Google is reportedly working on a feature that will allow phones to be use as dashcams. A dashcam or a dashboard camera is a compact camera fit on the dashboard of a car or on the windscreen behind the rearview mirror.
The dashcam records everything in front of the car during a drive and some high-end dashcams enable rearview image capture with the help of a rear-facing lens.
As per reports, a similar feature will be available in Pixel smartphones, as well as, in certain Android handsets, like the Nothing Phone 1.
As per report, the Google mistakenly launch the ‘dogfood‘ apk version of the Personal Safety app.
The report said that the app was seen to have a feature call as the Dashcam.
As per the report, the feature will enable users to use their phones as dashcams.
This feature will record videos and optionally audio during a drive, helping capture useful footage in case of an accident or any other uncertain circumstances.
The report said that the feature could be access through a “Dashcam” shortcut in the “Be prepared” section of the home page that also lists features like :
- Emergency Sharing
- Safety Check
- Car Crash Detection.
Here, you can begin recording manually or view your recent videos.
This feature, when activated, will reportedly not interrupt the usage of the phone, including navigation using Google Maps.
The phone can also be lock for power conservation, and the feature will continue running, uninterrupted, the report states.
As per the report, users, while setting up the feature, can choose to begin recordings automatically when the phone is connect to a particular Bluetooth device install in the car, like the music system and end when it is disconnect.
Google has apparently design the feature to automatically delete recorded footage from the dashcam after three days unless manually saved to the device or cloud.
The recording will also be compress, according to the report, averaging at “30 MB per minute,” with a maximum recording limit of 24 hours.
Whether the dashcam feature will employ an ultra-wide lens or use a special cooling technique to tackle overheating from the always-on recording and/or being mount up at a position with direct access to sunlight, is unknown.
Google has not yet announce or even hint at this feature officially.
Google recently host the I/O 2023 event and launch Google Pixel 7a and Google Pixel Fold.
If launched, the dashcam feature can be expect in both these handsets, with other Pixel phones and select Android smartphones.
