edited by: Shaurya Sharma
Last Update: February 04, 2023, 14:15 IST
Native webcam functionality could be a great feature for hybrid workforces.
Soon, you may be able to seamlessly plug an Android device in and use it as a webcam on a variety of devices, such as Macs, PCs, and Google’s Chromebooks.
Android 14, Google’s upcoming mainline Android version, may bring native support for using an Android phone as a webcam on a computer. This would mark a significant shift from the current method of relying on third-party apps for this functionality.
According to the code changes spotted in the AOSP Gerrit by Mishaal Rahman via 9to5Google, Google is working on a feature called ‘DeviceAsWebcam’ – which lets you plug-in an Android device and watch it as a device like Mac, PC, etc. Can use as a webcam over a wide range. and Google’s own Chromebooks. And, unlike Apple whose ‘Continuity Camera’ feature only works between iOS and Mac devices, Google is opting for the universally compatible ‘USB Video Class’ (UVC) standard.
Android is adding a new “DeviceAsWebcam” service that “turns an Android device into a webcam.” Specifically, Android devices that support the standard UVC (USB Video Class) gadget mode will be able to send video data that hosts can read from /dev/video* nodes. pic.twitter.com/oOgIqr1KkE— Mishaal Rahman (@Mishaal Rahman) February 2, 2023
Rahman notes that “Android has supported external plug-and-play USB webcams for a while, but support for using your phone as a UVC gadget is new,” and that “a lot of third-party Apps that accomplish the same functionality.”
He further adds that it is important to note that even with the new feature, a separate app or service will still be required to transmit video data from the camera to the host device.
Notably, phones, such as the Motorola Edge 20, can already be converted into webcams by switching the USB mode to webcam and connecting it to a PC. The device is then identified as ‘Motorola UVC Camera’.
read all Latest Tech News Here
