How to Use a Laptop's Built-in Webcam on an iPod Touch

A lit LED indicates the camera is in use.

Laptop webcams are often used for more than snapping pictures and video chatting. Set it up just right and the average webcam becomes a surveillance monitor for your home. You can watch the stream, although this requires access to a computer. Certain software applications in the App Store provide a way for you to monitor directly from an iPod Touch, but you'll need Wi-Fi on the device to view the video.

Instructions

1. Install Orb Live on the iPod, and then install Orb Caster on your laptop. The two programs work together, allowing you to stream video from the laptop. Enable remote access in Orb Caster and create a username and password to set up an account in the Orb control panel. Sign in to the mobile app using your login credentials and click "Connect." Tap "Video" at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Webcams."

2. Download the iCam app to remotely monitor multiple webcams at once. This app records whenever motion is detected by the webcam and sends a push notification to your iPod. The app requires the iCamSource program from Skjm.com/icam. Open iCamSource and choose your webcam from the drop-down menu. Create a login and password to be used with the app, then tap the thumbnail that represents your live stream.

3. Use Yoics for Windows to turn your laptop into a Web server. The desktop app looks like an instant messenger client, with a list of devices on your network. During the first install, go to "Tools" and then "Setup Wizard" to enable webcam-sharing and select your camera to utilize remote sharing. Yoics does not require a separate app; instead, the webcam is viewable from any Web browser, including the mobile browser on the iPod touch. Type "yoics.com" into the address bar and log in with the account credentials you created earlier. Select "My Web Cam" from the list of devices.

References

• Yoics: Surveillance Webcam for iPhone
• Orb Networks: What Is Orb Caster?