what can I use to take time-lapse video with the screen off?

[SarahKirschbaum]

what can I use to take time-lapse video with the screen off?

I've tried so many iOS apps and wasted a bunch of money... none of them can do it.

I want to leave my spare iPhone in front a tray of wheatgrass to document their growth over 5 to 9 days. I don't have a problem with the phone having to be connected to the charge all the time, but all those apps leave the screen on and that seems very dangerous for so many days, no?

Thanks!

 

[DeltaMac]

Dangerous?
In what way?

You COULD turn the screen brightness all the way down.

 

[Mlrollin91]

It's not possible to run the camera with the screen off. I don't even think using the Apple Watch camera app allows you to do this.

 

[casperes1996]

It's not possible to run the camera with the screen off. I don't even think using the Apple Watch camera app allows you to do this.

This post is true (unless you jailbreak it). It isn't possible for developers to access the camera, if their app isn't active on the screen, so no third party tool can get you this either. (again, unless jailbroken)

Now, I get that you're afraid of screen burns, however, with the kind of screen panels used in most modern devices, including Apple products, there's not really anything to worry about. It was mostly a concern on the good old plasma displays. Now that said, there is still the fact that the more a screen is used, the colour cells will deteriorate, and get less accurate - especially true for greens. Under normal circumstances, this gets noticeable after around 3-4 years, though not necessarily bad at this point, just noticeable next to a new device. if you want to take a time-lapse however, I don't think you'll weaken the cells by very much at all. Though as someone else suggested, turning the brightness all the way down isn't a bad move, as it can minimise the deterioration of the cells in the LCD