this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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Technology

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189
Android 14 adds support for using smartphones as a webcams (www.esper.io)
submitted 1 year ago by ono@lemmy.ca to c/technology@beehaw.org
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[–] SamVimes@beehaw.org 83 points 1 year ago (8 children)

The fact that phones haven't been able to to this easily/natively/what have you is wild. Similarly, the fact that you can't use old tablets as external monitors without, in my experience of quite a few, significantly buggy software that's got significant lag in the best of times, is pretty wild. Sure, the technical hurdles aren't small, but damn.

I've got a reasonably high end newish tablet (Galaxy S7+) that I can use miracast to use wirelessly as an extra PC monitor. It works quite well... if I'm near to a high quality new router. But can I just plug the tablet in and use it as a monitor with my laptop? Not remotely well.

It's been a year or two, maybe I should check for new software again.

[–] ono@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I hope we'll see more of this as USB type C DisplayPort Alt Mode catches on.

[–] Flax_vert@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not available on Pixel

[–] Esqplorer@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 year ago

Duet display works well

[–] andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can plug an iPad to a MacBook via usb c and use it as an external monitor and it works really well in my experience. Kinda makes me wonder if there isn't a patent somewhere preventing it from wider use.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It should work wirelessly as well

[–] andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah it does, but definitely not as well. I've had much better results with the USB connected directly.

[–] abhibeckert@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Huh? It works perfectly without a wire.

It doesn't use your wifi router, it uses a direct (peer to peer) wifi connection between your computer and the tablet, which if they're next to each other (e.g. a laptop and a tablet), will be faster than USB.

If it's a tower PC under a timber desk with a crappy wifi antenna, then yeah that won't work as well as a cable. Timber is pretty effective at blocking wifi.

[–] andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun 3 points 1 year ago

My statement is based on direct experience of janky frame drops between an iPad pro and a MacBook pro sitting next to each other on the couch. I suspected some potential interference issues so I went back to USB and it was buttery smooth again. Might not match your experience but in my environment that's how it went down.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Depends on USB gen. Because 3.2 can transfer data faster than WiFi 6

[–] JazzDoggo@lemmy.fmhy.net 7 points 1 year ago

Ive been using an app called SuperDisplay. It allows to connect an android device through cable. It only requires to install their software on the PC first. It's a paid app with 3-day trial, so you can test how it works.

[–] atocci@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I hate that this is only just now coming in Android 14. I have old phones I would love to be able to set up as webcams for 3D print monitoring, but of course they haven't been updated in years and will never get this feature.

[–] lemann@lemmy.one 8 points 1 year ago

This is already possible - there are apps that will let you use any android phone as an IP camera, which you can then view from any other computer or phone on the same WiFi/network

[–] redcalcium@lemmy.institute 3 points 1 year ago

The real blocker here is the kernel must be compiled with UVC support, which is only enabled by default on many devices since Android 12. Custom ROM could enable this on older android devices, but I doubt it'll happen because custom ROM usually reuse the device's kernel instead of compiling their own version of kernel.

[–] andyMFK@reddthat.com 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

there are many apps that will let you do this. I use an app called IP Webcam

[–] atocci@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Sure, I tried the same app actually, but it needing to go over the network was a pretty big drawback. This sounds like a wired connection that will be recognized as a camera by any PC.

[–] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 4 points 1 year ago

Miracast doesn't use your router, it's a point to point connection between your device and the receiving device. You should probably get better results away from the router, actually.

However, even with a good connection I think Miracast is pretty bad in practice. Several seconds of delay, desynchronised audio, connection issues, it's a good concept thst just doesn't seem to work right on Samsung devices. It's a real shame, because game streaming services prove thst low latency video connections can be done well, and that's after passing the signal through a centralised router.

[–] muhyb@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago

A Philips phone did that and it wasn't even Android, probably like 15 years ago.

[–] TheOakTree@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I would suggest trying spacedesk. It's not great, but when it works it even works over USB.

[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago

Lenovo has a few tablets with HDMI input, but yeah it should be a basic feature over usb-c for all devices.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well... this is gonna make one of the only apps I ever bought obsolete.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bought? I've been using this one for like the past 10 years:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

The one I paid for (iVCam) works with OBS and Twitch, can do full 4K@60fps and stuff. I had never seen a free one that worked with my other apps, allowed even just full HD, and didn't have a watermark. I definitely would have preferred something totally free tho.

IP Camera looks like it only works with VLC or a browser according to its description. The built in support for it on Android might not actually do what I want either... 🤔

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

It's arguably an old app (est. 2010), but I think OBS should be able to consume a VLC streaming source?

No idea about the max rez@fps, my main uses for it over the years have included things like tying an old phone to a rope and lowering it into a pipe to locate a stray kitten, attaching it to a RC car for a "VR experience", and using it as an enhanced mirror to take a splinter out of my foot 🤷

[–] CjkOvPDwQW 1 points 1 year ago

Basically see the wiki below but I would like to add is Linux only.

Don't know if there is something like v4l2loopback for windows.

https://github.com/umlaeute/v4l2loopback/wiki/FFmpeg#using-an-android-device-as-a-webcam

[–] gnufudgecc@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Main reason why ALWAYS hesitate buying apps and services online.

[–] lichtmetzger@feddit.de 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's been an app for that for ages: DroidCamX.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dev47apps.droidcamx

[–] candle_lighter@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 year ago

But now it's native! :D

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 11 points 1 year ago

Probably a response to Apple's "Continuity Camera", which is pretty slick and seamless

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 8 points 1 year ago

It's about time.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago

Makes sense, especially now working from home is a thing that we're allowed to do.

[–] chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

and how about Desktop Mode on older Google Pixels, Google?

[–] artemisia@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Native bluetooth trackpad would be nice too.