How can I get a real time image from a simple/cheap USB or Bluetooth camera to display on my iPad screen and hopefully be zoomable? It looks like the only thing I can do with a Lightning/USB cable is transfer files in storage. My iPad is an Air 2. OS is 12.4. It would be cool if it could also work with an iPhone but first choice is the iPad. I have no need to save the image, just display it.
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi
Hello,
At this time iPad’s USB functionality is highly limited. The things that would have to be done in order for one to use an external webcam on an iPad would be:
• Apple would have to allow camera functionality through a USB connection on iPad
• The webcam’s hardware manufacture would have to write a driver for the iPad
• Apple would have to allow users to install custom drivers on their iPad
• Applications that could use cameras, such as FaceTime and Skype, would have to be updated to utilize an external camera
• Those applications would then have to allow a user to set which camera they would like to use in their application’s preferences
I would not expect any of this functionality to be included in iPad anytime in the future. If this is unsatisfactory then I suggest submitting feedback to Apple.
I have and use the Arlo Security Camera system, which does exactly what you are asking for via the Arlo App, which is compatible with both iPhone and iPad. You can buy the Arlo at Best Buy or Amazon.com. Works great.
Buy a camera that supports that.
There are dozens of security cameras designed for home use that support iOS.
Some cameras can connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and provide "live view" where the iOS device is essentially a remote and can display the live image on the camera that would be displayed on the camera's viewfinder screen. Most of these are going to be self-contained digital cameras though and not an inexpensive webcam.
http://app.fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/camera_remote/usage/live_view/index.html
If one was willing to develop an app, are there OS components that might be able to facilitate such an endeavor? I am a long time software developer on several platforms but never on any apple products. I’m sure it would be challenging but that’s ok. If the OS doesn’t have anything to make a connection between a peripheral camera and the screen, it’s probably too big a challenge. Hey, all apps output to the screen.
Hello,
iPad is incompatible with external cameras.
Nevermind.
Is there a way to connect a simple webcam to an iPad and display its image in realtime?
