Phone camera remote control for Smartwatches

This is one of the tools I am very fond of in the apple watch. I use this a lot in group pictures and traveling.

 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

72 Comments
Rich_Laue
Community Legend

If you make a request in the SDK forum, someone may have an answer. 

Jdod7674
Jogger

I would like to see other options for remote camera control. I've tried the one available and purchased the app from Google twice and both times would not work properly. More than one option would be great 

Lexicron
First Steps

The Ionic‘s music/volume control just doesn’t work with my iPhone camera to take a photo.

 

I have an Ionic, firmware up to date on 28th Dec 2019.

 

I have an iPhone 11 Pro, running iOS 13.3.

 

My iPhone‘s volume buttons both work to take photos. My selfie stick works to take photos. My other Bluetooth camera remote also works to take photos. 

 

The Ionic‘s music controls work to control play, pause, forward, next, and volume up and down on my phone. 

 

I’ve got EVERYTHING set up correctly as they’re supposed to be.

 

And yet I’ve tried

 

- not playing any media on my phone (not even paused), I have the camera app open on my phone, I have the Ionic showing the music control view with no media, but the Ionic‘s volume button (the physical button on the right, since the on-screen volume icons don’t show up with no media) merely adjusts my phone‘s volume.

- picked a media to play and then paused it, again with the camera app open on my phone and music controls on the Ionic, but using either the Ionic‘s volume button or tapping the on-screen volume icon merely adjusts my phone‘s volume.

 

Everything I do with the Ionic just adjusts the volume on my phone.

 

I’m beyond frustrated because I know the volume button solution, I’ve configured my phone for that, I’ve setup the pairing between my phone and the Ionic, all my other camera remotes WORK, but the Ionic just refuses to do anything but adjust my volume.

 

Has anyone been able to get this to work with my exact combination of devices and firmware? Ionic + iPhone 11 iOS 13.3?

Lexicron
First Steps

Also want to add that my Ionic doesn’t have a “Bluetooth Classic” mode. Under Settings > Bluetooth, it just goes straight to asking me to pair a speaker and nothing else (because my phone is already paired and connected).

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

@Lexicron the Bluetooth screen your referring to is your Bluetooth classic. 

After tapping on Bluetooth you'll see the add wireless speaker/headphone. 

Under that their will be another setting with On - Off - Pair. 

If the versa's Bluetooth claaaic is connected to the phone, then your setup. 

YojanaFitbit
Moderator Alum
Moderator Alum

Hi @Jdod7674, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback about having an option to take pictures with your Fitbit device via Bluetooth, this feature suggestion already exists and it's available at the moment through third part services. I’ve moved your post here, since this helps maintain the Community and the Feature Suggestion board more organized. 

Jdod7674
Jogger
I'm talking about more than one option. The option that is available is of
very poor quality and does not work. Reviews are poor and the app it works
with is poor as well. Give us a few more options for remote camera.
Rich_Laue
Community Legend

@Jdod7674 there are 2 options. 

Every phone camera can be set to trigger with the volume control. open the camera app, turn on the music control. Tap the volume and a photo will be taken. 

I don't use this function any more because it is easier to ask Bixby 

Nishikigoi
Jogger
Make an app so i can remotely take a pic through my sense to my iphone
YojanaFitbit
Moderator Alum
Moderator Alum

Hi @Nishikigoi, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the option to see Remote Function for Camera on Fitbit Sense. You will find this option here. Thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request.  A lot of users are asking for this option, I hope we receive updates soon.

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

@Nishikigoi If your tracker has the ability to remote control the music on the phone, you already have the app. 

Open the camera app

Open the music control app on the tracker. 

on the tracker press the. volume up and a photo will be taken. 

This is exactly how the shutter release on a selfie stick works

Lucymcd71
First Steps
Link up fitbit to phone so that it takes a picture when you press the fitbit
LizzyFitbit
Premium User
Fitbit Moderator
Fitbit Moderator

Hi @Lucymcd71, thanks for sharing this suggestion about being able to take pictures with your Fitbit device with us. This idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestions board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to keep the forums organized and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. Click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

@Lucymcd71 depending on what tracker you have, if your tracker can control music, then you already have the option to trigger the shutter from your wrist. 

Status changed to: Third-Party App
LizzyFitbit
Premium User
Fitbit Moderator
Fitbit Moderator

Hi @soguilk and commenters, thanks for sharing this suggestion. We’re excited to let you know that this Feature Suggestion has been developed by a third party developer, and can be downloaded from the Fitbit App Gallery available on Fitbit Smartwatches. You’ll find the Fitbit App Gallery by selecting your connected Smartwatch in the mobile app, choosing the ‘Apps’ tile, toggling to ‘All Apps’ at the top of the screen and searching for Camera Remote Watch. Happy exploring!

Please note that if you have feedback for the third party app, you can contact the developer directly by opening their app in the Fitbit App Gallery, finding their contact details (if they have shared them publicly) under ‘app details’ or ‘clock face details’. Thanks.

DuStorm
First Steps
While I appreciate the suggestion it appears you have not tried to use said
app. It is useless. Does not work, and the ratings in the accompanying play
store app are a testament to this.
Rich_Laue
Community Legend

The option to use your tracker as a remote shudder release, by default is a soluble on ever tracker that can control music on the phone.

Simply connect music con toot to phone, open camera. Then use the Volume control on the tracker. This is how a selfie stick works. 

With Samsung phones, you can tell Bixby to take a picture, and if it is a selfie, a simple smile is enough. 

Leah726
First Steps

It would be nice to see this feature on the charge 5. Previously I had an off-brand tracker ID115plus hr that was sooooooo basic BUT it did have an option in the VeryFitPro app where you could temporarily turn the watch face into the shutter button for any paired phone. It was great, and not a separate app. I would definitely use this feature!!

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

Since the Charge 5 is able to control music on your phone, you already have this option. 

Set the camera up to trigger with the volume control, then use the volume remote on the charge 5 to trigger the shutter. 

Leah726
First Steps

The charge 5 is NOT able to control the music on my phone, so this does not work. 

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

While I don't have a Charge 5 yet, users have found a way to control music

It worked to control the camera from the Luxe

Leah726
First Steps

Yes, I did watch this video already and did attempt this process, and others that I found on google and in the Fitbit instructions. It does not appear to work for Spotify on iPhone at this time.

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