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Here's when you'll be able to use your Samsung Galaxy phone as your PC's webcam
The One UI 6 feature should debut on more Windows 11 devices than originally thought
Let's face it: Your PC's webcam probably sucks, especially when compared to what your smartphone is capable of. That's why features that let you use your smartphone as your PC's webcam are growing in popularity. Google's December 2023 Android release, for example, introduced the ability to turn your Pixel phone into a webcam for your PC, and while Google's implementation is simple, it isn't wireless and only supports basic camera controls. At CES 2024, Samsung announced a partnership with Microsoft that will allow for Galaxy phones to be used as wireless webcams for Windows PCs, complete with advanced camera controls like background blur and auto framing. Samsung didn't share much information about this new feature during the event, but we finally managed to dig up some key details, such as what devices it'll be available on and when it'll launch.
My favorite webcam for work and play is on sale at its lowest price ever
Snag Razer's Kiyo Pro webcam at 65% off
I've never really cared what kind of webcam I use, at least not until recently. After all, just about every device I own comes with a camera or two, from my drawer of camera phones and tablets, to laptops, e-readers, and gaming devices. There's no shortage of cameras built into the tech I use, and yet I still went out of my way to find a quality web camera for work meetings and general streaming earlier this year. My choice after plenty of research was the Razer Kiyo Pro, and after using it for a year, I can confidently say it's a great camera I don't expect to replace anytime soon. Seeing that Razer's web cam is currently on sale at its lowest price ever, I wanted to share why I love the camera and why I think this Black Friday deal is too good to pass up.
Hands-on with Google’s Continuity Camera clone in Android 14
A solid start, but not the stellar experience we hoped
Apple released a bunch of new hardware powered by its custom M-series silicon last year with oodles of cool software trickery in tow. Continuity Camera was one such feature which converts an iPhone into a wireless webcam for your Mac. All you need is a MagSafe camera mount or a way to prop the iPhone up at a suitable angle. We longed for an equivalent baked into Android or ChromeOS, and a solution is finally available with Android 14, rolling out to testers with the QPR1 beta. We took it for a spin, and the experience was about as good as a first attempt can be.
Android's working on its own Continuity Camera to turn your phone into a webcam
The new feature might be ready in time for Android 14
Google has supported external USB cameras in its mobile OS since Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, so you’ve long been able to plug a webcam into your phone or tablet and use it for video calls. Third-party apps have also managed to make the reverse possible, giving you the option to connect your device to a computer and use it as a webcam — however, it appears Google is now working to make this a built-in feature of Android, similar to Apple's Continuity Camera that allows iPhones to function as webcams for Macs.
How to turn your smartphone into a professional Zoom webcam: Mounts, lights, and more
Upgrade the look of your video conferences without using an impossible-to-find webcam
With the recent rise of the Zoom era for people working from home, you'd expect the webcam market to see a big push in product innovation. We witnessed a massive jump in sales for webcams, but little has changed regarding new features. Many webcams are lagging behind because smartphones have become the primary multimedia device we use for just about everything, including video calls. Smartphones these days have powerful dedicated image processors and fancy AI tricks up their sleeves, which most traditional webcams simply can't match.
An essential tool for students and educators is coming to Chromebooks — here's how to try it early
Projector gains even more useful presentation features
It's been many months since we covered Projector for Chromebooks — an upcoming presentation tool for students and educators. Google has since been working behind the scenes to finish up this new feature for Chromebooks, and thanks to a recent update, we have a near-finalized look at how it plans to amp up online presentations.
Win one of 10 eMeet Nova webcams (Update: Winners)
Capture 1080p video with autofocus, plus enjoy audio clarity with integrated microphones
If you missed out on grabbing an HD webcam during our contest back in October, you're in luck. Our friends at eMeet are back to give away another great product for video conferences, streams, and more. This week, you can enter to win one of 10 eMeet Nova webcams with integrated microphones and autofocus, valued at .99 a piece.
Moment Father's Day sale offers lots of great gift ideas for up to half off
Pick up a stylish wireless charger, some camera gear, or a webcam upgrade kit
With Father's Day coming up in just a couple weeks, it's time to start shopping for gifts. Moment just kicked off its Father's Day sale with some good options that he probably wouldn't consider for himself. There are discounts on cases and lenses, of course, but you'll also find wireless chargers, camera gear, drones, and other accessories for 20%-50% off. And if you're hitting video chat hard these days for work, or just to call dad, you can even save on the Moment Webcam Set.
You can still buy a webcam from Logitech directly (Update: Free equipment for teachers)
Logitech's online store still has stock
Read update
The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has led to massive shortages for some types of products. No, I'm not talking about toilet paper: webcams are now incredibly difficult to find, due to the massive rise in people conducting remote meetings. If you can't find one, look no further than Logitech's own website.
The Google Glass developers are at it again; they keep coming up with new ways to burn through that tiny battery. Today, the Glass Development Kit changelog was updated to detail the addition of USB webcam support for developers looking to add access to views outside of the standard forward-facing perspective. Webcams must be attached via On-The-Go (OTG) cable, and Plug 'n Play isn't supported, so Glass must be rebooted before the attached camera can be recognized. This comes a few weeks after a Google I/O session titled Innovate with the Glass Platform where Google Engineer Hyunyoung Song demonstrated a rig she had built with a camera mounted onto the back of a bicycle helmet.
Remember Piper, the crowdfunded home automation tool we featured almost half a year ago? Well the campaign is over and the gadget is on sale now. Once you get yours in the mail, you'll need to set it up and start using it, which is where the official Android app comes in. Piper Mobile is a free download, compatible with all Android devices running Gingerbread or later.