This Windows application could turn your Android smartphone into a webcam

One of the main selling points of the Apple ecosystem is the fluidity with which all devices work together. For example the iPhone can be used as a webcam for the Mac. Microsoft’s Phone Link is a functional equivalent for Android, which allows users to control their phone from their computer.

And if we believe some clues, this Windows-Android synergy could soon benefit from an important update: the ability to see your phone’s camera on your computer, Apple-style.

This feature was spotted for the first time by Android Authority, which dived into the code of the latest version of Microsoft’s “Link to Windows” application. This application contains a new code that suggests that PC users will soon be able to use their smartphone as a webcam.

The code also mentions Zoom-like video effects

Although Phone Link can already access the phone’s camera to some extent and make video calls, the current functionality only mirrors the applications running on the phone. The new code seems to be a completely independent process.

Phrases such as “Press this notification to allow your PC to stream the video from your camera” appear in the new code, as do “Video pause”, “Video resume”, “Switch back” and “Switch forward”.

The code also mentions Zoom-like video effects: automatic framing, blurring, face retouching and soft focus. The coding does not mention the “webcam” anywhere specifically, but the filters and framing options make it clear that the video with people is the intended use.

With the Galaxy S24?

The upcoming Phone Link features seem similar to Apple’s Continuity, where users can access an iPhone’s camera through a Mac for video calls.

However, it is possible that these features are limited to certain devices, because only recent high-end smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy and the OnePlus 11, integrate the Link to Windows function.

Microsoft has not released anything officially, so there is no timetable available for an announcement. But in previous years, new features for Phone Link have been announced at the same time as Samsung phones. With the launch of the Galaxy S24 scheduled for February 2024, there is a good chance that something official will be announced by then.

Source: “ZDNet.com “