Why Apple Watch and FaceTime are not meant to be together

More often repeatThat the second iteration of hours Apple will support FaceTime video calls, and even though there is no evidence that the story was widely spread and caused a noise. In fact, the rumor is not without any foundation, and that's why.

Can FaceTime generally run on Apple Watch

Own video service Apple FaceTime was introduced with the iPhone 4 (A4 equipped with a chip) as one of its exclusive features. S1 processor that is running on the Apple Watch, the performance corresponds to a new iPhone 4s, but it's not just performance.

Of course, the main problem - is the lack of camera. In the current design of watches, it is simply nowhere to build, there is no free space. At the Apple Watch, unlike the iPhone, the entire front panel is occupied by the display, to the same body has rounded edges. So Apple engineers would have to perform the feat, to place the camera module under the thick glass and get rid of the optical distortion of rounded edges. Making the front panel surface of complex shape that would fit the chamber or location of the latter is not even considered in the side face. It would have crippled classic design Apple and its philosophy.

But the camera is not the only problem.

Lack of resolution of the display

Today's Apple Watch has the same processor and amount of memory as the first iPhone with FaceTime support, but in spite of this, a little like a FaceTime-devices with iOS.

The screen of both models Apple Watch - this is just a tiny part of the display of the iPhone 4 (614 pixels). 42-mm hours version has 121 pixel area, and 38-mm - and even less, 92. Now watchOS not even know how to play the video, but in the future, Apple announced support for updating of "short video clips." At WWDC showed some 5-second Vine, describing them as "a vivid example of video playback on Apple Watch».

Following Apple guideline in watchOS 2, developers must bring a video to the following specifications: H.24 High Profile with a bit rate of 160 kbit / s and a resolution of 208 x 260 in portrait orientation. The pixels it will be 54. That is nothing, even compared with the iPhone front chamber 4 with 640 x 480 resolution, which afforded 307 pixels. It turns out even less than a quarter of the standard five years ago.

Apple is not positioning the clock as a media platform, and FaceTime is unlikely to be very much in demand, at least for now. Video clock screen will appear on the screen of the iPhone, iPad and Mac is just awful. That's why Apple has focused on other methods of visual communication such as sketches and palpitations. Use video chat on the tiny screen of Apple Watch does not make sense.

But this is not the end, there are other difficulties.

Other restrictions FaceTime

If we leave aside the question of quality, the Apple Watch, probably, could provide limited support for video on FaceTime in a simplified version, but resources are very limited hours, and the bottleneck here is battery.

Screen hours off at every opportunity, from which it can be concluded that the most "greedy" is exactly one. But even if Apple will be able to fit in the camera clock to optimize the processor to do possible to use FaceTime with the current capacity of the battery, - video calls look like one continuous compromise. Apple representatives mentioned that when playing back video in watchOS 2 will stop background processes, such as monitoring the heartbeat.

And whether it is necessary?

How FaceTime will be useful at Apple Watch

Now the introduction of FaceTime on the watch looks simple demonstration of technical ability and did not corresponds to the philosophy of Apple when the company introduces a new technology or function only bringing it up perfection.

We return to the chamber. Now with the help of hours you can take photos on the iPhone, but not the video. And this despite the fact that all operations are performed remotely on the iPhone, and Apple Watch is used as a viewfinder. Take photo, normally you can see it only on the iPhone. Yes, the clock allows to scale the picture using the "krutilki", but it is unlikely to be useful during video calls by FaceTime.

Apple uses a display size as one of the advantages of iPhone 6 Plus in advertising, and indeed it is. Why would anyone want to look into a tiny screen is hours, when you can get out of the iPhone pocket?

Cool does not mean ugly

Equipping watch camera, Apple will face disadvantages of Google Glass and Samsung Gear, who had a mediocre camera and create more problems than it solves.

Because of technical limitations, Samsung Gear did not even try to shoot video, but with a camera of 1.9 megapixels and 4 gigabytes of memory, offers ample opportunities for taking photos. However, the user experience they had just awful: not only that the camera is located on the strap hours and forced selfie fans to turn out your wrist, so it was also very slow - process camera on and shoot a photo takes 4 seconds.

In addition, the presence of the camera creates another problem - you can not get in many public places, where the use of cameras is prohibited. This problem is very acute stood in front of Google Glass owners who are having a lot of advanced features points, could not use them.

Sidelong glances and excessive attention to users of such devices are provided, even in places where shooting is not allowed. Others do not like being spied on them.

FaceTime does not fit into the concept of Apple Watch

Apple has positioned his watch as a gadget for quick interaction with short sessions of use: notification of upcoming events, responses to communications, navigation through the created route, and even voice calls.

Voice calls run on Apple Watch is great, this is possible thanks to Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. With video calling is not to pass: they are much more important than the quality of the connection and the availability of the Internet. In addition, the establishment of communication also takes time, which clearly shows the slowness of older models of iPhone and devices like Samsung Gear.

And, of course, talk time. Quick response to a voice call - one thing, and a long conversation "clock", during which the need to keep a hand in an awkward position - quite another. This is not the 2-5 seconds, Apple recommended when planning scenarios of interaction with third-party applications, to be followed by developers.

Connecting to Wi-Fi directly

Speculation about FaceTime affect another point - the need for a direct connection to the wireless network. Supposedly it requires a new chipset, which will get the next generation of hours.

Not really. Such a possibility Apple will add to the existing generation by simply updating watchOS, and what was said at the WWDC. Without going into details, the Apple Watch will be able to connect directly to a known access points, using special software mechanism. Available all this will be in the fall with the release of watchOS 2.

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Unfortunately, this case is an example of how easy it is nowadays to run pointless rumors and how fast they disagree on the media, bloggers and even replicating deserves credit news publications. "Predictors" risk nothing. If the prophecy does not come true, they just say that Apple «held the" it for the next generation of devices. FaceTime in Apple Watch will not happen. At least in the near future.

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