With the growing need for remote work and online communication, having access to a reliable webcam has become increasingly important. Currently, there are third-party apps available that allow users to turn their smartphones into a webcam. However, it seems that Android could soon take things to the next level by offering this functionality as a native feature.
What is the 'Device as Webcam' Feature?
According to Mishaal Rahman, an analyst who recently discovered a mention of the ‘DeviceAsWebcam’ feature in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), Android could soon have the ability to turn a smartphone into a webcam without the need for any third-party app. This will allow users to easily convert their Android smartphones into a web camera, much like how Apple users can use their iPhones as a webcam on a Mac device using the Continuity Camera feature.
How Will it Work?
The ‘Device as Webcam’ feature will be available for devices that support the standard UVC (USB video class) gadget mode, which is currently used by most USB webcams to send video data. A system property ‘ro.usb.uvc.enabled’ will be used to enable the functionality on Android devices, and it will only be readable by system apps like the Settings app and USB gadget HAL.
What Does This Mean for Android Users?
With the introduction of this new feature, Android users will no longer have to rely on third-party apps to turn their smartphones into webcams. This will make it easier to participate in important Zoom and Google Meet meetings without having to worry about technical issues or compatibility problems.
When Can We Expect it to Launch?
At this time, there is no word on when or if this feature will actually be introduced. However, if it does see the light of day, it is speculated that it could debut with Android 14, which is expected to be introduced soon and reach users by the end of the year.
Conclusion
In today’s remote-working world, having access to a reliable webcam is becoming more important by the day. With the potential for Android to introduce the ‘Device as Webcam’ feature, users will no longer have to rely on third-party apps to turn their smartphones into webcams. This will make it easier to participate in important Zoom and Google Meet meetings, and could prove to be a game-changer for Android users. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development.
