Microsoft’s Phone Link and its Link to Windows desktop companion may soon let you use your Android smartphone as a webcam on Windows computers. According to Android Authority, codes have been recently found on the teardown of the app’s APK file which indicates that such a feature is likely to be implemented via a future update.
The publication added other new features related to the webcam functionality for connected phones discovered in the codes include “auto-framing” and alerts. The former is believed to behave similarly to Apple’s Centre Stage feature, which automatically frames the user and zooms into them during conference calls and such. There’s also traces of code suggesting customisation options such as Face Retouch, Night mode, HDR, Soft focus (bokeh) and others. Meanwhile, the alerts feature mentioned earlier notifies the user should certain errors occur, such as phone overheating and so on.
Microsoft’s goal of introducing this on Phone Link is to directly compete with Apple’s Continuity Camera feature, which allows users to utilise the iPhone’s arguably better camera for video conferencing on their Mac-based devices, while also giving them access to features such as the aforementioned Centre Stage as well as Portrait Mode, Studio Light and Desk View. Of course, what sets Phone Link apart from its competitor is its Windows and Android exclusivity, though the latter is only limited to supported smartphone models from Samsung and HONOR, with those from OPPO, OnePlus and Realme being the more recent additions to the list.
This supposedly upcoming feature should spare you the trouble of downloading third-party apps such as Droidcam and so on in order to convert your smartphone into a webcam. However, It is still unclear when Microsoft is planning to debut the new quality of life addition, and there’s no word on which applications will actually support it. We should also point out that Phone Link is also available for iPhones, though the features offered through it are less extensive when compared to its Android counterpart.
(Source: Android Authority)
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