iOS 13 Will Make Your FaceTime Calls Less Awkward

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Now you won't be looking at the screen.

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

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.