Apple is initially leaving out an interesting announced feature from iPadOS, iOS and tvOS 15. The company announced this in the package insert for the sixth beta of the new operating systems, which was released this week. SharePlay, which you can use the FaceTime video chat service to watch films in groups or in pairs and synchronized, share other screen contents, listen to music and create playlists in groups, will not make it into the final version of the new systems, which will be released in September to be expected. What will happen to macOS 12 alias Monterey, which will probably be released in October, initially remained unclear.
Integration of third-party apps such as Disney +
SharePlay promises broad system integration. You should also be able to play external apps via FaceTime, including streaming services such as Disney + or video offers such as TikTok. Apple offers an API for this. SharePlay was not activated in the first beta of iOS 15 and the other systems, but in a later beta. With the latest Beta 6 it has now been turned off again. Why this actually happened remained unclear at first.
“SharePlay will be released for use in a later developer beta,” said Apple. Later, the public provision takes place via “software updates in the fall”. Developers who are working on the integration of the function into their own apps should be given the opportunity to test the formation and reception of the so-called GroupSessions via the Group Activities API for SharePlay via a SharePlay development profile, so that their work does not was in vain.
Important feature for the pandemic
For Apple, SharePlay is a flagship feature in the new operating systems. It, along with other improvements in FaceTime, should make it easier for people in the pandemic to communicate and better connect remotely. Joint “binge watching” over the Internet can help against loneliness and bring separated families together in lockdown. Apple also marketed the function accordingly.
(bsc)
