- Canon has launched a new app aimed at livestreamers
- It lets you control multiple iPhones and iPads from a single app
- Additional effects such as graphics and overlays require a monthly subscription
A growing number of people enjoy creating live-streamed video content, whether it’s hosting cooking classes, lecturing students, unboxing the latest tech news, or something else. However, this can be tedious, especially if it’s just you and you’re trying to work with multiple camera angles at once.
To help, Canon has just released a new app that it claims will alleviate some of these issues and provide a simpler alternative to OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). Called Live Switcher Mobile, the app for iPhone and iPad lets you manage several aspects of live stream content on the go, without the need for other apps or hardware.
For example, Live Switcher Mobile lets you set a timer before the feed automatically switches to another camera. Canon’s announcement says this helps content creators create interesting shots “even when they’re working alone and can’t manually operate multiple devices.”
If you want to add text or graphics to your feed, you can also do that with the Canon app. It will also display comments from viewers and allow you to interact with them directly. And if you want to stream your device’s screen – say the game you’re playing on your iPad – and overlay the feed from a second camera on top of your gameplay footage, you can do that too.
Full version is not cheap
Live-streamed content has steadily grown in popularity over the past few years, but the barrier to entry has sometimes been high due to the need to have multiple cameras on the move if you want to film content under different angles. On top of that, it can be a tricky affair when you’re trying to manage all the different wires and connections that are part of your setup. And that’s without even determining which of the best streaming apps you should use.
The idea of Live Switcher Mobile is to simplify the whole process. It’s certainly not a high-end solution – professional video creators will probably want to look elsewhere – but it could be a decent option if you’re just starting out, working on a tight budget, or want to stick to using iPhone and iPad. .
Currently, Live Switcher Mobile only supports video streams from iPhones and iPads running at least iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, making it a decent option if you already own these devices and don’t want to purchase of expensive photo equipment to complement your live broadcasts. Canon says the app will also support digital cameras (including its own, of course) in the future.
Live Switcher Mobile is free to download and use from the Apple App Store, although some features (such as most graphics) require a fee. Paying the subscription also hides ads and Canon watermark, allows zooming and image overlays, and much more. According to the app’s App Store page, a one-month subscription costs $17.99 (around £15 / AU$29), but you can try the features free for a month.
