There’s software that does this already. Right?
Yep. DroidcamX.
DroidcamX is awesome software too. It works over USB or Wi-Fi with little latency. My Razer Blade laptop has a defect where it’s webcam stopped being detected so now I just use DroidcamX. Obviously using a smartphone camera also drastically increases the quality of the image as well.
I ran into Droidcam during the pandemic when I needed a webcam and you could not find a decent one anywhere (or it would cost an arm and a leg). It works over USB or network, and it can connect two ways (phone can connect to PC or PC can connect to phone) so you can connect it over Internet or over VPN (like Tailscale). The PC app can work without a GUI so you can install the app for example on an old phone, connect it to power and use it as a surveillance camera too.
Maybe? All the ones I’ve tried were less than user friendly.
LOL, so it’s going to be about to do something I was already using it to do for years?
Yes, but without an external app.
Soft paywall. Click the “I have disabled my ad blocker” at your own risk and you should be ok.
Admiral and their invasive adblock detection can go 🤬 🤬
Would have been a nice feature during Covid for when the webcams had sold out.
Strictly speaking, you could do this but it required external apps to do it. IP webcam or something.
Thx. I tried. But I did’t find any good open source one. I mainly use the F-Droid store.
And for recommending it to other people it’s certainly easier to give them a USB cable than teach them to install an App, a companion program on the PC and set-up the connection. So I still like the new solution. But you’re 100% right. Doing things like this is typically the job of an app. And there certainly are multiple ones out there once you’re less strict than me with the free and open sofware.
Why is the thumbnail an iPhone on a MacBook, tho?
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Because they did a similar thing a while back…
controversy creates engagement
They really need to add a might to the title. There are plenty of features that are added to the betas but don’t make the final release.
I don’t know if Android users in here understand how flawless this works on iOS+mac. All I need to activate this is have my phone nearby and turn my locked phone to landscape mode. No need to even unlock my phone or connect it to my laptop.
I was blown away by how “automatic” it felt!
Im using my IPhone as a daily webcam for my Macbook Pro at work. Its awesome and the quality surpasses everything.
I saw somebody mentioned DroidcamX, it costs money and is way behind the Apple integration.
So I would love that my Android can be used as webcam in the future. Maybe Pixel 8 with its new camera sensor and Android 14 will be a good match.
You can do this with DroidCam
I think the point is that you don’t need an external app
Yeah, however I think this is one of those things that should be a stock feature. Most people who use webcams aren’t tech people and want a plug and play experience. It isn’t particularly hard to implement and helps Android stay competitive with Apple’s user experience.
This will be useful to me in about 6 or 7 years when my (then) old phone will still be running Android 14.
Fuck, can’t use "don’t have webcam*as excuse anymore.
Don’t worry mate, I’ve got the perfect reply you can use in almost every situation where someone asks you to do something you don’t want to!
I… uh… don’t have a phone? Said on a phone call
No - It might be able to, but I still have to activate it. And I won’t be doing that.
I’m certain this will not end up in the news as a story about some celebrity having this turned on at an unfortunate time.
There’s no way this will ever be abused.
Why would they plug the phone to a PC via USB AND set it to webcam mode AND record or broadcast in a program on the PC if they didn’t want people to see?
