Google has introduced a big new digital camera characteristic for its Pixel smartphones that permits customers to shoot video from a number of angles by including a wirelessly linked exterior digital camera. This performance is out there with out the necessity for third-party streaming apps, in contrast to on rivals such because the iPhone. The brand new characteristic, referred to as Linked Cameras, is a part of Google’s March Pixel Characteristic Drop, which incorporates a number of enhancements to Google’s smartphone lineup, together with the Pixel 6 and up.
Nonetheless, the Linked Cameras characteristic is unique to the Pixel 9 collection, enabling customers to attach wirelessly to an exterior digital camera and stream video from two totally different angles when utilizing apps resembling Fb, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. When utilizing a suitable app, customers can change between native and distant cameras to create extra participating movies with out having to shoot a number of takes. Throughout seize, audio is recorded from whichever digital camera is in use on the time.
To allow the Linked Cameras characteristic, Pixel 9 collection house owners can launch the Pixel Suggestions app and comply with a tutorial on connecting a second Pixel cellphone as a distant digital camera. Alternatively, customers can entry the characteristic by way of the Linked Units part of their smartphone’s settings. The characteristic at the moment helps Fb, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Though the Linked Cameras characteristic is a strong addition to the Pixel 9 vary, there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. Some preliminary ideas embrace:
– Switching between cameras is gradual: Every time you turn cameras, there’s a three-second countdown earlier than the feed switches over, making fast transitions tough.
Linked Cameras in Pixel 9
– No straightforward solution to change between digital camera lenses: It’s essential to select between the rear or entrance digital camera when beginning the connection and can’t change through the session. – Switching between a number of distant gadgets is cumbersome: Just one distant digital camera may be linked at a time. Switching to a special distant digital camera requires a number of steps.
– Default digital camera app isn’t supported: Linked Cameras solely works with suitable social media apps, limiting management over digital camera settings. Some customers have reported that the digital camera sharing typically fails to work regardless of a correct connection. Restarting the gadgets sometimes resolves this problem.
The Linked Cameras characteristic requires a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, or Pixel 9 Professional Fold as the first machine. It additionally necessitates signing in on each gadgets with the identical Google Account, limiting the power to attach a pal’s Pixel advert hoc. Whereas this characteristic supplies thrilling potentialities, resembling utilizing older Pixel gadgets or GoPro cameras as secondary cameras, it additionally has potential drawbacks.
These embrace the automated switching of audio recording to the lively digital camera, which might not be ultimate in all situations, and the potential misuse for covert recording. The March 2025 Pixel Drop is out there now, though some options might not be instantly accessible in all areas.
Photograph by; Amanz on Unsplash
