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Continuity Camera
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:53 pm
by gavspen
I was trying to get this up and running the other day on my Mac mini. Nothing doing.
On the phone with Apple I find out that to get it going on a Mac mini or Mac studio (which dont have built in cameras, obviously) you must first connect using a cable. Then you can disconnect the cable and it will keep working until you shut whatever app you using (say, Zoom) and then next time you have to do the same thing again. Wireless doesnt work. But guess what? It does work wirelessly on either an iMac, or a laptop, which do have built in cameras, of course.
"What?", I ask. "You're saying it only works as advertised if you dont actually need it? If you have a Mac that has a camera? If you do need it (on a mini or studio), then it doesnt work?
"That's right"
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:09 pm
by mikehalloran
Are you talking about an iPhone? If not, what?
USB web cams are inexpensive. Many also have mics and speakers built in if you need them.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:26 am
by gavspen
Yes. "Continuity Camera" is a feature that's supposed to allow you to use your iPhone wirelessly as a camera for you Mac. (for Zoom, etc.) Only works if you dont need it.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:10 am
by bayswater
Could it be that you are interpreting it backwards? Is the process there to share the camera that is on an iMac, rather than share another camera with the iMac?
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:58 am
by gavspen
bayswater wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:10 am
Could it be that you are interpreting it backwards? Is the process there to share the camera that is
on an iMac, rather than share another camera
with the iMac?
No:
"Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102546
It's not that important fellas. I just thought it was funny.
Re: Community Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:40 am
by bayswater
gavspen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:58 am
It's not that important fellas. I just thought it was funny.
It is. It’s like people at Apple don’t talk to each other.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:30 am
by gavspen
It is.
Funny? Or important? Or both??
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:01 am
by Michael Canavan
gavspen wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:53 pm
I was trying to get this up and running the other day on my Mac mini. Nothing doing.
On the phone with Apple I find out that to get it going on a Mac mini or Mac studio (which dont have built in cameras, obviously) you must first connect using a cable. Then you can disconnect the cable and it will keep working until you shut whatever app you using (say, Zoom) and then next time you have to do the same thing again. Wireless doesnt work. But guess what? It does work wirelessly on either an iMac, or a laptop, which do have built in cameras, of course.
"What?", I ask. "You're saying it only works as advertised if you dont actually need it? If you have a Mac that has a camera? If you do need it (on a mini or studio), then it doesnt work?
"That's right"
Forgot to hit send, but yes Continuity Camera is hit or miss. I use it for Zoom meetings, but about half the time it doesn't work. It only works plugged into the computer, I've never had it work wirelessly. iPhone 12 and M2 Mac Studio here. I don't know why they haven't figured it out.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 12:15 pm
by gavspen
Michael Canavan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:01 am
gavspen wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:53 pm
I was trying to get this up and running the other day on my Mac mini. Nothing doing.
On the phone with Apple I find out that to get it going on a Mac mini or Mac studio (which dont have built in cameras, obviously) you must first connect using a cable. Then you can disconnect the cable and it will keep working until you shut whatever app you using (say, Zoom) and then next time you have to do the same thing again. Wireless doesnt work. But guess what? It does work wirelessly on either an iMac, or a laptop, which do have built in cameras, of course.
"What?", I ask. "You're saying it only works as advertised if you dont actually need it? If you have a Mac that has a camera? If you do need it (on a mini or studio), then it doesnt work?
"That's right"
Forgot to hit send, but yes Continuity Camera is hit or miss. I use it for Zoom meetings, but about half the time it doesn't work. It only works plugged into the computer, I've never had it work wirelessly. iPhone 12 and M2 Mac Studio here. I don't know why they haven't figured it out.
As I say, I find that after you've gotten it going plugged in, you can disconnect, and it stays operable for that Zoom session. Once you close Zoom (or whatever app, FaceTime etc.) you have to start all over again. Not so for you?
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:02 pm
by mikehalloran
Maybe today’s iOS 17.4.1 update will affect this.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:16 pm
by gavspen
mikehalloran wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:02 pm
Maybe today’s iOS 17.4.1 update will affect this.
Probably. After I sent feedback to whatever department it is (as suggested by the phone support guy "They take that stuff very seriously, you know".) they must have sprung into action!
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:30 pm
by mikehalloran
gavspen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:16 pm
mikehalloran wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:02 pm
Maybe today’s iOS 17.4.1 update will affect this.
Probably. After I sent feedback to whatever department it is (as suggested by the phone support guy "They take that stuff very seriously, you know".) they must have sprung into action!
Is there a 2 drink minimum where you are working?
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:51 pm
by James Steele
It’s Continuity right? Not Community? I may go through this thread and fix all of those as the subject header was confusing.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:33 pm
by Michael Canavan
gavspen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 12:15 pm
As I say, I find that after you've gotten it going plugged in, you can disconnect, and it stays operable for that Zoom session. Once you close Zoom (or whatever app, FaceTime etc.) you have to start all over again. Not so for you?
Nope more often than not it would lose connection as soon as I unplugged the phone.
Re: Continuity Camera
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:38 pm
by cuttime
My experience with Continuity has been spotty as well. I found after a bit of experimentation that it was very sensitive to the position of the phone and that the phone needed to be in landscape and vertically oriented to get it to connect and hold a connection.