November 18, 2021
UPDATE
SharePlay offers new ways to stay connected and share experiences in FaceTime
SharePlay is available with Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple TV+, NBA, Paramount+, SHOWTIME, TikTok, Twitch and many more apps
SharePlay, a powerful set of features for shared experiences during a FaceTime call, introduced new ways for Apple users to stay connected. With SharePlay support in Apple TV+, Apple Music and Apple Fitness+, as well as many of the most popular apps such as NBA, TikTok, Twitch, Paramount+ and SHOWTIME, users can watch movies and TV shows, listen to music or complete a workout with friends while on a FaceTime call. SharePlay extends to Apple TV so users can watch on the big screen while using FaceTime on iPhone or iPad. With screen sharing support, users can also browse the web together, view photos, or show their friends something in a favorite app. SharePlay is available with the release of iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1, and will come to Mac later this fall.
“SharePlay brings a whole new way to connect, share experiences and have fun together over FaceTime,” said Bob Borchers, vice president of worldwide product marketing at Apple. “SharePlay leverages Apple’s hardware and software integration to deliver a magical experience on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, and works with many Apple services as well as some of the App’s most popular apps. Store.”
New ways to stay connected with FaceTime
SharePlay makes it possible for iPhone, iPad and Mac1 users to share experiences with friends and family during a FaceTime call. For example, users can chat with each other while having a watch party, listening to an album with a friend, or doing a fitness challenge together, wherever they are, and SharePlay syncs all of these activities for everything. the world on FaceTime.
SharePlay sessions offer shared playback controls, so anyone on the FaceTime call can play, pause, or forward while enjoying synced media. With dynamic volume controls, the sound of streaming content automatically decreases when a FaceTime participant speaks, making it easier to keep the conversation going with friends despite a loud scene or climactic chorus. When users prefer uninterrupted audio, they can simply tap the Messages button in the FaceTime controls to jump to a shared thread and continue the conversation. Each participant in the SharePlay session streams directly from the appropriate app on their own device, delivering high-fidelity audio and video. Apple TV supports SharePlay so users can watch shared shows or movies on the big screen while using their personal device to continue connecting with friends via FaceTime.
SharePlay is available with Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+ and some of the most popular apps from the App Store.
In addition to enjoying apps together, users can share their screens to browse the web, view photos, or help each other on a FaceTime call.
watch together
Movies and TV shows can be streamed while connecting via FaceTime with friends, providing a rich real-time connection while watching the same content via apps like Apple TV, MUBI, Paramount+, and SHOW. Users can even stream live content, like the latest game from the NBA app, or chat with friends via FaceTime while watching a favorite esports stream on Twitch. And soon, users will be able to watch together using apps like BET+, Disney+, ESPN, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, Pantaya, Pluto TV and Starz.
Listen together
Users can bring songs, albums, and playlists directly into their FaceTime call for a shared listening experience. With Apple Music, users can listen to a highly anticipated new album or their favorite DJ mix together in sync. Other apps will soon add SharePlay support, including SoundCloud and TuneIn.
Adopt healthy habits together
SharePlay introduces whole new ways to inspire wellness with family and friends. For example, many people find it motivating when fitness is a shared experience, like taking a class together or having a friendly competition with a workout buddy. Thanks to the power of SharePlay, users can now train or meditate together in Apple Fitness+, Encourage each other at regular intervals with SmartGym or relax with a bedtime story with BetterSleep.
To learn together
With SharePlay, users can learn together despite physical distance. Kahoot! lets users compete live in educational quizzes, Explains It All allows users to FaceTime chat while collaborating on a whiteboard, and Night Sky gives users a way to identify stars, planets, constellations and stars together. satellites.
To have fun together
Many developers have introduced brand new ways to enjoy their app content. For example, TikTok added a way for users to watch a single collection of videos together. Heads up! fans can now play together even when they are not in the same place. Cameo allows users to enjoy their friends’ reactions to a celebrity post when they first see it. Popshop Live lets you watch shows and shop together. And with Apollo for Reddit, users in a SharePlay session can easily browse their favorite subreddits in sync.
Even more SharePlay experiences are available with apps like Bikemap, Flow by Moleskine Studio, Redfin, and more.
Screen sharing via SharePlay
With screen sharing via SharePlay, the possibilities are endless. Users can show off photos from a recent adventure, browse the web together while collaborating on a project, or teach a friend a skill while answering their questions in the moment.
- Support for SharePlay on Mac devices will arrive in an update to macOS Monterey later this fall.
Press contacts
Nadine Haija
Apple
(408) 862-6490
Jacqueline Roy
Apple
(408) 862-4386
Apple Media Phone Support
(408) 974-2042
