iOS 13 Will Make Your FaceTime Calls Less Awkward

facetime
Credit: WSig (Image credit: WSIg)

If you're tired of looking like you're not looking at the screen when you take a selfie, Apple is planning to address that.

In the iOS 13 beta, Apple has added a new feature that adjusts images you take from your front-facing FaceTime camera so it appears as if you're looking at the camera when you're not. 

According to The Verge, who reported on the feature after app developer Mike Rundle tweeted about it this week, the feature can be turned on or off from the phone's FaceTime settings. It's called FaceTime Attention Correction.

The feature might not sound like much, but could actually be an important addition to Apple's operating system. 

Often, when people are on FaceTime or snapping a selfie of themselves, they'll be looking at the image of themselves on the screen instead of the front-facing camera. It then makes it appear as if they're looking at themselves and not the person they're talking to. The FaceTime Attention Correction feature adjusts the appearance of where they're looking on the fly, so it looks like they're looking at the person.

It's unclear how Apple created the fake images and it's unknown how it might work in practice. Apple appears to be approximating where the person's eyes are pointing and responding with an image that looks right. Another developer, Will Sigmon, posted an image of himself using the feature on Twitter.

Apple, of course, hasn't commented on the feature and it's unclear whether it's simply testing it or will make it available in the final iOS 13 build the company will release this fall. 

If you're an iOS 13 beta user, you can download the third version and try out the FaceTime Attention Correction now.

Don Reisinger is CEO and founder of D2 Tech Agency. A communications strategist, consultant, and copywriter, Don has also written for many leading technology and business publications including CNET, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, Computerworld, Digital Trends, TechCrunch and Slashgear. He has also written for Tom's Guide for many years, contributing hundreds of articles on everything from phones to games to streaming and smart home.

Latest in Video Conferencing
A composite image showing Skype and Microsoft Teams side by side
I used Skype for years, and Teams is a poor replacement for the video calling service that started it all
Google Meet
Google Meet is getting a very handy automatic picture-in-picture mode — what you need to know
Project Starline 3D video conferencing
I just tried Google’s 3D video conferencing tool launching next year — here’s what Project Starline is like
Microsoft Teams
New Microsoft Teams is live — here's the 3 biggest upgrades
Google Meet update
It's official — Google Meet is getting one of Zoom’s best features
Zoom call on MacBook
Zoom flaw allows hackers to take over your Mac — update right now
Latest in News
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 3 just tipped for two major upgrades
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 25 (#653)
A first look at Amazon's Fallout TV series coming to Prime Video
‘Fallout’ season 3 plans are reportedly being made — while season 2 is still filming
Surface Laptop 7 from the front
Amazon just gave Surface Laptop 7 a 'frequently returned' label — here's what's going on
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
23andME box
23andMe has declared bankruptcy — here's how to delete your data now