What is Apple SharePlay and how does it work in FaceTime?
(Pocket-lint) - While at WWDC 2021, Apple announced a massive update to FaceTime in an attempt to make it better compete with Zoom and other video calling services that have exploded in the past year. As part of that update, it introduced a new feature, called SharePlay, which basically turns FaceTime into a watch party service. Here's what you need to know. When you're on a FaceTime call, SharePlay lets you bring music into your call for a shared listening experience, watch movies and TV shows with your friends in sync while having real-time conversations, and share your screen. At launch, it will work with many third-party apps, including TikTok, so you can bring all sorts of content into your FaceTime calls. SharePlay is available in the new FaceTime app, which will officially roll out with the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey software updates later this year. Currently, developer betas of those updates are available for testing, and the public betas are set to arrive this summer. But you'll likely want to wait until they officially roll out later this year. There are three main things you can do with SharePlay: Listen together, Watch together, and Share your screen. Let's say you're in a FaceTime video call with a friend talking about a song or album you love. With SharePlay, you can immediately and easily start playing the music you're discussing. All you need to do is open the Apple Music app, find the song or album, press play, and choose to listen together. The music will start in sync for everyone on the call. The best part is everyone on the call can add songs to a queue and then share playback controls like pause or skip. When you're on a FaceTime call, you can use SharePlay to start a watch party, or what Apple calls a "Shared Content" experience. Just open the TV app or a streaming app and press play. You and your friends can then watch in sync. Best VPN 2021: The 10 best VPN deals in the US and UK By Roland Moore-Colyer  11 December 2020 Whether you are looking to use a VPN keep you secure online or geo-unlocked sites, we've got you covered from NordVPN, ExpressVPN and more  Since SharePlay works system-wide on Apple devices, you can leave the streaming app, then open another app to, say, order take out, and a picture-and-picture view will let you continue seeing your friends and the video you're enjoying. Apple said controls are "always accessible with just a tap". You can even jump into Messages to chat while watching. If you prefer to watch on a bigger screen, you can extend the video to your Apple TV and watch it there while sharing the moment with your friends over FaceTime on your iPhone. Despite using multiple devices, everyone will be in sync. When demoing, SharePlay, Apple used the example of someone browsing Zillow listings and wanting to do so live with their future roommates. Screen sharing is a simple and effective way to do so - and it works across Apple devices. Besides Apple Music and the Apple TV app, SharePlay works with other popular apps and streaming services, because Apple created a SharePlay API for developers. Apple has already said it is working with certain partners, including Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, the NBA app, Twitch, TikTok, MasterClass, Zillow, Paramount+, ESPN+, and others. Since SharePlay is not officially available for consumers, nor are the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or macOS Monterey updates, the process for using the feature to start a FaceTime watch party is subject to change. Currently, here's how the process works in the developer beta. Launch the new FaceTime app on your iPhone or iPad. You will see two options: Create a Link New FaceTime. Tap Create a Link. FaceTime app will instantly generate a link. It will appear on the screen, below an "Upcoming" section. Follow the steps above to generate a link. Once the link appears, tap the i button. It's next to the FaceTime Link under the upcoming section. Choose the Share Link option in the menu. Pick a method to share the FaceTime call link. You can share via text message, WhatsApp, email, Messenger, etc. You can also just copy the link and move to an app and share it that way. The Apple user who created the FaceTime link will need to tap a check button on their device to let others join the call. You can learn more about how to join a FaceTime call via a FaceTime link through Pocket-lint's detailed guide here. Once you and your friends join the watch party, launch a supported video streaming app such as the TV app, Disney+, Hulu, or Paramount+, then, choose a movie or show to watch together, and that's it! Everyone can then watch in sync. The new FaceTime app includes a ton of other updates and improvements to FaceTime, including Spatial audio support, a Voice Isolation mode for blocking background noise, a grid view for seeing all participants, and FaceTime links, which - for the first time - can let Android and PC users join your FaceTime calls. Learn all about the new FaceTime here. Writing by Maggie Tillman.