Android 14 will be able to use a mobile phone as a webcam locally

Android 14, scheduled for the second half of 2023, will bring a few new features. Among them is the possibility of natively converting mobile phones running Google’s operating system into webcams for computers.

A function called “DeviceAsWebcam” Found in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code. The first details of the feature were shared by Mishaal Rahman from his website. Esperdev.

Using the mobile phone as a webcam has become commonplace for users attending online meetings and lectures at the start of the pandemic. However, you need to use third-party apps to enable this phone feature.

Android 14 should bring this functionality natively on devices that offer the “USB Video Class” or “UVC only” gadget option.. The format allows the PC to recognize the data sent by the device’s camera.

Rahman mentions that an app or service would still be needed to send the video data from the phone to the “host” (computer or laptop). But Android 14 is expected to perform “mediation” between connected devices.

Seems like, Android phone owners will be able to use the feature on different machines and systems.. This will make a huge difference compared to Apple’s Continuity Camera, a feature limited only to iOS smartphones and macOS computers.

Other Android 14 news

Android 14, with the nickname Upside Down Cake, promises to have many innovations. To emphasize, the operating system should bring support for internet connection via satellite.

Another innovation would be Health Connect, a dedicated app that will organize health data collected by other exercise apps. Also, the operating system can block the installation of outdated software to prevent malware.

The Android 14 developer preview will be released in April 2023. The final release should only be available to the public in the third quarter of this year.