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Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Maybe I'm the last one to discover this, but for what it's worth...

Say you have an Apple Watch and it's paired with your iPhone. You launch the Camera Remote app on the watch, and it turns on your phone's camera. When I first read about this, I thought it was just a remote trigger, which is no big deal--there are much cheaper, simpler ways to accomplish that. But when I got an Apple Watch and tried it, I realized that it also shows you a live view on your watch of what the phone's camera is looking at.  The image quality is excellent--after all, it's using the iPhone's 12 megapixel camera--and you can even zoom in by twisting the watch's crown.

That means I can shove my phone into some hard-to-reach area and use the watch to view whatever's there (and shoot stills or video, if desired). Hmmm...

Of course I can do the same sort of thing with my borescope, and the borescope can get into places the iPhone can't... but the borescope has 2 megapixel resolution compared to the iPhone's 12 megapixels, so its images are not the greatest, to put it mildly. And the watch and iPhone are always with me, whereas the borescope is buried in a drawer.

So this seems like a potentially useful trick for looking into awkward places. You wouldn't buy an Apple Watch and iPhone just to do this, but if you already happen to have them... :-)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #1 –
Now that’s thinking with your noggin! There is no obj one that comes close in quality. I need to get an Apple Watch!

Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
Maybe I'm the last one to discover this, but for what it's worth...

Say you have an Apple Watch and it's paired with your iPhone. You launch the Camera Remote app on the watch, and it turns on your phone's camera. When I first read about this, I thought it was just a remote trigger, which is no big deal--there are much cheaper, simpler ways to accomplish that. But when I got an Apple Watch and tried it, I realized that it also shows you a live view on your watch of what the phone's camera is looking at.  The image quality is excellent--after all, it's using the iPhone's 12 megapixel camera--and you can even zoom in by twisting the watch's crown.

That means I can shove my phone into some hard-to-reach area and use the watch to view whatever's there (and shoot stills or video, if desired). Hmmm...

Of course I can do the same sort of thing with my borescope, and the borescope can get into places the iPhone can't... but the borescope has 2 megapixel resolution compared to the iPhone's 12 megapixels, so its images are not the greatest, to put it mildly. And the watch and iPhone are always with me, whereas the borescope is buried in a drawer.

So this seems like a potentially useful trick for looking into awkward places. You wouldn't buy an Apple Watch and iPhone just to do this, but if you already happen to have them... :-)
Joe B.
2008 26ft  grey/white Rear Bath
Family of 5 hitting the open road as much as we can.
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #2 –
I’ve had an Apple Watch for almost six years.

In the first year, I played with the camera app on the watch and was a simple remote trigger then, no live view image at that time so I’ve never cared about the watch app.  Looks like Apple updated the Camera Remote app to stream a live image, starting about four years ago, far more useful now, as Andy has pointed out.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #3 –
You're ahead of me, Dave. :-) I bought an Apple watch in 2018 and played with it for about a week. My conclusion then was that the hardware and software were impressively well designed (as you'd expect from Apple), and it did a lot of neat things... but they weren't things that I really needed enough to justify wearing a large, expensive watch. I returned it for a refund. I'm not saying it wasn't a good product--clearly it has been for a lot of people, since within a year of its introduction it was outselling all Swiss watches combined, and still heavily dominates the smartwatch market--but it wasn't compelling for my particular uses.

So I went in the opposite direction and wore a small, $30 Timex for four years. I watched as Apple added capabilities to successive versions of their watch. I was particularly interested in health-related features. By the time they got to Series 7, the current version, the Apple Watch had a pulse oximeter, the ability to take an electrocardiogram, to detect atrial fibrillation, to detect a fall, and more. I thought it was time to give it another try, and so far, I like it. The things it can do now (besides telling time) are actually useful to me. :-)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #4 –
If anybody doesn't have Apple's Camera Remote app, by the way, it's apparently downloadable from the App Store.

Also: if you're thinking of buying an Apple Watch, be aware that new models are coming out this Fall, so if you're not in a hurry, you might want to wait three or four months. I got tired of waiting and decided that Series 7 would do what I wanted.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #5 –
My original was the Series 3, just upgraded to the Series 7, for the larger screen (aging eyes), pulse oximeter, fast charging and fall detection.

I frequently use it to see texts while driving or out and about walking without having to get the phone out.

Also use the ping my iPhone far more than I’d like to admit.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #6 –
Good for driving directions and phone calls too (Dick Tracey).
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #8 –
Andy,
Thanks for the app info.
I have for many years turned on my phone video and pointed the phone all over in small spaces to follow wires etc.  Do it enough in various directions and I could find what I was looking for.  Being able to point and see on the watch at the same time will make those tasks quicker.
Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #9 –
Was leveling out on a campsite tonight where I needed to go up to the top of my levelers, which is a pain to do by myself.

Then I remembered this topic and said I could leave my iPhone looking at the tires and levelers, and keep an eye with my watch!
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #10 –
Oh, Dave, that's brilliant! I'm going to be doing it that way from now on.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #11 –
That is an ingenious use of technology 😉

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #12 –
Awesome, Dave!  That solves a problem Ive long puzzled over.
Warren
2019 MB “Dream Catcher”
Jeep Wrangler JL
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #13 –
I have wished for a camera to show ithe front wheel’s position when leveling.
We don’t have an Apple Watch’ but we do have two iPhones, FaceTime should work as long as we have connectivity.
I’ll give it a try.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #14 –
Interesting, Dave.  Is there any latency delay when using devices like that?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #16 –
In my experimenting, I see a small fraction of a second of latency--it's barely even perceptible. Since the video connection between iPhone and Apple Watch is direct via Wi-Fi between the two devices--not via internet or cellular network--you wouldn't expect much if any.

Larry's suggestion to use FaceTime between iPhones is a good one. Let us know how that works out! It should also work between an iPhone and an iPad. (And note that FaceTime can now be used between iPhones and Android or Windows devices, if you have iOS 15 on your iPhone--see this Apple support article.)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #17 –
Here's another thing an Apple Watch is good for: fall detection. It's been a feature for a few years now, but I never experienced it... until last week, when I tripped on a curb and fell full length. I was unhurt aside from a few scrapes, but my watch immediately started beeping and tapping on my wrist. When I looked at it, I saw this:



After a hard fall, quoting Apple, "If your watch detects that you've been immobile for about a minute, it will make the call [to emergency services] automatically. After the call ends, your watch sends a message to your emergency contacts with your location, letting them know that your watch detected a hard fall and dialed emergency services."

That feature could be a lifesaver for a solo RVer like me.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #18 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
Here's another thing an Apple Watch is good for: fall detection.

Ah yes, another reason I upgraded from Series 3 to Series 7, as I too will be alone often.

Though it will be of limited usefulness on my hikes or basically any time in Alaska next year.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #19 –
"Ah yes, another reason I upgraded from Series 3 to Series 7, as I too will be alone often.

Though it will be of limited usefulness on my hikes or basically any time in Alaska next year."


A Garmin inReach and an Apple Watch are safety features that I hope to add to the collection soon.

Tom Hanks looks like he could have used one here.

Apple Watch to Eventually Gain Satellite Connectivity Feature for SOS and...


   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #20 –
Dave Katleman’s great idea of using his Apple Watch and iPhone to see where his tire was in relation to his lego levelers got me thinking.  Unfortunately I don’t own an Apple Watch and one is not on the horizon, but I do have an iPhone and iPad.  Looking at the App Store I found several apps that I could use and I ended up settling on Remote Camera, Wireless Camera for 99 cents.  There is also a free version but you have to sit through some paid ads before you can use it.

The app is very basic but does what it says it will do.  Download the app to both iPad and iPhone (or 2 iPhones) and make sure they can see each other via Bluetooth or WiFi.  The one caveat I found is that I had the Auto-Lock on the iPhone set to 1 minute.  When the Auto-Lock would come on, the connection to the iPad was dropped and I had to go through the process of reconnecting.  Setting the Auto-Lock to “Never” (Settings/Display & Brightness/Auto-Lock/Never) while using the app and setting it back to 1 minute afterwards solved the problem.

Thanks Dave, I tried it out today when I got to my new camp and it works great 😊

- John


Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #21 –
Great suggestion, John! I had tried using FaceTime from my phone to my iPad, but couldn't get that to work. The "Remote Camera, Wireless Camera" app does the job. The image detail is not up to iPad or iPhone standards, but it's fine for the job of observing wheel-on-ramp position.

The only caveat is that there's about half a second of latency/delay, so one needs to move slowly in order not to overshoot. But since I imagine many more people have both an iPhone and an iPad than have an iPhone and an Apple Watch, this is a good alternative, and the 99¢ price is very reasonable. And of course it has the advantage that you get a much larger image on an iPad than on a watch!
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #22 –
We use Blink cameras (now owned by Amazon) for home security and wildlife viewing.  There is an app you can download on your smartphone.  They can be easily used for watching tire placement but the downside is that they require a WiFi connection.

Amazon.com : blink outdoor camera
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #23 –
I use a slightly more expensive solution to check levelers - my wife.   Upside, she comes with the rig - standard installation and she can move from side to side.  Downside, can get a bit bossy and I have to feed and clothe her.  

glen
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Remote viewing with an Apple Watch
Reply #24 –
Tried the app on our iPhones and it works fine, using one of the phones as a hot spot.
Must remember to bring an adjustable stand to hold a phone upright while aiming it at the wheel while leveling.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze