Apple has finally released the iOS 15.1 update which supports the much anticipated SharePlay. With Apple’s SharePlay, everything will change for Apple users, because baking this feature to FaceTime means you can show the content you love to everyone.
So, watch or listen to anything in sync with everyone else in the call, either by listening or watching it on your iPhone or even casting the content to an Apple TV device or your MacBook while still staying on the call or just watching both on the same screen using Picture in Picture mode.
To make SharePlay even better, Apple will not restrict it to its own services like Apple TV Plus and Music but also bring services like Disney Plus, Hulu, TikTok, and more under one roof. However, as of now, only Youtube and Apple’s own services are working in SharePlay. Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar hasn’t adapted to SharePlay yet. But it’s just a matter of time before most of the things can be watched together in SharePlay. This will indeed make watching, listening and even sharing your screen together even more simple and intuitive.
So let’s take a brief look at the important features brought by the iOS 15.1 update:
SharePlay
SharePlay is a new way to share synchronised experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music, Fitness+ and other supported App Store apps.
Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind or fast-forward
Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show or song when your friends speak
Apple TV supports the option to watch the shared video on your big screen while you continue the FaceTime call on iPhone
Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web or help each other out
Camera
ProRes video capture using iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Setting to turn off automatic camera switching when taking macro photos and videos on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple Wallet
COVID-19 vaccination card support allows you to add and present verifiable vaccination information from Apple Wallet
Translate
Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) support in the Translate app and for systemwide translation
Home
New automation triggers based on the current reading of a HomeKit-enabled humidity, air quality or light level sensor
Shortcuts
New pre-built actions let you overlay text on images or gifs, plus a new collection of games lets you pass the time with Siri
So if you haven’t updated your iPhone to iOS 15.1 yet, hurry up and update it to experience all these new features!
