[Q] Duel Cameras for Non front facing Phones - Android Software Development

Just got the new G2 and its a bit disappointing that it doesn't have a front facing camera on it. Now I am looking for a way to do video calling with the use of a Web Camera. It would involve connecting the two devices with a USB Female-Female Adapter and designing an app to use the camera. Does anyone have an idea where to start on something like that?

i guess you have to look into usb host driver, there was one guy doing this with a nexus one i think, just search on youtube there was a video

Once you make the special adapter to trigger your phone into USB host mode (if possible) you will still run into a problem of no driver support for your webcam and no applications capable of using a usb camera.
basically you're SOL for a good while

Related

Video Out through mini USB?

Has anyone looked into this? With the audio now being output there, is there another pin carrying video that's yet undiscovered? Thanks.
nope no video out from what ive researched. even if there were, its qvga resolution so you are fairly limited.
you could your soti pocket controller to control your pda from your PC, you get a real time feed of you ppc on your pc.
hope this helps.
adios...
It is definitely possible to do it (even that I have no idea how).
Ateksoft has a program called WebCamera Plus which let you use your PDA as real-time webcam.
http://www.ateksoft.com/webcamplus.html
I'm using it on my TyTN and it works great.
using a pda or symbian smart phone as a webcam is possible as the software captures the straming video and transmits its as data packetrs via usb or BT to a PC, in which it is then decoded on the PC and the image/video stream from the camera is formed.
Actual video out (such as that accomplished with notebooks) via usb on the TYTN is another thing - from what I have read it might not be possible.
Anyone seen or tried the MicroSD version of this http://www.spectec.com.tw/sdv.htm ?
its really funny u askd this cus just last night b4 I went to bed, I wondered the same thing
I googled video out via usb and found a 60 dollar cable that converted from standard usb to s-video and audio and I'm sure theres mini-usb to usb converter
=) so hope that helps. I'd look it up but I have no 3g here at my parents lake house =/ I'm connectd over gsm, just got here. I get no umts at all and barely any gsm signal. this craps slow
I looked on the net for the Spectec Video-To-Go microSD Card and found it here
http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=139433&partner=froogle
It's $171.95. this would be great if I was still doing customer presentations.
Please note: This product does not convert the screen’s image into a VGA video signal. ... then what exactly does this do .. has me confused since some time ...
Also, these things require SDIO support .. not sure if TyTN got one ..
It'd be easy enough to emulate VGA on your device and use that for presentations, but your limitation is lack of an I/O to the graphic chip. As such, you're stuck with streaming the display data, which will be slow (for games), but perhaps perfectly fine for a slideshow.
Next prob though is the hardware - you can stream from device to device, but not stream from device to a (mini-usb) wire to a projector etc - at least the hardware issues are well beyond my experience.
A streaming projector might be a good solution. But all in, I think you're generally stuck for a cheap solution to outputing video over USB without a surrogate device in the middle. And if you're gonna have a surrogate, you might as well use that as the display device.
Check out nyditot for a VGA emulator.
V
May I suggest a better way? Simply install PC-based Powerpoint viewer on storage card. That way you merely need to drop your card into an USB SD reader, connect the reader to any host PC, and run your presentation. I do this often and avoid traveling with my laptop.
-Jeff
One reason I've always disliked the Ateksoft solution is that it requires installation of Ateksoft magicry on the PC. A true webcam solution should simply make the PPC act like a dumb webcam, piping the audio and video to the USB. We've all experienced those cheap webcams which you just plug in to your USB port, and MSN or Yahoo or whatever can pick up the device as an audio/video webcam, no installation of drivers required.
Software which does for webcam what Softick does for USB mass storage is what I'm after...
You didn't say what you wanted by 'video out'.. but I can tell you there aren't any 'unused' pins in the USB pinout. They're all audio or usb data. If the TYTN supported usb on the go (which it doesn't seem to) then you might see it turn into a mass storage device or webcam easily..
But for the moment, no, theres no pins to tap a composite or vga signal off of. I highly doubt the device has such a chip on board.
eh, I wanted to output video to my car A/V system. since I can sync the video on my device to my media center, that would be the easiest way to take shows to my car. so the streaming or flash solutions really don't address the problem for me...thanks for all of the thinking on it, though
ditto here
JEM said:
eh, I wanted to output video to my car A/V system. since I can sync the video on my device to my media center, that would be the easiest way to take shows to my car. so the streaming or flash solutions really don't address the problem for me...thanks for all of the thinking on it, though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the kinda stuff i've always wanted e.i. connecting my PDA to the SVideo Input of my car screen.
Seems "easy" to do with activesync, but seems to cause trouble because of the lack of video stream on usb pinout.
I'm just letting out an idea : Might be possible to emulate an activesync connection and capture the sreeen of the PDA and broadcast it out on svideo.
(don't ask, I don't even have a clue of how to do that)
SOTI Pocket controler and My Mobiler can do that, any chance someone find out a way ?
TY Guys, have fun

[Q] usb video input

I have a leo, running win mo 6.5 and a couple of flavors for android, my question is, is it possible to use the usb port to view a camera, I found a usb to rca cable which I could plug into the camera and phone, but I dont know of any software that would allow me to view it or if the phone would even handle it. The purpose of this would be to focus and aim video camera's as I install them, I looked through the forums and I didnt see anything that jumped out at me about this.
thanks again
Freak
highly unlikely
Agreed. Highly unlikely, but not impossible. It has been proven that the USB connector on the HD2 can be used as a USB Host under Ubuntu, but I am unsure if it has been tryed under Android or WinMo.

external webcam

has anyone tried? and will it work?
raindizzle said:
has anyone tried? and will it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing like that will work without drivers. If you had linux drivers you might be able to make something work, but it would not be plug and play.
ske714 said:
Nothing like that will work without drivers. If you had linux drivers you might be able to make something work, but it would not be plug and play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what about those plug and play webcams with installed drivers on them already? shouldn't that work since it is both windows/linux compatible? just as the same how external hard drives will work with our archos, and that also have drivers installed in them. (both windows/linux compatible also)
raindizzle said:
what about those plug and play webcams with installed drivers on them already? shouldn't that work since it is both windows/linux compatible? just as the same how external hard drives will work with our archos, and that also have drivers installed in them. (both windows/linux compatible also)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive never seen one, so I don't know for sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that. If you have an a70, there is only limited power available from the usb port. 200ma I think. If you try one and it works, be sure and let us know.
raindizzle said:
what about those plug and play webcams with installed drivers on them already? shouldn't that work since it is both windows/linux compatible? just as the same how external hard drives will work with our archos, and that also have drivers installed in them. (both windows/linux compatible also)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an FYI hard drives and cameras do not usually have drivers installed on them.. For example windows uses a driver called usbstor.sys that usb drives must adhere to in order to work properly. Delete this file and all your lovely USB drives in windows will no longer work unless you installed some crazy 3rd party software..
See here for more info
Ok so I just realized that most apps are drivers within itself (correct?) to run basic functions for a specific hardware like say camera effect apps for the camera. So now here is an idea...since the motorola xoom has a stock camera app implemented on the tablet to run both the front camera and a switch to use the rear camera....wouldn't it be possible as a theory to use a plug and play external usb webcam with the archos tablet and install the motorola xooms camera app instead of the archos camera app to use to switch between the front camera and usb camera (being as a rear camera)?
does anyone know where I can get the motorola xoom camera app to download? I would like to try it myself if I can get a hold of that app and just by a cheapo plug and play cam for 6 bucks if no one else is willing to try it...
raindizzle said:
Ok so I just realized that most apps are drivers within itself (correct?) to run basic functions for a specific hardware like say camera effect apps for the camera. So now here is an idea...since the motorola xoom has a stock camera app implemented on the tablet to run both the front camera and a switch to use the rear camera....wouldn't it be possible as a theory to use a plug and play external usb webcam with the archos tablet and install the motorola xooms camera app instead of the archos camera app to use to switch between the front camera and usb camera (being as a rear camera)?
does anyone know where I can get the motorola xoom camera app to download? I would like to try it myself if I can get a hold of that app and just by a cheapo plug and play cam for 6 bucks if no one else is willing to try it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An app is not a driver. A driver basically is the interface between the hardware and the app. When an app interacts with hardware, it does so through the driver. That way a vendor can build hardware however they want, as long as they provide a driver that conforms to pre-established specifications so that the software provider can access it with standard commands. That's why the idea of a camera with built in drivers doesn't make sense. The software would not know to address the camera through the USB port. It needs a driver to address which would in turn address the hardware. Support for devices like thumb drives is built into the operating system, so you don't need a driver.
As has been pointed out, they don't have drivers preinstalled; rather they use protocols that are supported by the host operating system (Windows, Mac, etc) out of the box. The type of "plug and play" webcams you're talking about rely on the the universal WDM in Windows along with such protocols or frameworks as DirectShow, TWAIN, etc.
The point is, the host OS has to know how to talk to those plug-and-play webcams, not the other way around. So in the case of the Archos tablet, it would have to have the same support baked into it at the driver level. Which it doesn't.
So unless you're going to reverse-engineer those protocols and write your own Android driver, it's not gonna happen.
In the case of the Motorola Xoom camera app (or the camera app for any other device/phone for that matter), it's specifically coded to the camera chip used in that device, and has no chance of working with an external webcam. Just like it wouldn't work for the camera in my Evo phone, or anything else besides the Xoom. The only chance would be if it was a device that used the exact same camera chip hardware, but the chances of that are slim. Even devices made by the same manufacturer, such as the HTC Evo and the HTC Droid Incredible, use two different camera chips and drivers.
But.. if your usb camera is working with opensource linux drivers (like uvc driver) there is a high chance that it will work on android if someone compiles the missing kernel modules (aka drivers) like I did for dvb devices. AND THEN.. someone has to write an extended camera app which supports selecting different cameras
any advancements with this issue?
I have an archos 80 g9 8gb. I want to plug in my Sony video camera using a firwire to USB cable and an USB to micro adapter. I then want to use my tablet to broadcast on ustream.com. I am in a paranormal group, I use a night vision camera, therefore I need to figure out a way to do this. We currently use an apple laptop that constantly needs to be plugged in. Being able to use the tablet for this would a much better solution for a few reasons.
Has anyone found/made any drivers?
Would be really useful this. I'd donate.
I am in a similar boat as a few others here. I want to switch over to an Android tablet in my truck, but it's pretty large and the need of a rear view / back up camera is a must. During my past 48 hoursearch this is the most useful, and encouraging info that I could find. I am not a coder, but those who are can probably work with the source code I found on this site. I hope this helps us all. Maybe with the release of ICS the difficulty usb hosting for webcams won't require that much effort. Have a look
brain.cc.kogakuin.ac.jp/research/usb-e.html

[Q] Camera supported via usb otg?

Wondering if someone can check if a camera is a supported via usb otg on the Nexus 7. Would like to be able to add a camera for switching to the outward facing camera in chat, perhaps as a portable microscope or use it as an inspection tool etc
zoom44 said:
Wondering if someone can check if a camera is a supported via usb otg on the Nexus 7. Would like to be able to add a camera for switching to the outward facing camera in chat, perhaps as a portable microscope or use it as an inspection tool etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be amazing! Someone do it, make a 10 dollar app, and you have got my money!
Only problem with this is every camera has different specs so drivers for it would be very difficult.

Will multiple external cameras work?

I've been doing a lot of research and am now wondering if it's even possible to attach multiple external cameras to a rooted Nexus 7 (2013 or 2012)? And the next step would be what software (app) to use to display at once?
I've seen plenty of threads where one external back-up camera is added, along with some other attachments. And a few where the Nexus is attached to one webcam.
This is for offroad auto use, in a temporary (on the go) install with the Nexus in a mount. I would like to have multiple permanent external cameras in the front and one in the rear. Four would be great, but even just two would be useful.
I've seen it done with an independent multi display screen, but not on a Nexus 7.
Any ideas or directions to head would be helpful.
Any help, pretty please?
I'm stuck.
Unfortunately, I do not have a way of testing this as I only have one compatible usb webcam. However, I am inclined to think you can do more than one as the device should list them separately. Then, using some app to view the camera (I use Mirror), you should be able to switch between them. I know for Mirror, they are listed as camera 1 and camera 2 though I would imagine that you can add camera 3 and so on. The only issue is I don't know of an app which can display multiple, simultaneous cameras nor record from them. Best I can think of is manually switching between them, one at a time.
If I can get my hands on a second, cheap compatible cam, I'll test this out and post the results. I think you're biggest issue is finding something with multiple camera display.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
natesjk said:
Any help, pretty please?
I'm stuck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically yes! with every new camera the device would be able to open a new stream at /dev/video* , as long as you have ways to capture it through apps you can. However don't take my word for it as i am equally N00b. Let's wait for the seniors to answer
Thanks for the replies!
I just looked for Mirror app, but there a tons of mirror apps for checking your makeup. Can you tell me more specifically about the app? Who makes it?
When it comes to software and what apps to use, I've figured out different apps work with different usb webcams.
And I have seen some apps that allow you to do 2 webcams. Not sure about a split screen though. Then again, webcam specific apps (only works on 2-3 webcams).
As far as what type of camera?
Usb webcams, check. This is going on my front bumper, and if I could have more than 2, then they will be in the wheel wells. But how easy is it to make a usb webcam weatherproof? I'm sure that's a different forum.
What about CCD cameras? Would it work just the same I if I got a "bnc to usb" converter or a "rca to usb" converter? Then basically hooked the usb converter up to the hub or Nexus?
Can I use this ____ (Google: 4 Channel DVR USB 20 Video Capture Box with Audio) and directly connect it to an OTG-Y cable?
Or do the CCD cameras and the usb webcams produce different video streams (not sure if this is worded correctly)?
Will be keeping an eye on this thread for sure. I just got done with my dash mount and was looking to do the same thing. Mount a camera next to each rock light for when crawling.
Wil Badger said:
Will be keeping an eye on this thread for sure. I just got done with my dash mount and was looking to do the same thing. Mount a camera next to each rock light for when crawling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it seems that we are at the same stage of our projects and running into the same questions!
I just mounted the nexus in the Jeep and now I'm wondering if I'm just gonna have to use a single camera on the bumper and nothing else.
I'm still curious if any of the RCA type cameras will work with a usb converter. Has anyone had any success with those?
natesjk said:
Thanks for the replies!
I just looked for Mirror app, but there a tons of mirror apps for checking your makeup. Can you tell me more specifically about the app? Who makes it?
When it comes to software and what apps to use, I've figured out different apps work with different usb webcams.
And I have seen some apps that allow you to do 2 webcams. Not sure about a split screen though. Then again, webcam specific apps (only works on 2-3 webcams).
As far as what type of camera?
Usb webcams, check. This is going on my front bumper, and if I could have more than 2, then they will be in the wheel wells. But how easy is it to make a usb webcam weatherproof? I'm sure that's a different forum.
What about CCD cameras? Would it work just the same I if I got a "bnc to usb" converter or a "rca to usb" converter? Then basically hooked the usb converter up to the hub or Nexus?
Can I use this ____ (Google: 4 Channel DVR USB 20 Video Capture Box with Audio) and directly connect it to an OTG-Y cable?
Or do the CCD cameras and the usb webcams produce different video streams (not sure if this is worded correctly)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While it was apparently designed for make up applications, this app is the best I have found so far in terms of camera rotation, camera selection, and refresh rate. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yuvalluzon.mirror
hi
did you tried "usb camera trial" app of infinitegra? as far as i know the app supports two webcams. i didnt tried it because i have only 1 webcam.
yavuz.
aviola7x7 said:
While it was apparently designed for make up applications, this app is the best I have found so far in terms of camera rotation, camera selection, and refresh rate. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yuvalluzon.mirror
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hugo_bjk said:
hi
did you tried "usb camera trial" app of infinitegra? as far as i know the app supports two webcams. i didnt tried it because i have only 1 webcam.
yavuz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will try both of these apps!
Posting this so I won't forget and maybe it will help someone else out about hardware of different types of cameras.
RCA type camera - THE EXPENSIVE ROUTE (but already waterproof?)
I did some more digging and found where someone tried the EasyCap with a webcam on a Nexus 7, and it doesn't work. I looked at a bunch on Amazon (other different brands) and they all have a CD with drivers. So that's a no go, unless I could embed the certain driver to a custom Rom (way over my head). The 4 channel EasyCap video grabber says it can only display one at a time though, if it did work.
The only Video Grabbers that work without drivers on Android (that i could find) are these two -
OPR-HD879 UVC USB AV Android Capture Card
FEBON 100 USB CVBS UVC Grabber Card
These aren't that cheap (about $50 and $80 w/o shipping).
There is also a FEBON 188, which is a SDI camera video grabber, and more expensive.
I emailed the guy who makes these, he said they will work with any Nexus that will run a regular usb webcam. He also said they should work with multiple video grabbers plugged into a USB hub, but has never tested it. (the guy said he could make one video grabber card with 4 video inputs that would display to one screen for me though, not sure how much that would cost me)
Multiple video grabbers with multiple security cameras add up fast. So this is quickly becoming the most expensive option.
USB Webcams -
Only a limited supply works with each software app. Or at least that's what the software apps say on the Google Play Store. Is this correct?
I would then need to make it waterproof to mount it outside. Maybe taking it apart and installing it in waterproof housing. But that's not this forum either.
So it seems that the best way (for me) to approach this is...
1) Use multiple security cameras or mini cameras, then scrap the nexus and use a separate video display that will show all the feeds at once.
2) Spend a lot of money on multiple grabber cards, which would be over the cost of a separate monitor.
3) Use multiple or just one USC webcam in a waterproof housing.
Ok, now onto researching more USB webcams.
natesjk said:
Posting this so I won't forget and maybe it will help someone else out about hardware of different types of cameras.
RCA type camera - THE EXPENSIVE ROUTE (but already waterproof?)
I did some more digging and found where someone tried the EasyCap with a webcam on a Nexus 7, and it doesn't work. I looked at a bunch on Amazon (other different brands) and they all have a CD with drivers. So that's a no go, unless I could embed the certain driver to a custom Rom (way over my head). The 4 channel EasyCap video grabber says it can only display one at a time though, if it did work.
The only Video Grabbers that work without drivers on Android (that i could find) are these two -
OPR-HD879 UVC USB AV Android Capture Card
FEBON 100 USB CVBS UVC Grabber Card
These aren't that cheap (about $50 and $80 w/o shipping).
There is also a FEBON 188, which is a SDI camera video grabber, and more expensive.
I emailed the guy who makes these, he said they will work with any Nexus that will run a regular usb webcam. He also said they should work with multiple video grabbers plugged into a USB hub, but has never tested it. (the guy said he could make one video grabber card with 4 video inputs that would display to one screen for me though, not sure how much that would cost me)
Multiple video grabbers with multiple security cameras add up fast. So this is quickly becoming the most expensive option.
USB Webcams -
Only a limited supply works with each software app. Or at least that's what the software apps say on the Google Play Store. Is this correct?
I would then need to make it waterproof to mount it outside. Maybe taking it apart and installing it in waterproof housing. But that's not this forum either.
So it seems that the best way (for me) to approach this is...
1) Use multiple security cameras or mini cameras, then scrap the nexus and use a separate video display that will show all the feeds at once.
2) Spend a lot of money on multiple grabber cards, which would be over the cost of a separate monitor.
3) Use multiple or just one USC webcam in a waterproof housing.
Ok, now onto researching more USB webcams.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any succes on this?
hugo_bjk said:
any succes on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided not to spend gobs of money...
I did plastidip a USB webcam, mounted it with a magnet to the inside of my bumper (it views through a slot in the bumper), got a usb extension cable and ran that through the firewall, to a Nexus 7 tablet with a OTG-Y cable (But the OTG-Y cable has seemed to not charge the tablet). Now I just run it direct when I want to use it.
I have tested it out once on the trail and it wasn't helpful. I plan on moving it from the center of the bumper to my passenger wheel well.
The webcam is to the left of the 3 lights in the center of the bumper.
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has anyone had any further success getting multiple cameras to work?
i myself have a rca rear camera installed, using easycap viewer, and also using a android head unit usb camera in conjuntion with the app usb camera by shenyao china in playstore for dashcam, but im having a dam hard time getting them to work in conjunction, as with the usb camera app, i can background record from the front usb camera, but if i then engage reverse, easycap viewer opens but just boot loops, so im now looking for maybe a hardware solution to switch cameras by external means, maybe relays, but im no electrician, and cant find any info if this would be possible, was thinking just using relays of some description to switch the power on an off, when rear camera is initialized relay will cut power to the front camera and vice versa.
Does this sound feesible?? if so what relays would i need?
was looking at some of the auto camera switching relay boxes on aliexpress, but they only accept rca connection, which is no good for my setup, front is usb and rear is rca via easycap, now i could get a rca camera for front, but then i could not use the app on the nexus 7 usb camera to background record ect ect
ive tried defaulting the dashcam to usb camera app , and the rear to easycap viewer, and like said above it just boot loops easycap viewer as the front camera is running in the background, and shows that both cameras connect and disconnect over and over
even thought about 2 easycap devices and usb cameras and i think id be in same boat, boot looping
what is very strange though is that whilst pulling my hair out trying to find a solution, i also have a wifi transmitter for rear camera, this worked poor as a rear cam due to delay/lag, BUT i could have the front camera background recording via usb camera app and also view the rear camera picture with reverse engaged without any conflict, but had to manually open the app for the wifi transmitter (wifiavin) to see the picture, which also was a pain
anyone got any ideas if a hardware solution to my problem will work, and parts and links would be fantastic
moiloon said:
has anyone had any further success getting multiple cameras to work?
i myself have a rca rear camera installed, using easycap viewer, and also using a android head unit usb camera in conjuntion with the app usb camera by shenyao china in playstore for dashcam, but im having a dam hard time getting them to work in conjunction, as with the usb camera app, i can background record from the front usb camera, but if i then engage reverse, easycap viewer opens but just boot loops, so im now looking for maybe a hardware solution to switch cameras by external means, maybe relays, but im no electrician, and cant find any info if this would be possible, was thinking just using relays of some description to switch the power on an off, when rear camera is initialized relay will cut power to the front camera and vice versa.
Does this sound feesible?? if so what relays would i need?
was looking at some of the auto camera switching relay boxes on aliexpress, but they only accept rca connection, which is no good for my setup, front is usb and rear is rca via easycap, now i could get a rca camera for front, but then i could not use the app on the nexus 7 usb camera to background record ect ect
ive tried defaulting the dashcam to usb camera app , and the rear to easycap viewer, and like said above it just boot loops easycap viewer as the front camera is running in the background, and shows that both cameras connect and disconnect over and over
even thought about 2 easycap devices and usb cameras and i think id be in same boat, boot looping
what is very strange though is that whilst pulling my hair out trying to find a solution, i also have a wifi transmitter for rear camera, this worked poor as a rear cam due to delay/lag, BUT i could have the front camera background recording via usb camera app and also view the rear camera picture with reverse engaged without any conflict, but had to manually open the app for the wifi transmitter (wifiavin) to see the picture, which also was a pain
anyone got any ideas if a hardware solution to my problem will work, and parts and links would be fantastic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Curious on this as well. Would love the ability to create an app to open to a specific app. Both my USB webcam and frame grabber are treated similarly by the OS, meaning all the same apps can use either camera. However I've noticed my USB webcam takes priority. If I already have it plugged in and hook up the frame grabber, it still opens the camera app right to the previouslyplugged USB webcam.
I too, would rather avoid the relays, but that might be the only way.
already tried the5v relay route, worked on bench great , but not in the real situation in my car install still looping both apps, due I think to the response time of the relays switching from one device to another grrrrrr
i just downloaded from playstore dual usb camera by shenyao china, new app by developer, now I can use this app so long as it its opened 1st after my tablet loads after re awake from sleep, then selecting reverse easycap opens as expected, rear camera is viewable, then after reserse deselected, front camera is reconnected and viewable on the screen with usb dual camera app once more, works flawlessly, but its missing the auto record and send to background ect that the usb camera (not dual camera app) app can do, emailed the developer to ask if these can be added to his new app, as of yet no reply, but my fingers are crossed
edit- just had a reply from the developer and he says hes going to incorporate the missing features from the dual usb camera app, but will take a little time, happy days
I am a bit confused by your comments... you're not implying that you have to interact with the screen to switch between forward/reverse cameras, are you? That would be unacceptable for most people.
What I can tell you is I have a HIGHLY reliable solution using the relays and Tasker. Here's how I have it set up right now:
- Forward-facing/parking camera is always on. USB 2.0 IR webcam.
- When relay has UVC framegrabber/rear-view camera disconnected, Vcam2 brings up forward-facing camera by default.
- When my car hits reverse, I kill vcam2, then re-open (using rcjoycon.) This is as long as it takes for the device to be recognized and pop up with reverse view.
- After I leave reverse, I have a timer relay to wait 5 seconds to kill the framegrabber. At that same time, I kill vcam2. If I was ALREADY in vcam2 before going into reverse, I have tasker re-open the camera. Otherwise, it just falls back to the previously-open app.
It may sound difficult but it's not all that bad. Now, if I could somehow get an app that allowed me to specify a hard-coded camera mapping, I would pay good money for this.
Imagine a tasker-controllable launch of each camera view. I would enjoy this, so I could potentially record all cameras full-time, despite what I choose to view. I have a feeling the tablet would drain awfully quickly while recording, and a dedicated dash cam might be more realistic. I really do like the idea of a hidden dash cam though, that cops/criminals might not notice.
I offset the unavoidable drain on my N7 by using yet another timer circuit. When my car turns off, the tablet stays powered for 30 minutes. I detect the loss of power through my rcjoycon, which tells tasker to go into airplane mode, and gracefully shutdown what it can, then kill the rest, and turn off the screen properly. With this setup, I have no issues. I am considering installing a switch to allow the tablet to have power 24/7 for when I am away for extended periods of time. Since I leave my car on a battery tender during those trips, it could be handy to have potential connectivity to the tablet over Wi-Fi. (Just thinking out loud.)

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