Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Information was present in Android’s open-source working system mission repository that implies Android is including a “DeviceAsWebcam” service.
- The characteristic would flip an Android cellphone right into a USB webcam with out the necessity for an app.
- This may be the primary time Android supported utilizing a cellphone as a UVC machine.
It’s no secret that the webcams that come put in on computer systems aren’t nice. That’s why individuals usually select to make use of an exterior webcam. Lots of people have even began utilizing their telephones as webcams, however that requires putting in third-party apps. Now it seems that Google could possibly be engaged on a approach to flip your Android cellphone right into a plug-and-play USB webcam.
Frequent Android analyst Mishaal Rahman went on Twitter right this moment to disclose that Google may add help for turning your Android cellphone right into a USB webcam. Found within the Android Open Supply Mission (AOSP) repository, Rahman discovered knowledge that claims Android is including a “DeviceAsWebcam” service.
Android is including a brand new “DeviceAsWebcam” service that “turns an android machine right into a
webcam.” Particularly, Android units that help the usual UVC (USB video class) gadget mode will be capable of ship video knowledge that hosts can learn from /dev/video* nodes. pic.twitter.com/oOgIqr1KkE
In case you’re unfamiliar with AOSP, it’s the open-source working system growth mission for inventory Android, which Google maintains. It permits anybody to overview and contribute code and fixes, underneath Google’s path and oversight.
This “DeviceAsWebcam” service is described as “a brand new service that turns an Android machine right into a webcam.” As Rahman explains, this could work on Android units that help the usual UVC (USB video class) gadget mode, which permits the sending of video knowledge.
Turning your cellphone right into a webcam wouldn’t essentially be one thing new for Android. As talked about earlier, there are apps that may aid you obtain that. However this could be the primary time Android has supported turning your cellphone right into a UVC gadget that doesn’t require the assistance of a third-party app.
Whether or not Google decides to incorporate this characteristic in a future OS replace is unknown. However to make use of the brand new performance now, Rahman states that your machine’s kernel might should be compiled with CONFIG_USB_CONFIGFS_F_UVC=y first. From there, you’d nonetheless technically want an app or service for it to work.