Canon has announced a new life downloading software that can wirelessly connect to, and change between, movie feeds from three wireless products. It’s now limited to smartphones and tablets running at least ipad and iPad0S 16. Android is n’t supported, but an even stranger omission is that Live Switcher Mobile is n’t compatible with any of Canon’s digital cameras — that functionality will be added “in the future, ” according to an FAQ.

The app is available for download nowadays and can be used for free, but with some limits. Video value maxes out at 720p, the result is uploaded, and the app’s interface may often become cluttered with ads— but those aren’t presented to viewers. For$ 17. 99 per quarter ( which is over$ 215 per year ) production quality gets a knock to 1080p, while promotions and the logo are removed. There’s no opportunity to improve the picture quality history HD.

The cellular device operating as a life stream’s major cameras also provides the swapping software.
Image: Canon

One system running the software is designated as the number which provides the switching software and serves as the primary cameras. Up to two additional devices can be connected providing movie feeds from different angles, or a life display record of a movie game being played.

Switching between feeds can be done manually, but if you’d like to avoid poking a system that ’s serving as one of your devices, the application can also be set to automatically switch between solutions at fixed intervals of eight to 20 seconds. Multiple videos can be streamed simultaneously using a picture-in-picture effect, while text and image overlays can be added to personalize a livestream, add branding, or provide captioning.

Canon says the app supports live streaming to YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms that support RTMP, but its comment display function is limited to those first two platforms.

Although its functionality is n’t as robust as the free OBS Studio app that also allows mobile devices to be used as video sources, Canon’s Live Switcher Mobile is potentially an easier alternative for aspiring influencers just getting started with live streaming.

It may currently be limited to mobile devices, but the company has confirmed the app “will support Canon’s digital camera connection in the future. ” With that added functionality, and maybe a bump to 4K streaming capabilities, its steep price tag could be easier to justify for those looking for a highly portable streaming solution.