this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023

199 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

39559 readers

120 users here now

A nice place to discuss rumors, happenings, innovations, and challenges in the technology sphere. We also welcome discussions on the intersections of technology and society. If it’s technological news or discussion of technology, it probably belongs here.

Remember the overriding ethos on Beehaw: Be(e) Nice. Each user you encounter here is a person, and should be treated with kindness (even if they’re wrong, or use a Linux distro you don’t like). Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Subcommunities on Beehaw:

This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

199

Android 14 adds support for using smartphones as a webcams (www.esper.io)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

28 comments fedilink hide all child comments

top 28 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 81 points 2 years ago (7 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.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not available on Pixel

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Duet display works well

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It should work wirelessly as well

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years 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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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... 🤔

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years 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 🤷

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years 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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Main reason why ALWAYS hesitate buying apps and services online.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

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

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago

But now it's native! :D

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

It's about time.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Native bluetooth trackpad would be nice too.