FaceTime like a pro with these 7 hidden features
Macworld Back in 2010, Steve Jobs introduced FaceTime as an iPhone 4 perk, letting users video call their loved ones over Wi-Fi. The service matured over the years, bringing more advanced features like group calls, screen sharing, and much more. Despite its evolution, many users continue to rely on FaceTime for basic one-to-one audio and video calls, disregarding the slew of advanced tools it now offers. If you’re looking to make the most of FaceTime, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with these lesser-known tips and tricks. Smooth operator One of the main reasons many people are drawn to Apple-only setups is the ecosystem that brings all your devices together through a set of features Apple calls “Continuity.” Handoff is one of the popular Continuity features: it lets you seamlessly move a task from one Apple device to another. FaceTime supports it, so you can move audio and video calls between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. For example, if a video call is taking longer than expected and I’m tired of holding my iPhone, I can conveniently move it to my MacBook. Similarly, I can hand off a call from the living room’s TV to my iPhone if I’m heading out during a call. Foundry To use the feature, make sure the Handoff toggle is enabled under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. Now, whenever you’re FaceTiming, all of your nearby devices will display a persistent notification that you can click to effortlessly move the call without interrupting it. Take the wheel Technology enthusiasts often become the default troubleshooters for their friends and family. FaceTime simplifies the process through its screen sharing feature. You could even doodle on the shared screen by tapping it, guiding the other party on where to tap. That’s not always efficient, however. Just tap the screen during a FaceTime call to show the controls, hit the share button and select Share My Screen. Fortunately, FaceTime supports remote control; you can initiate a session by tapping the dedicated button in the bottom-right corner of the screen sharing interface. Once the other party approves your request, you’ll be able to remotely control their iPhone by tapping and swiping naturally on your screen. It truly makes resolving technical issues easier when you’re away from each other. App-solute fun SharePlay is another FaceTime perk that brings people together while they’re apart. During a call, tap the 3-dot menu (…), followed by SharePlay. This will bring up a list of installed apps that support the feature, such as popular music and video streaming services. Once you select an app and its relevant content, you’ll be able to enjoy it on your individual devices at the same time. It’s a neat way to socialize with faraway friends and keep the stream in sync. Foundry The aforementioned list also includes apps that support collaboration, including Apple’s own productivity suite. So, you could similarly collaborate on a document via SharePlay by following the same steps. Face card never declines Between messy rooms and unforgiving lighting, video calls can easily put participants on the spot. Luckily, FaceTime offers several enhancements that can polish your audio and video streams. Head to your iPhone’s Control Center during a call, and tap on the Controls bar at the very top. This will reveal several effects that you can instantly apply, including Portrait for blurring chaotic backgrounds, Studio Light for adjusting the lighting on your face, and Center Stage to keep you in frame as you move. Likewise, you can opt for the Voice Isolation option when sitting in noisy places to clean up your audio. Foundry If you’re using a Mac, you get to utilize a couple of exclusive perks, including virtual backgrounds to completely conceal your surroundings and Edge Light, which acts as a digital ring light. Graphic responses Speaking of effects, FaceTime supports more prominent ones that can emphasize a certain opinion or emotion during a call. The Reactions toolbox includes a heart, thumb up, thumb down, balloons, rain, confetti, lasers, and fireworks. To apply any of them, simply tap and hold on your thumbnail during a FaceTime video call, and pick the desired reaction. You could alternatively enable the Reactions toggle after expanding your video tile and perform their respective gestures to apply them. Foundry Links to the other side If you’ve accidentally befriended Android or Windows users, you can actually FaceTime them, too. All you have to do is launch the FaceTime app on your iPhone, click on New Call, followed by Link (chain icon in the bottom-left corner). You can then optionally give the call a name and share the generated link via any messaging app. Foundry Keep in mind that anyone with the link will be able to request to join the call via a web browser. FaceTime doesn’t require them to sign in with an Apple Account, and they can assign themselves any alias. They’ll also be able to view your FaceTime caller ID (typically your phone number), so you should only share links privately with people you trust. Eye-catching tech During a FaceTime call, users naturally focus on the center of the screen, so you can see the other person. Because the front camera is positioned at the top, this creates the impression that you are looking downward instead of making eye contact. Your iPhone, however, can use its AI smarts to correct your gaze and establish virtual eye contact. Simply head to Settings > Apps > FaceTime, and enable the Eye Contact toggle. Et voilà.

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Let AI handle the repetitive stuff — MS Visual Studio makes coding easier for $35
Macworld TL;DR: Through May 17, get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) and take advantage of AI-assisted coding, cross-platform development tools, and more. Macs are great dev machines, but if your work has to ship across Windows, Linux, and everything in between, you’ve almost certainly spent time in Visual Studio. The latest release rolls in stronger AI tools, faster performance, and better workflows for teams. Included in Visual Studio 2026: Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit development environment, designed to handle massive codebases and complex projects without slowing you down. You can build everything from mobile apps to web platforms and containerized cloud services. Some highlights include: AI-assisted coding with IntelliCode: suggests code based on patterns in your project, helping you write faster and reduce repetitive boilerplate. Cross-platform development tools: build and debug .NET or C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers, making it useful for mixed-device teams. Live Share collaboration: jump into real-time coding sessions without teammates needing to clone repos or install dependencies. CodeLens insights: see commit history, tests, and authors directly in your editor so you understand your codebase faster. Don’t miss this great deal on Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2026, on sale for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) until May 17. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Exclusive: All Babbel language courses available for one lifetime price
Macworld TL;DR: Lifetime access to Babbel’s 14 languages for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN at checkout — expires June 30. AI can translate a menu, but it can’t teach you how actually to hold a conversation. The folks at Babbel know this and take a different approach than those gimmicky AI language learning apps. Every lesson is crafted by a team of 100+ linguists and language educators, built around real-life dialogue, cultural nuance, and the kind of practical exchanges that actually come up when you’re out in the world. Right now, a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages is $159.00 with code LEARN at checkout — but the deal ends June 30. You’ll get access to over 10,000 hours of content across Spanish, French, German, Italian, Turkish, and more. Lessons run just 10 to 15 minutes and are grounded in everyday scenarios, so you’re learning language the way humans actually use it — not just pattern-matching through an algorithm. Speech recognition helps you refine your pronunciation, and offline access keeps your learning going wherever you are. Whether you’re prepping for a trip or want a structured path to fluency, Babbel’s human-centered method is built to get you there. Get Babbel for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN — offer ends June 30 at 11:59 PM PT. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Macworld Podcast: Why you should care about Apple’s big CEO change
Macworld Apple has announced that Tim Cook will no longer serve as Apple’s CEO and John Ternus will have the job starting on September 1. In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the announcement and what it could mean.  This is episode 981 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 981 on YouTube Listen to episode 981 on Apple Podcasts

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AirPods Max 2 is $19 Off
The next-generation AirPods Max provides you with the ultimate over-ear listening experience, giving you improved high-fidelity audio, crisp highs, expansive mids and deep bass made possible with the Apple made H2 chip. It also places sound all around you with personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking.Break language barriers with Live Translation powered by Apple […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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MacBook Neo Behind the Scenes Clip Shared by Apple
A YouTube Short has been released by Apple, showing the behind the scenes of the creation of their introduction video for their MacBook Neo. The clip shows what Apple described as a look at the handmade magic showing the camera techniques and physical models used during the making. Real-world props were also shown, merged with […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Looking To Have OLED Micro Curved Panel for 20th Anniversary iPhone
For the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple is looking to Samsung to create a custom OLED display that is micro-curved that will be thinner and brighter than current panels in the market. Apple is rumored to be creating a radical design for their 20th anniversary iPhone; it might have a bezel and a display […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone 18 To Have 12GB of RAM
The upcoming base iPhone 18 is rumored to have 12GB of memory, marking the first time for base iPhone models to have this much memory. A report surfaced that the base iPhone 18 model will have 12GB Of RAM like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro. Apple has reportedly secured the first […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AirPods 4 is $30 Off
The AirPods 4 feature personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking placing sound all over you creating a concert, theater like experience when you put them on. They have been redesigned for comfort with a shorter stem, quick-press controls for both calls and music and a refined contour. The case is 10% smaller in volume […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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MacBook Ultra To Have These Features
The MacBook Pro has just been refreshed and given the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are already rumors that the device is expected to have bigger updates. The devices are rumored to be getting a significant redesign by early next year and Apple may use the branding MacBook Ultra for the devices. As […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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XChat Released
XChat has been released today on X, a standalone platform for messaging for the iPad and iPhone that allows people to chat with anyone on the platform X in private, separate from X. During launch, the app will support group chat, video calls, audio, and direct messaging, along with file sharing. It will have PIN […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone Ultra Won’t Have Some Features From iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone Ultra is the upcoming foldable iPhone Apple will be releasing later this year. Despite the price tag of $2,000, the device is expected not to have at least 5 features that are available on the iPhone 18 Pro. Dummy model photos have been uploaded by Vadim Yuryev and Sonny Dickson showing the missing […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Watch Series 11 42mm GPS is $100 Off
The Apple Watch 11 has safety features capable of detecting severe car crashes and hard falls. It also connects you to emergency hotlines automatically to let them know of your situation and to receive immediate medical attention. The watch features a lightweight and thin design, allowing for comfortable all-day wear even when you are sleeping […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Watch and iPhone Pairing Highlighted in Apple Ad
A new ad was uploaded by Apple to attract customers who are in the market with an Apple Watch and iPhone pairing, emphasizing the insights that the watch and device can provide you for your health. The ad was titled Health with iPhone + Apple Watch. It is a half-minute long, and it follows a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Rate for Savings Account on Apple Card Lowered
The Apple Card’s savings account interest rate has been lowered to 3.50% from 3.65%, notifications are sent regarding the reduced rate to users of the Apple Card this Thursday. The interest rate for Savings Account fluctuates often due to the changes made by the Federal Reserve.  When the rates are reduced the APY or Annual […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Mockup iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Models Hint At Thicker Plateau for Camera
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to have enhancements to the camera made by Apple but no rumors are fixed hinting the updates will need visible and measurable changes to the rear camera plateau of the device. Max Tech’s, a YouTube Channel, provided us with mockup images for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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YouTube Picture-in-Picture feature goes free worldwide
YouTube subscribers worldwide can soon enjoy picture-in-picture (PiP) support for free on their devices, including the iPhone and iPad. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple China highlights Apple Watch health and rescue stories in campaign with podcast tie-in
Apple launched a new campaign in China called “Thankfully, I was wearing it” (“还好戴着它”), which includes a special podcast episode in which three users share their stories. Here are the details. more…

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Iodyne Pro Data 24TB review: $15K, ridiculous speed, and probably not for you
The Iodyne Pro Data 24TB delivers enormous uninterrupted transfer speed, isn't network attached, and it isn't limited to one user. It's also a $14,995 wallet-breaking money-saver for the right audience.Iodyne Pro Data 24TBIt's not every day we get a second loaner for a review product years after the fact.The market has changed, workflows have changed, since we first reviewed the Iodyne Pro Data. Video workflows are getting bigger and bigger with 8K HDR 3D, and so forth. A single iPod like the Lord of the Rings dailies were shuttled around on are a thing of the past. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Divine, a Jack Dorsey-backed revival of Vine, is now available on the App Store
Featuring hundreds of thousands of archive videos from the original Vine platform, in addition to new videos, Divine is now available on the App Store and Google Play. Here are the details. more…

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