YouTubers Test Out macOS Ventura's Continuity Camera With Belkin Mount

[MacRumors]

One of the new features coming with macOS Ventura and iOS 16 is Continuity Camera, which is designed to allow an iPhone to be used as a webcam for a Mac. The feature is enabled in the current betas, but it is designed to be used with special mounts being made by third-party companies like Belkin.

Belkin has designed a MagSafe-enabled Continuity Camera mount that allows an iPhone to be set up in an ideal spot on a Mac to be used as webcam, and while the mount is not yet released, several YouTubers have been able to test it out to give us an idea of how it works.

Brian Tong, iJustine, and ZolloTech have prototype versions of the mount, which is deceptively simple. It attaches to the back of the iPhone and a small plastic lip on the back of the mount rests on top of the MacBook in the ideal position.

When the mount is attached properly to a Mac, Continuity Camera is automatically activated, with the Mac swapping over to the iPhone's camera.

With Continuity Camera, there are a number of options to take advantage of, including Center Stage for keeping someone in the frame, Portrait mode for blurring the background, Studio Light for adjusting the lighting, and Desk View, which is a unique feature that uses the Ultra Wide lens to show off your desktop.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1553040454429528064

Belkin's Continuity Camera accessory will likely be ready for launch alongside the debut of macOS Ventura and iOS 16 in a few months.

Article Link: YouTubers Test Out macOS Ventura's Continuity Camera With Belkin Mount

 

[DFZD]

This is a feature for a very limited audience. But I like that Apple focused on developing such an out of box solution.

 

[Dokk]

Limited or not, I cannot wait for this to be available. I have a nice setup at the office with a mirrorless camera, f/1.4 lens, good lighting, etc. At home ... queue the sad trombone. I LOVE that I'll be able to pop my phone onto my MacBook Pro to take calls, record demos, and more.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

My M1 2020 MacBook Pro 13in still has the antiquated(lol) 720p camera. This will be useful for me during FaceTime and zoom calls. I read or heard somewhere that the early betas reported overheating on the iPhone 13 using continuity. Waiting to see verification either way

 

[azentropy]

I don't need to mount it to my MBP, I need to mount it to my external display!

 

[Villarrealadrian]

IJustine such a cringe…

 

[HeroOfTime32]

The fact that Apple themselves are a partner and behind such a bandaid solution is pretty pathetic. It’s a workaround that admits they released a lackluster product from the get-go.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is cool and neat but still not sold if I find this useful or not.

 

[0134168]

A falta de soporte oficial para el iPhone como webcam, la gente está innovando con formas creativas (y caseras). Pero nosotros hemos encontrado la mejor

Una de las novedades más sorprendentes de la pasada WWDC22 para la próxima versión del sistema operativo de los Mac es el sorprendente uso e integración del...

www.applesfera.com

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

This is cool and neat but still not sold if I find this useful or not.

I know what you mean because why not just use your iPhone by itself rather than go through the process of doing it through your MacBook

Unless you want to enjoy bigger screen calls through your Mac or are actively using your Mac for tasks while a call comes in or you want to make a call without breaking stride

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Why does this thing exist in the first place?

I know what you mean because why not just use your iPhone by itself rather than go through the process of doing it

More so I'm afraid to put this thing on my MacBook Pro. Imagine if it's going to scratch up the Midnight Macbook Air. Who's responsible for that?

Honestly, a mini Apple tripod would have been a better feasible solution.

 

[diego.caraballo]

I'm the only one that is fearful of broke the display and/or the iPhone...

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

More so I'm afraid to put this thing on my MacBook Pro. Imagine if it's going to scratch up the Midnight Macbook Air. Who's responsible for that? Honestly, a mini Apple tripod would have been a better solution.

I’m sure some company will make a mini tripod stand that could be adjacent to your monitor rather than clipping your display so you don’t feel like you’re damaging it over time

p.s. I glossed over your post and don’t see that you already mentioned a tripod solution Towards the end. Oh well, great minds think alike

 

[Stella]

If Apple put decent webcams into their laptops, there would be less of a need for this.

 

[alpi123]

IJustine such a cringe…

She's one of the few remaining (if not the only one) Youtubers who almost never say anything bad about Apple.
Imagine how much they love her at Apple HQ.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

She's one of the few remaining (if not the only one) Youtubers who almost never say anything bad about Apple.
Imagine how much they love her at Apple HQ.

Are you saying that IJustine is Apples unofficial mascot

 

[NY Guitarist]

I'm not sure I see the point of this.

 

[DTphonehome]

The fact that Apple themselves are a partner and behind such a bandaid solution is pretty pathetic. It’s a workaround that admits they released a lackluster product from the get-go.

There's no way to build an iPhone-level camera with multiple lenses into a Macbook lid. This is for people who rely on videoconferencing/remote work and streamers/vloggers. If you just pop on a FaceTime call once in a while, the built in camera is fine. This mount takes your video quality and features to another level.

 

[icanhazmac]

I'm not sure I see the point of this.

People who think they are better looking than they are and want more pixels! /s

I agree that the audience for this is probably pretty small. I don't think most people cared that Macbooks were 720 for the longest time and now that they are 1080 the segment of folks that "need" a higher resolution web cam is smaller yet.

 

[BornAgainMac]

IJustine such a cringe…

I like to hear and see her reactions. I remember one video of her reviewing Apple Arcade and I can tell that her life is way to busy to really give it a proper review. It was more of a first time reaction video to me and she probably has to review the next product and maybe never really gets to enjoy all these things off camera.

 

[G5isAlive]

More so I'm afraid to put this thing on my MacBook Pro. Imagine if it's going to scratch up the Midnight Macbook Air. Who's responsible for that?

Honestly, a mini Apple tripod would have been a better feasible solution.

Plastic typically doesn't scratch metal, scuffs it at best. I don't see this is an issue at all.

I'm the only one that is fearful of broke the display and/or the iPhone...

Nope. Think of the stress you put on a display opening and closing it. This would be minimal.

I know what you mean because why not just use your iPhone by itself rather than go through the process of doing it through your MacBook

Unless you want to enjoy bigger screen calls through your Mac or are actively using your Mac for tasks while a call comes in or you want to make a call without breaking stride

You seemed to answer your own question. This would also be very useful for working meetings (versus private face time family calls) where we use the screen for spreadsheets or power point slides but still have our webcams so we can make faces at each other.

The fact that Apple themselves are a partner and behind such a bandaid solution is pretty pathetic. It’s a workaround that admits they released a lackluster product from the get-go.

Not going to defend their current products, but the reality is they charge a lot for some impressive (for a phone) camera equipment so that I am happy to take advantage of already having that capability rather than ask them to charge me again the same amount to duplicate that equipment on my laptop. Not to mention the physical restraints of doing so. I don't see this as a bandaid but taking advantage of resources I already have.

 

[jgbr]

Nothing like a co-ordinated advertising campaign - remember the vacuum cleaner reviews even the so proclaimed 'PC Master Race' even got in on?

 

[ziggie216]

There's no way to build an iPhone-level camera with multiple lenses into a Macbook lid. This is for people who rely on videoconferencing/remote work and streamers/vloggers. If you just pop on a FaceTime call once in a while, the built in camera is fine. This mount takes your video quality and features to another level.

I'm just thinking about work. The built in camera is fine for just daily team meeting or one on one where quality doesn't matter that much. For webinar (all hands meetings), this would be perfect. Dont need to drag around another external webcam.

 

[contacos]

I feel like this is one of those technologies, that my 7 year old nephew will randomly find on the internet 10 years from now and be like „look what they did back in 2022 😂“

 

[CausticSoda]

Where does one start with this? A premium laptop with a notch - yes, a notch - should have a good enough camera to make this thing unthinkable. But no, there it is, bold as brass... I would sooner boil my head in fat than buy and then attach that ridiculous contraption to my Mac.