Getting started with DuoCam
The globe, the lists, the three kinds of camera, the iPhone Duo and the extras, explained step by step.
What DuoCam is
DuoCam is an iPhone app that brings together more than 3,000 live public cameras from around the world - traffic, harbours, beaches, mountains, landmarks, weather and nature - and puts them on a 3D globe. It was built for the iPhone Duo's two screens and works on any iPhone. It is coming soon to the App Store, and this page explains how it works.
Your first camera
- Open DuoCam. The globe shows where the cameras are.
- Pinch to zoom. The numbered circles are groups: they open into countries, cities and then single cameras.
- Tap a camera to watch it.
- Tap the picture, or the full screen button, to fill the screen. Tap again to come back.
- Tap the heart to keep the camera in your favourites.
Finding a camera
Search finds a camera or a place. The filter button narrows the list by kind (Live, Loop, Delayed) and by category (Traffic, Landmark, Weather, Harbour, Nature, City). The menu at the top switches between the Globe, the Cameras list and your Favourites.
Live, Loop and Delayed
- Live is moving video as it happens.
- Loop is a short clip that repeats.
- Delayed is a still picture that refreshes every so often - from seconds to many minutes, depending on the camera.
If a camera says it is not responding, it may be offline for a while. Try again later, or pick another.
Using it on an iPhone Duo
Folded, the picture fills the top half, the camera's name sits in the hinge, and the controls are underneath. Flat, the name moves into the control panel. On the cover display the picture fills the screen. On any other iPhone, DuoCam simply uses the whole screen.
Some pictures fill the screen and others keep black bars. Each camera has its own shape. Where it is close to the shape of the space, DuoCam fills the space and trims a little from the edges. Where it is very different, the whole picture is kept so nothing is cropped away.
One, two or four cameras
The layout button chooses one, two or four cameras at once. Two and four are part of DuoCam Pro. With several cameras, tap one to choose which has the sound.
Share, snapshot and record
- Share sends a card with a picture of the camera and a link. When someone with DuoCam taps the link, it opens that camera. If a camera has been removed since the link was sent, DuoCam tells you.
- Save a snapshot keeps a still picture of the camera.
- Record saves a video clip of up to ten minutes. It works only with live video cameras whose owners allow it, and YouTube cameras cannot be recorded.
Snapshots and recordings are part of DuoCam Pro. You choose where they are saved, and we never receive them.
Free, and DuoCam Pro
DuoCam is free to download. Free, you can browse the whole globe, watch one camera at a time and keep three favourites. DuoCam Pro is an optional auto-renewing subscription that adds two and four cameras at once, unlimited favourites, snapshots, recording and your own camera links. The App Store shows the plans when you choose one.
Questions people ask
Do I need an account?
No. DuoCam has no sign-in. Your favourites, any camera links you add and your settings are kept on your own device.
Does the camera list change?
Yes. DuoCam checks for new and removed cameras every time you open it. Settings has a button to download the list again.
How do I report, suggest or remove a camera?
Report this camera, in the camera's menu, tells us a camera is down or is being shown without permission. Suggest a camera, in Settings, sends us one to add. If you own or run a camera and want it removed, use Ask us to remove a camera in Settings.
Can I add my own camera?
Yes, with DuoCam Pro. Add a link over https to an HLS (.m3u8), MP4, MJPEG or JPEG snapshot. Your cameras stay on your device.