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Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by exabrial on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:07AM (#22812566)
Couldn't we just use our smartphones on a stand?
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by lima-lima on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:37AM (#22812809)
Perhaps useful for others: I had this thought as well (that my handy camera is already a high quality webcam) and had great performance on Linux with the app DroidCam [1], which includes the V4Lloopback module when you install the desktop program and presents the android camera as a webcam at /dev/video#. Connected to my computer via USB (ADB) it shows no noticeable latency. This is a bit different to all the IP webcam apps which expose the handy camera over your LAN (but that is an option as well).

The desktop app allows you to toggle the handy LED flash for better front lighting, to lock exposure, to trigger autofocus, and to adjust white balance.

I tried it first with the free version, which doesn't allow HD video. The full version is a few dollars; doesn't contain ads.

I have no connection to the developers, but am a happy user. Works flawlessly anywhere a webcam is expected (for me so far: skype, Zoom, Jitsi).

The desktop app is open source, but unfortunately not the android app. I was surprised not find an open source version of this concept (and don't currently have the time to develop it).

[1] https://www.dev47apps.com/

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by MrGilbert on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @10:09AM (#22813068)
On a side note: I guess it's still "mobile" in english - "handy" is pretty german. ;)

Not sure if it's still valid, but "handy" has a different meaning in slang:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=handy

Again, a native speaker might consider different, but as a german the usage of "handy" immediatley caught my eye. :D

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by frosted-flakes on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @11:07AM (#22813601)
OP's usage is correct. Handy means "at hand", or convenient.
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by MrGilbert on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @12:37PM (#22814501)
I know what "handy" means in English.

So if I ask an American to show me his "Handy", he knows that I want to see his "mobile phone"?

Because that's what "Handy" means in Germany. It's actually "mobile phone", hence the confusion. I learned that "Handy" is almost exclusively used in Germany.

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by frosted-flakes on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @12:56PM (#22814696)
The German usage of "handy" as a noun does not exist in English. "My handy camera" doesn't mean "my mobile camera", it means "my camera that is conveniently at hand".

("Mobile phone" isn't very common in the US either. Common usage used to be "cell phone" or "smart phone", but is now simply "phone".)

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by rpvnwnkl on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @10:55AM (#22813468)
In US english, handy means convenient
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by larntz on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @11:33AM (#22813827)
I've been using this app also. Works very well with linux. Haven't had any issues except when I updated my system and didn't rebuild the kernel modules.

Haven't sprung for the paid version though as I am hoping the back ordered webcam I purchased at the start of this comes in the next few weeks.

Remember to rebuild the kernel module if your kernel gets updated!

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by taborj on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @12:26PM (#22814372)
Works quite well on my Debian box, as well as the Windows machine I use for work. I was able to use the virtual camera the Windows client creates to share with MS Teams.

Between that and OBS Studio [0] which makes it easy to do green screen work, I'm having some real fun with our team meetings. Just make sure you get the virtual camera driver [1].

[0] https://obsproject.com/

[1] https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obs-virtualcam.539/

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by blntechie on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:41AM (#22812843)
I kind of do this as my Macbook’s camera is broken but i have to join the conference once on phone and again on the laptop as I might have to screen share as well.
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by simon1573 on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:17AM (#22812638)
I'm doing that :) https://imgur.com/a/fige6hf
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by vidanay on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @11:54AM (#22814045)
You're missing a ; on line 84
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by abhchand on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:29AM (#22812737)
how'd you take this photo? :)
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by fortran77 on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:31AM (#22812761)
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by iscrewyou on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:36AM (#22812798)
A classic. Can’t believe it’s been 9 years since I first saw that.
Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by michaelbrooks on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:33AM (#22812777)
I did this with my Pixel 2 for a while, but the microphone had a lot of noise. To tackle the issue, I plugged a USB-C hub into it and used my Blue Yeti mic which gave me crystal clear audio.

Of course, a simple lapel would be a much better investment if you don't have any of that equipment.

Re:Tell HN: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and now web cams by akeck on Wednesday April 08, 2020 @09:41AM (#22812845)
My iPhone has been my most trouble free MS Teams device so far.