Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
You Can Join FaceTime Calls on an Xbox but Not an Apple TV
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'm confused why anyone would buy an apple tv.
My tv's already have have apple music and tv apps, plus airplay, plus a better remote. What am I missing?
My tv's already have have apple music and tv apps, plus airplay, plus a better remote. What am I missing?
It is also possible to use xbox game pass and bypass Apple's rules. Download the "xbox game pass" app to download a game to your xbox, then download the "xbox" app to stream games from your xbox. Apple is just a disjointed company with many unforeseen holes such as allowing facetime via a link, but not on apple tv. Or denying a to b xbox game pass, but allowing a to c to b to play xbox game pass.
For those asking about "use case", Cisco makes a mint selling those setups…
I frequently have multiple people at each end of 1 facetime call, including elders. Can't realistically be more than 2 people looking at the same iPhone screen.
The Apple TV app works slightly better on Apple TV than on smart TVs. On Apple TV, the Up Next queue can track what you're watching across other apps. It makes it easier to keep track of everything. Search also works across other apps.
There are also lots of apps on Apple TV that don't exist on other smart TV platforms, especially Samsung and LG (not so much Android or Roku).
drop the “with Apple” and you probably have a more accurate comment.
Apple Watch also does not have a camera yet it supports FaceTime (audio). Furthermore Apple TV’s remote does have a microphone, thus it can at least join audio-only conversation.
Which would be really handy for people who own an Apple TV but don’t own an Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Macintosh, PC, or Android device but still want to use FaceTime. There must be dozens of people who fall into that category.
While we’re at it, what about all those smart refrigerators? Why don’t they support FaceTime calls?
Apple sells refrigerators now?
This whole tread is raised around the continuity across the ecosystem and Apple offerings that are available outside the ecosystem and not inside. It could also be about how the Apple TV device is not an actual TV but a little expensive box that barely does anything.
Are you outraged by the fact that CarPlay isn’t an actual car, or an actual play, too?
It's up to the respective vendors of those smart refrigerators to incorporate a current-standard web browser that can support FaceTime calls. Just like how XBox does.
Because I still prefer the wide viewing angles, deep blacks and fantastic motion handling/response time of my Panasonic TC-P50G15 Plasma TV from 2009. LCDs don't look as good to me. I'll get an OLED when the Plasma dies someday.
I have a second Apple TV in my gym; I like that apple watch metrics display automatically on the tv screen during apple fitness, and its awesome how sound automatically switches from my receiver to my powerbeats pro simply by inserting them into my ear. Its appreciate that you can have two sets of headphones with Audio Sharing. Admittedly, these are just convenience features - but I got a good deal on Apple TV 4K 2nd gen by stacking veteran discount on top of apple's refurbished price.
Fitness+ is probably one of the coolest Apple TV features, if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem (phone+watch, in this case). It’s like Pelotron or Mirror, but with lower buy in costs (iPhone SE, Apple Watch SE, 4th Gen Apple TV, should be less than $1000 new, better deals can be had used or refurbished).
Yeah, neither does my Mac Mini, nor my AW, but they can both do FaceTime.Am I missing something? There's no camera on an AppleTV.
Maybe that could be a feature in a future ATV.
As for web browsers, I have been asking for a web browser on tvOS for many years now.
My TV has all that stuff as well, but there is plenty of stuff the ATV still has that Smart TVs and other streaming boxes do not.
Besides, the UI on tvOS is much better than the competition, imo.
Your analogy isn't really fitting to the situation.
My Mac Mini doesn't have a webcam, but it does FaceTime. My Apple Watch also is missing a camera, but can do FaceTime audio calls.
Well, to be “fair”, XBOX is a serious business for Microsoft, but for Apple, the AppleTV is just a hobby.
?♂️
?♂️
Bingo.
AppleTV had an opportunity to compete with XBOX. But there were plenty of false starts (an App's 200MB storage constraints, significantly lower CPU and GPU than what Apple's capable of, Siri remote, etc) made it a non-competitor for gaming.
The "it's just a hobby" explains it all. Probably half-hearted efforts like the Touch Bar.