Your Android smartphone could be getting a popular iOS 16 camera feature

Date:
Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:34:55 +0000

Description:
Google is apparently developing an Android feature called DeviceAsWebcam, which sounds a lot like iOS 16's Continuity Camera.

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Usually, Android devices are the testbed for innovative smartphone features that Apple designers eventually improve upon and incorporate into their devices; but it seems that, for a change, Google wants to adopt a popular iOS 16 feature for an upcoming version of its OS.

At WWDC 2022 Apple unveiled an iOS 16 and macOS Ventura 13 update called Continuity Camera . Rather than relying on your Macs inbuilt webcam, you
could instead use one of the best iPhones running the latest OS, and take advantage of its souped-up cameras, microphone, and video effects.

Third-party apps could allow the best Android phones to be used in a similar way, but according to Google Open Source Project changelogs , it appears that a feature similar to Continuity Camera could become a baked-in feature for a future version of Android (via Mishaal Rahman on Twitter ).

Currently named 'DeviceAsWebcam', it would (as you can probably guess from
the name) turn an android device into a webcam. However, little else is known about the feature right now.

It does appear that it will allow for a wired USB connection which suggests you wont be limited to one computer OS, as is the case with Continuity Camera
though its unclear if Continuity Camera features like Desk View (which lets you see your desk and face at the same time), or Centre Stage and Studio
Light (which keep you in the shot, and make you appear brighter than the background respectively) will appear in the Android iteration.

Whats more, theres no guarantee well see DeviceAsWebcam appear anytime soon. While its certainly possible that it will launch with Android 14, depending
on how far into development the tool is, we could see it delayed until
Android 15, which is at least a year away, or even Android 16.

Well have to wait and see what Google announces at Google I/O 2023 its big annual developers conference, which we expect will be in May but be on the lookout for DeviceAsWebcam among the list of new tools headed to our Android smartphones.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/your-android-smartphone-could-be-getting-a-popu lar-ios-16-camera-feature


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