Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
PSA: Group FaceTime's Video Chat Not Available on Older iOS Devices
Apple today released iOS 12.1, which reintroduces the Group FaceTime feature that was removed during the iOS 12 beta testing process.
Group FaceTime is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users conduct video and audio chats with up to 32 participants at one time, with new camera effect features like filters, stickers, Animoji, and Memoji included.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Unfortunately, Group FaceTime is limited on older Apple devices. On the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, it is available in an audio-only capacity with no video. In its recently released iOS 12.1 user guide, Apple says that Group FaceTime video is not compatible with these devices.
According to Apple's official Group FaceTime support document, Group FaceTime with full video is limited to the iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 4, and iOS 12.1 is, of course, required for the feature to work.
Group FaceTime calls can be initiated via the FaceTime app or through a group conversation within the Messages app. When you're on a Group FaceTime call, the interface is organized into tiles, with the tile of the person speaking at the time getting larger so you can focus on each person.
Like regular FaceTime calls in iOS 12, Group FaceTime calls support a range of camera effects so you can use stickers, Animoji, Memoji, and filters during your calls.
Group FaceTime supports ringless notifications to let people join calls without disrupting conversations already in progress, and there are built-in tools for seamlessly adding or removing people from your chat. For more details on how to use Group FaceTime, make sure to check our our Group FaceTime walkthrough and how to.
Group FaceTime is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users conduct video and audio chats with up to 32 participants at one time, with new camera effect features like filters, stickers, Animoji, and Memoji included.
Unfortunately, Group FaceTime is limited on older Apple devices. On the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, it is available in an audio-only capacity with no video. In its recently released iOS 12.1 user guide, Apple says that Group FaceTime video is not compatible with these devices.
"Note: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus support only audio Group FaceTime calls. Group FaceTime may not be available in all regions."Group FaceTime is also limited to audio-only on the iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, and iPod touch.
According to Apple's official Group FaceTime support document, Group FaceTime with full video is limited to the iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 4, and iOS 12.1 is, of course, required for the feature to work.
Group FaceTime calls can be initiated via the FaceTime app or through a group conversation within the Messages app. When you're on a Group FaceTime call, the interface is organized into tiles, with the tile of the person speaking at the time getting larger so you can focus on each person.
Like regular FaceTime calls in iOS 12, Group FaceTime calls support a range of camera effects so you can use stickers, Animoji, Memoji, and filters during your calls.
Group FaceTime supports ringless notifications to let people join calls without disrupting conversations already in progress, and there are built-in tools for seamlessly adding or removing people from your chat. For more details on how to use Group FaceTime, make sure to check our our Group FaceTime walkthrough and how to.
Related Roundup: iOS 12
[ 75 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
12 months ago
That's good. People on older devices are now forced to update if they want Group FaceTime.
I don't think group facetime is a killer feature to force people to upgrade 4 year old phones. Likely if they're holding onto their phones now, they still will.[doublepost=1540929360][/doublepost]
Yay, planned obsolescence...
If this were limited to the latest phones, you'd have a real case for this. But phones that were released ibefore 2014 are lucky they receive updates at all.
12 months ago
In other words, it’s available in its full capacity on the devices with at least 2 gigs of RAM. There go all those Apple defenders claiming that 1 gig was enough lol
12 months ago
That's good. People on older devices are now forced to update if they want Group FaceTime.
People on an iPhone 5S or 6.
6S upwards still works fine.
12 months ago
6S upwards still works fine.
Yay! Still rocking my 6S, IMO it's still the best of the iphones and certainly the best for my specific needs. Facetime is the best app for those with limited data connections. I tried several when in the Scottish Highlands where the WiFi was <1meg and it was the only one that gave great image and sound quality. Hangouts and Skype (the major other options) were awful by comparison.
Will be the end of my ios journey though when it dies. Apple's priced me out of the market.
12 months ago
Yay, planned obsolescence...
Then why offer it on anything older than an Xs or Xr?I am sure they wanted the full experience, or audio only, as a way to bring consistency for users.
12 months ago
Yes, I read the article.
Jolly good, cause it’s not all older devices. Just ones that are 4 years old.
12 months ago
iPod touch?
As in the model still sold new by Apple?
So a current product is incapable of running the current software optimally?
Or the current software is unable to run satisfactorily on current hardware?
As in the model still sold new by Apple?
So a current product is incapable of running the current software optimally?
Or the current software is unable to run satisfactorily on current hardware?
12 months ago
Didn't it work with those older devices fine on the betas? I seem to remembers that it did.
12 months ago
That's good. People on older devices are now forced to update if they want Group FaceTime.
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple's biggest product unveiling of the year is now in our rear-view mirror, with the company taking the wraps off of new iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad models while also prepping for the launch...
On the same day that iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max pre-orders began, some customers are already beginning to see their order statuses shift from "processing" to...
Struggling movie ticket subscription MoviePass is finally shutting down after months of questionable policy changes and what seems like a never ending stream of negative press due to an inability to...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Jackery to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station and a Jackery Solar Saga 100W Solar Panel.
...
The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max are now available for pre-order on Apple.com and cellular carriers as of this morning. As usual, most carriers are offering some perks if you...
The Academy Software Foundation, a collaborative effort to advance open source software development in the motion picture and media industries, today announced that Apple has joined the foundation as...
Spotify will require family plan members to provide their location data "from time to time" to prove they're all living under the same roof, in an effort to curb subscribers who abuse the...
If you're planning on trading in your old iPhone for a new one, there are some steps you'll want to take beforehand to ensure it's de-linked from your accessories and accounts and that...
