It is the third major software upgrade released for the Mac since Apple started its transition to Apple Silicon in 2020, in an effort to improve the performance and ease-of-use throughout its product lineup. By ditching third-party Intel processors and sticking with in-house system-on-a-chip (SoC) processors, the company has been able to include features to the Mac that work in tandem with other Apple products, like iPhones and iPads.
The latest software upgrade was first previewed at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, an annual event that focuses on software releases and new developer tools. It is the same event that unveiled beside a redesigned MacBook Air featuring an all-new M2 processor. However, many of the features coming to macOS Ventura are available to a wide range of Macs, and that includes the Continuity Camera.
With the company creates great cameras for the iPhone, the MacBook lineup hasn't gotten the same treatment. Select MacBooks were only recently upgraded to include a 1080p front-facing webcam, and the company still sells devices with 720p cameras. In a time where video calling and virtual communication has become more prevalent, the camera quality on the MacBook can be unacceptable at times. Instead of buying a third-party webcam, Apple hopes that s can utilize their iPhone as a high-quality webcam they already own.
Continuity Camera Works Wirelessly, Automatically
Using the Continuity standard that has been included throughout macOS, iPadOS, and iOS for years, a Mac can automatically recognize that an iPhone is nearby and use it as a webcam. The iPhone can connect wirelessly with a nearby Mac without having to be selected or woke for use as a webcam. Aside from increased camera quality, Continuity Camera also adds features to video calls on the Mac that are not possible on the built-in camera. Center Stage and Portrait Mode are coming to the Mac when an iPhone is connected, and there's even a new Desk View that uses the ultra-wide camera on select iPhones to show the 's face and desk at the same time. These are all professional-grade features that might have required a ton of equipment and setup before, but with Continuity Camera, all that's needed is an iPhone.
Perhaps the best part of Continuity Camera is its accessibility, as it is compatible with a wide range of recent iPhone and Mac models. The feature is available on the iPhone XR or later running iOS 16 — a nearly four year-old device. To use Continuity Camera wirelessly, both the iPhone and the Mac must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and be signed into the same Apple ID with two -factor authentication enabled. Some specific features, like Center Stage and Desk View, require the iPhone 11 and 12, respectively. For the most part, it's likely that an Apple already has devices that are compatible with Continuity Camera, and the only thing they'll need to do to get started is upgrade both devices to the latest software.
Source: Apple