Facetime Vs. Messenger

[bainbrig]

I'm reasonably computer-competent, but seems always to have problems setting up Facetime on our iPads. Icons are greyed out, can't add contacts, etc.

Someone suggested Messenger, and apart from the fact that it seems the only way to access it is through Facebook, it does seem easy to work, and to connect.

Is it just me, or do others find Facetime awkward?

BB

[kvalidir]

We Facetime and Skype and I prefer Skype tbh, we can't use messenger because he won't use Facebook, but yes Facetime can be awkward :(

[bainbrig]

Yes, I've got an aversion to Facebook too, but having swallowed it, Messenger took about 3 minutes to set up and connect to a friend in Southern Spain. Tell 'him' that Facebook won't contaminate him unless he lets it...

BB

[kvalidir]

He has got an old Facebook account but he just won't use it at all, he gets spammed to death on the messenger there so he never signs in and doesn't want to, awkward ***. Skype is great though we've found. :)

[Mamyalynne]

I like Skype too, easy to use.

[Fitzer]

Which icons are greyed out? There are very few on there. All of your contacts are available so not sure what you’d be adding, if it’s a new contact you add it in the contacts app not via FaceTime

[bainbrig]

There’s two next to the contact name, a phone and a camera.

[Fitzer]

Well, for certain the camera one is only available if the contact is able to use FaceTime, as long as there is a phone number associated with the contact the phone symbol should be good.

[bainbrig]

Ah, no phone number. I thought it just went through to an email address, no?

[Fitzer]

Only if the contact has set themselves up to receive FaceTime via the email address in question, essentially the person you’re trying to contact has to have added their various means of contact (email, phone etc) in FaceTime’s settings to say ‘I can be reached via...’

[bainbrig]

Thank v.much Fitz., I’ll get that checked out.

In the meantime, Mrs B is yacking away to her sister in the south of Spain, on Messenger - and the video is better on her Mac, of course - iPad always seems to distort faces on Facetime!

Thanks for your patient help.

BB

[chrissa1]

How can anyone say that FaceTime is awkward to use. Compared to Skype it is way ahead on easy availability, picture and sound.

FaceTime makes it seem as though you are sitting on the settee next to the person you’re talking too. When I had to use Skype, it was fuzzy, blurry and the sound was always a tad behind the actual speech.

You don’t need a Facebook account to use Messenger. Just download the app in the Apple App Store.

[bainbrig]

Well, all I’d say as someone who, while being highly computer-literate, finds most of the modern ‘kiddie’ apps lacking in sophistication, ( plus they’re badly designed), my vote goes to Messenger for simplicity and good video image.