm sure FaceSkype or whatever is just Apple's late to the party (yet again) attem

    • TIL some people have found a way to characterize Google's platform schizophrenia as a good thing...

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by bn-7bc ( 909819 )
      Show me one company that has not broken a series of promises over the years, product shipping dates, features etc. I see this as a first step, let's give it a year and see if App,e/3d parties might bring out native Facetime apps on other platforms
  • My wife and daughter have iPhones, I'm sticking to Android/Google because it costs 1/2 as much. We've been using google duo https://duo.google.com/about/ [google.com] and it's been working perfectly.

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