Canon's New Livestreaming App Doesn't Support Canon Cameras

Canon has launched a new iOS livestreaming app that allows users to switch between three camera views -- but initially excludes support for Canon cameras. The "Live Switcher Mobile" app, compatible only with Apple devices, offers automated camera switching and streaming to platforms including YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook through RTMP protocol.

The free version supports 720p resolution with ads and watermarks, while an $18 monthly subscription unlocks 1080p quality and additional features. Canon plans to add support for its cameras in future updates, it says.

Further reading: Canon Draws Fire for Charging Subscription Fee To Use Cameras as Webcams.

You cannot make this crap up

[gweihir]

Seems we are even closer to idiocracy than I thought.

Tolerance is consent is endorsement.

[couchslug]

I own no Canon products and they shall get none of my money.

Re:

[nightflameauto]

Seems we are even closer to idiocracy than I thought.

Idiocracy would probably be preferable to where we're headed. At least there we'd be stupid enough to not notice how stupid everything is. Here the population has a chance at not being stupid, but the leadership and business world insist on ramping up the stupidity faster and faster. It's a maddening situation to live through.

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[test321]

The headline makes it sound absurd, but I don't think it is.
1) Canon makes products related to optics, recording, printing, broadcasting. This is a broadcasting product for a public that uses iphones/ipads for livestreaming. The nominal example in the news release is a make-up tutorial seen from 3 angles. These streamers aren't necessarily technical-oriented people and they want an ultra-easy phone app. This is a market by itself. If Canon thinks there is money to make why would they not do it.

2) Those who

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[gweihir]

Yes, but a) it is a massive missed opportunity and b) anybody with the slightest bit of marketing knowledge could have predicted that they would get ridiculed for it.

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[Zocalo]

It is kinda absurd, because the ridicule we're seeing in response to TFA should have been obvious to Canon. I think you're right on #1 - Apple doesn't make traditional cameras, so this is mostly aimed at the iPhone/iPad based streaming demographic as you suggest, many of whom quite possibly don't even own a traditional camera of any brand, or if they do there's a pretty good chance it's not a Canon given current market shares and the types of users that tend to opt for Canon over other brands (hint - that'

need to be able to own stuff and not forced subscr

[Joe_Dragon]

need to be able to own stuff and not forced subscriptions!

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[JamesTRexx]

One does need the mental fortitude to live subscription-free though, especially in social circles where current media and games are daily topics of conversation and curiosity is difficult to suppress.

I only have three subscriptions: the house I live in (rent), public transport, and the usual energy and water neccessities.
I don't care if I miss out on the latest shiny trinket on screen if I can't have a copy of my own, so no streaming and no Steam or Epic or whatever. I don't worry about boredom because I ha

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[tlhIngan]

so no streaming and no Steam or Epic or whatever.

I get no streaming, but no Steam and no Epic seems like a waste.

Sure, you don't own anything, but that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of stuff. Epic has free games. They're not yours to own, but you can certainly play them while you still have them. After all, should Epic revoke your rights to them, you'd have gained some entertainment, and lost basically nothing.

(And yes, GoG exists, so I presume you're using that).

That's like people avoiding credit

in this episode of

[diffract]

Lets fuck the customer and see if he's going to take it, featuring canon

Why Would Anyone Buy This?

[SlashbotAgent]

I'm out of the loop, but perhaps someone here can enlighten me.

Why would anyone buy an $18 per month(!) iPhone app to stream to YouTube et al when there are so many apps, even free ones, that already do that? What's different about this Canon App?

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[thegarbz]

Need? No one. But have you seen the average IQ of influencers and streamers? I mean if some company wants to take them to the cleaners due to their dumb decisions who would we be to stand in the way?

You will own nothing & like it

[p51d007]

EVERYTHING seems to be a subscription these days!