The need for a cabled connection is a little disappointing, considering Apple’s Continuity Camera — which substitutes an iPhone’s camera for the webcam when taking calls on a MacBook — is completely wireless. But because Android’s webcam feature is built on the USB Video Class (UVC) standard, it should work across all systems without any restrictions — including Windows, Chromebook, Linux, and Mac.
Next year a vast amount of laptops will now sell without a webcam. Laptop manufacturers are creaming their pants at the thought of saving themselves money and profiting more.
I’m so glad this feature is coming. My only concern is that I use my phone while I’m using my webcam.
I suppose that’s why things like Phone Link on Windows is a thing. You can continue to use parts of your phone while it’s being used as a webcam.
Phone Link can be used for that? When I set it up all it gave me was texts and notifications that only worked half the time. I found it quite disappointing.
Well by “parts of your phone”, I mean calling/texting, and seeing notifications. The things I can’t really do without my phone. Most other things I can do via a web browser.
If you have certain Microsoft Duo, Samsung, and HONOR phones, you can access apps, but then again that’s a moot point since this is about using your phone as a webcam in Android 14, which is currently only a Pixel thing.
I haven’t tried Phone Link since it launched, so I am unsure how good it is, but I am going to be optimistic lol.
I want to believe this will make laptops slightly cheaper. However, they’ll probably just charge the same and have webcam installation as an option for like $50-100.
What a straw man! First off, YouTube.com exists so your point is not only stupid but wrong. And secondly, I never said that. This is a first-party feature being added to the OS a year after Apple added it to iOS. That’s why I’m comparing.
You’re saying I am stupid and wrong, when you’re literally wrong. Downloading an app on ANDROID that gives you a feature, is quite literally the definition of a FEATURE of ANDROID.
You must be confusing the word native with feature, which just makes you look “stupid and wrong”, to quote you.
If it’s something you can do easily by downloading an app, it’s a feature of Android or IOS. Built in OS features are just a convenience unless they add something because they’re built in.
Not only that, a ton of features people think were originally Android back in the beginning where done by the original iPhone jail breakers or PalmOS. It works out great.
I don’t like any of them. But from what I see, Android is the first one to make that feature in a way that it’s compatible with non-Android devices. That’s what the U in USB was meant for. The Apple version probably only works with other Apple devices, I guess.
Minor nitpick: I’m pretty sure USB Video Class is not an alt mode, just a standardized interface for sending video over USB (like HID for keyboards and mice or mass storage for flash drives). Alt modes completely dump USB (except the USB 2 link which is always available) and repurpose most of USB-C’s pins for a different protocol.
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This is great! No third part apps or anything.
I’m building a 3D scanning rig. Being able to do this with phones might make that a lot easier
DroidCam ftw
Been using DroidCam for years, interviewers are always blown away by my setup and think I’m some sort of streamer
Well apparently this is only via USB so I’ll still use Droidcam for WiFi
Next year a vast amount of laptops will now sell without a webcam. Laptop manufacturers are creaming their pants at the thought of saving themselves money and profiting more.
I’m so glad this feature is coming. My only concern is that I use my phone while I’m using my webcam.
I suppose that’s why things like Phone Link on Windows is a thing. You can continue to use parts of your phone while it’s being used as a webcam.
Phone Link can be used for that? When I set it up all it gave me was texts and notifications that only worked half the time. I found it quite disappointing.
Well by “parts of your phone”, I mean calling/texting, and seeing notifications. The things I can’t really do without my phone. Most other things I can do via a web browser.
If you have certain Microsoft Duo, Samsung, and HONOR phones, you can access apps, but then again that’s a moot point since this is about using your phone as a webcam in Android 14, which is currently only a Pixel thing.
I haven’t tried Phone Link since it launched, so I am unsure how good it is, but I am going to be optimistic lol.
Phone link works quite well for me, works just like you describe. Shares your phones screen when using apps.
I want to believe this will make laptops slightly cheaper. However, they’ll probably just charge the same and have webcam installation as an option for like $50-100.
The solution is to have two phones! One for web cam, one for memes.
Nah it’ll take at least 5 years for that to happen. They have to wait until most people have Android 14 to use the feature.
Computer manufacturers don’t care, though lol
My web camera is so old I might use this.
I thought Apple was the one that always copied Android…
no, but Apple always announces things they copied as a brand new thing never done before.
Name one thing they have copied and said it had never been done before.
They always say “new to iPhone” or “for the first time in an iPhone”.
We’re responding to the most disingenuous audience on here. They aren’t going to reply with anything honest.
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I’m fairly certain DroidCam is also on iOS.
Not trying to refute anyone, though I’d just add that.
lol. The worst kind of “um, actually”.
The kind that’s actually correct?
The kind that is irrelevant because it wasn’t a feature of Android. That’s why it’s being added now.
It’s not Android’s fault for not being extensible enough.
Note: iPhone user
I don’t understand how it’s not Android’s fault that it didn’t have this feature. Whose fault was it then?
So like how the iPad has no calculator feature?
Sure! That’s a fair point.
Crazy that iOS doesn’t have the ability to play YouTube videos!
Because according to you, if you have to download an app to gain functionality, it doesn’t exist.
Maybe one day iPhones can watch YouTube.
What a straw man! First off, YouTube.com exists so your point is not only stupid but wrong. And secondly, I never said that. This is a first-party feature being added to the OS a year after Apple added it to iOS. That’s why I’m comparing.
You’re saying I am stupid and wrong, when you’re literally wrong. Downloading an app on ANDROID that gives you a feature, is quite literally the definition of a FEATURE of ANDROID.
You must be confusing the word native with feature, which just makes you look “stupid and wrong”, to quote you.
iOS dropped that functionality in 2012.
If it’s something you can do easily by downloading an app, it’s a feature of Android or IOS. Built in OS features are just a convenience unless they add something because they’re built in.
No it’s not. That’s incredibly dishonest. You think it’s coincidental that they’re just adding it now after it was added to iOS in the last update?
No. Not at all. But that is not what I’m saying, at all.
They copy each other all the time. The idea that apple always copies android is just an Android fan boy idea.
Not only that, a ton of features people think were originally Android back in the beginning where done by the original iPhone jail breakers or PalmOS. It works out great.
I don’t like any of them. But from what I see, Android is the first one to make that feature in a way that it’s compatible with non-Android devices. That’s what the U in USB was meant for. The Apple version probably only works with other Apple devices, I guess.
To be fair, we had this available for years. Now it’s just fully native.
Oh this is really nice!
Camo does this
Finally, this was a feature needed for so long…
Considering I use 3 old androids as cat cams I would actually use this
I mean as a native feature, without all the hassle of having to install third party apps and windows drivers to use it.
It does not make sense to have four cameras in most today’s phones and having to spend 100$+ in a webcam that performs worse than your mobile.
As long as those “old” devices are on Android 14 or later
Eventually they will be
This might be a good place to post it, but there’s also a simple screen mirroring program that works over data and doesn’t need usb alt mode. scrcpy
I only mention it because it’s another great tool that I remembered after seeing this post.
Minor nitpick: I’m pretty sure USB Video Class is not an alt mode, just a standardized interface for sending video over USB (like HID for keyboards and mice or mass storage for flash drives). Alt modes completely dump USB (except the USB 2 link which is always available) and repurpose most of USB-C’s pins for a different protocol.
I meant that you could technically do video out without USB display port mode.