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But they can make a great camera for super slim phones no problem.....

lol, I aint buying it. Nobody should.

The iPhone’s main cameras don’t even fit on the already 3x-4x thicker enclosure than that of a Macbook screen, they even protrude. So no, available space is not remotely the same.

Also, the webcam on a Mac doesn’t take the same space and BOM budget and responsibility as on an iPhone where the camera is actually used as a point and shoot / dslr replacement to document your life though 4K video and photos.

The space available for optics and the share of the BOM of the camera system on modern smartphones is quite different from the sheet of paper webcams on laptops. Even then, when compared to the competition, Macs are best in class.
 
Am I the only person that just stuck a MagSafe compatible puck on the top of my MBA and called it day? Holds just fine in normal use. Magsafe compatible Magnet Sticker, Magnetic Phone case Sticker, Compatible with MagSafe Accessories and Qi Wireless Charger, Suitable for All Smart Phones and iPhone Series https://a.co/d/bLUZ9Pf
 
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Am I the only person that just stuck a MagSafe compatible puck on the top of my MBA and called it day? Holds just fine in normal use. Magsafe compatible Magnet Sticker, Magnetic Phone case Sticker, Compatible with MagSafe Accessories and Qi Wireless Charger, Suitable for All Smart Phones and iPhone Series https://a.co/d/bLUZ9Pf
Can you post a pic of your Continuity camera setup? I don’t understand how you do it
 
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Continuity Camera is so un-apple like, imo. Only way I would ever do this is if it was the only way to bring FaceID to the mac.
 
The fact that this is a thing is insane. An iMac is no thinner than an iPhone Mini and a lot bigger… the same FaceID and camera system would fit inside the much roomier iMac case easily.
 
Continuity Camera needs to work with the front facing cameras on iPads while using the iPad as a display. I designed a 3D printed stand hoping they would enable this with center stage on the newer iPads: https://www.printables.com/model/208784-3-device-macbook-stand-or-dock

It would be great to be able to run the desktop version of Zoom/Google meet this way and not have to log into a meeting twice if you need to present something from the Mac.
 
$30 for something you can 3D print yourself or buy off Etsy, AliExpress or Amazon for much cheaper.
Oh come on. You can buy a cheaper/crappier version that will get the job done, yes. If you want something nice that has a polished look and you're willing to spend all of $20 extra, then maybe you get something like this.
 
Is it just me or does this seem like a bit of a step backwards to the days we needed to plug in a large USB device if we wanted to use FaceTime? I‘m not sure I fully understand what mounting your phone to your desktop accomplishes? Don’t get me wrong, I think its cool that I can walk around with my iPhone via continuity while in Zoom on my Mac to show people things but I dont know why I’d want my phone mounted to the display when it already has a built in camera.

Phone cameras are far superior to the little front-facing camera in some monitors. Some people care about higher quality video. Recall the launch of Studio Monitor was hammered with critical feedback even by the "Apple is (up to) God" people here due to poor initial camera functionality.

Phone cameras have much better filtering capability to make less attractive people look more attractive than can be accomplished with the front-facing camera in some monitors. People will spend any amount of money to appear better: see makeup industry, hair care, etc.

Some people depend on having camera quality BETTER than front-facing cameras built into some monitors. For example, some people will have DSLRs balanced on tripods it personal studio setups to capture very high resolution video. Instead of buying a DSLR, there's a great camera in an iPhone, so this may be something to tangibly get more value out of iPhone.

Some people use monitors with NO front facing camera. This gives them one with a great camera they may already have vs. buying a dedicated camera (only) for their monitor. So while you have a monitor that has a camera already, that's actually pretty UNCOMMON if you take a look at ALL monitors for sale. For example, I have a terrific 5K2K ultra-wide monitor that cost about the same as Apples and it has no front-facing camera. So this would create one for me using a monitor with which I'm perfectly happy. The best monitor for ALL Apple people is not necessarily either of only 2 with an Apple logo on them. Many of those people may have a monitor(s) they love that do NOT have a front-facing camera. If they have an iPhone, they can now use this to video conference at high quality.
 
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Bring this to tvOS! There's plenty of people who have long wanted FaceTime on their biggest screen (their main TV). Get this software running in AppleTV and one of these on their TV and that's a great feature for tvOS.

That wish is not well fulfilled by the traditional version of it: building a camera into an AppleTV box itself. Why? Because that would demand that the AppleTV be placed just about right above or right below center of someone's TV. Not everyone's AppleTV takes that position. Put it left or right and the other ends view of you will make it look like you are not looking at them (looking RIGHT or LEFT respectively). Some people make AppleTV disappear BEHIND a TV. No camera on the box would work well there.

Continuity Camera and a universal mount would be great for AppleTV and the big screen TV in the living room. It's not like tvOS is drowning in new feature announcements at WWDC anyway. This would be a tangible, good one desired by at least a segment of AppleTV users.
 
Here's my Petapixel review of how awful the laptop version is. https://petapixel.com/2022/11/23/belkins-continuity-camera-iphone-magsafe-laptop-mount-is-terrible/

The worst accssory I've ever bought.

If you want to watch my phone fall off this mount over and over, go right to the video and watch the first 10 seconds.
Never had that experience with my MBP 16 i7. Everything is pretty stable.
I am going to order this mount as soon as it’s available. Not that I need it (I have plenty state of the art personal video devices: Poly P15, Brio, Poly P5) but I want it :)
 
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Belkin is expanding its line of MagSafe-compatible Continuity Camera mounts with the launch of the Belkin iPhone Mount for Mac Desktops, which is able to attach to iMac models and different displays.

belkin-camera-mount-desktops.jpg

Priced at $40, the Belkin iPhone Mount for Mac Desktops joins Belkin's existing Continuity Camera mount that's available for Mac notebooks like the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. The mount is designed to attach to the top of an iMac or external display, and then a compatible MagSafe iPhone can be placed on the MagSafe mount.

When attached to a Mac through the mount, the iPhone can be used as a webcam for FaceTime and other video apps. Both landscape and portrait mode are available, and the mount enables all Continuity Camera features including Center Stage and Desk View.

The mount is listed as being compatible with most external displays and monitors, and it also works with a standard 1/4" tripod screw.


Belkin's iPhone Mount for Mac Desktops is listed on Apple's online store, but it is not yet available for purchase. It initially launched with late January delivery, but is now listed as unavailable.


Article Link: Belkin Debuts Continuity Camera Mount for Mac Desktops
Maybe stupid question, but this would work with a normal monitor no??
 
Maybe stupid question, but this would work with a normal monitor no??
Yep, as you can see it’s fairly adjustable. I’d play it safe and make sure whatever monitor you use is the same size or smaller then an Apple Studio Display monitor (the top portion that is)
 
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For me, phenomenal image quality when in a Zoom conference. Everyone else looks like they're in 320x240 resolution by comparison.
And this matters why exactly?

Personally - and I speak for literally all my colleagues here - we're more focused on the actual content of our Zoom discussions than the resolution, lighting, etc of our appearance on a screen.
 
Maybe stupid question, but this would work with a normal monitor no??
Just wish these charged the phone as well.
I dont even care about the continuity camera option I just want somewhere to put my phone thats not on the desktop and charge it!
If I could mount it off the side of my monitor and charge it at the same time that would be a bonus!
 
And this matters why exactly?

Personally - and I speak for literally all my colleagues here - we're more focused on the actual content of our Zoom discussions than the resolution, lighting, etc of our appearance on a screen.
It might be just me, but I find it distracting when participants are pixelated or blurry and their webcam audio is marginal at best.
 
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