This fine technology be makin' yer phone a spyglass to show yer face through a Windows app, arr!
2023-11-30
Avast ye landlubbers! Word be sailin' that Microsoft be toilin' on a plan to grant ye scurvy Android phones the grand privilege of servin' as webcams for yer Windows needs. Arrr, a mighty twist to the tale, ain't it?
Arrr, me hearties! Ye don't need to be spendin' yer doubloons on one o' them fancy webcams to be seen in video calls and meetin's. There be plenty o' third-party apps that let ye use yer phone as a webcam, ye savvy? Even that scurvy Apple has a system called Continuity Camera, and now it seems Microsoft wants a piece o' the booty too.According to Android Authority, Microsoft be workin' on addin' this feature to its Phone Link app, which helps connect Android phones to Windows. That be a major boon for anyone who don't want to part with their pieces o' eight for a webcam when they already have a fine camera aboard their smartphone.
The Phone Link app, version 1.23102.190.0, be spillin' the beans, mateys. The code strings suggest ye can set up a camera stream on yer computer, switch between the front and back cameras, and even enable a feature called Do Not Disturb, among other controls.
But that ain't all! There be a whole slew o' video effects ye can play with, from HDR and night modes to softenin' yer mug and stabilizin' yer image. There's even somethin' called 'auto-framin' that be similar to what Apple has.
Phone Link already be able to access yer camera, but it currently just mirrors video-callin' apps on yer phone. The new code suggests Microsoft be workin' on bringin' video-conferencin' right into Phone Link itself, savvy?
We don't know which devices will have this feature, but Android Authority reckons it could be limited to products that have Phone Link as a system app. That might include some o' the best Samsung Galaxy phones and the OnePlus 11 runnin' Android 14, for example.
Now, me hearties, when – or if – this feature be released, it'll face some fierce competition. That Camo app be a fine tool for usin' yer phone as a webcam, with plenty o' control over yer videos. Microsoft be needin' to work hard to overcome that challenge, arrr!
But hold yer horses, mateys. There be no guarantee this feature will make it into Phone Link. Microsoft might just be experimentin' with it, and it could end up in Davy Jones' locker before it even sees the light o' day. Time will tell, but if Microsoft can do what Apple has done with Continuity Camera, it could be a treasure for Windows and Android users alike.