I've been looking through the API docs and support forum. Based on what I've been reading, there are two big holes in the Sony camera stack:
1) Cameras ONLY support master mode (peer-to-peer) wi-fi connections. They do not support infrastructure mode allowing the camera to connect to existing wi-fi networks.
2) API does not support moving files off the camera.
My questions: Does Sony plan to address add these capabilities? If yes, what is the timeline?
Thanks,
Graham
Thank you for your interest.
(EDITED: multi Wi-Fi connection is used by Live View Remote LVR & Camera Remote API is officially NOT supported in multi Wi-Fi mode).
Sony lens style cameras QX1, QX30 and ActionCams HDR-AZ1, HDR-AS100V can connect to existing Wi-Fi networks (Multi Connection Wi-Fi mode). Please check if your Wi-Fi network is compatible with connection method used. Newer QX1, QX30, HDR-AZ1 cameras support content transfer API. Please check API Reference document for exact APIs. Best Regards, Prem, Developer World team.
Related
Having read the announcement about google nearby 2.0 it's clear that WiFi connections are supported.
Nearby Connections uses WiFi, Bluetooth LE & Classic Bluetooth under the hood to discover and establish connections to nearby devices.
Or from the docs overview page
Under the hood, the API uses a combination of Bluetooth, BLE, and Wifi hotspots
What I'm not clear on is whether the WiFi support is exclusively when devices are connected to the same WiFi router, or whether the service will also use WiFi P2P (aka WiFi Direct) to establish connections when possible.
My experience using similar services on other platforms is that bluetooth connections can often be too slow for fast paced multiplayer games. My title already supports connections over WiFi routers, so ideally I'd want the service to add WiFi play in the absence of a router.
I think my question is answered in the I/O talk about Nearby Connections refresh (link).
We connect over bluetooth and start transferring data instantly, but
in the background we also bring up a WiFi hotspot, and when that's
ready we seamlessly transfer your connection from bluetooth to WiFi
with absolutely no work required by the app developer
I'm reasonably confident from the context that the WiFi hotspot they're talking about is an Adhoc/Direct/P2P one (not sure of the correct terminology, but mobile to mobile WiFi of some sort) rather than a physical router.
The announcement says
At I/O this year, we spoke about a refresh to the Nearby Connections API that can provide high bandwidth, low latency, encrypted data transfers between nearby devices in a fully-offline P2P manner. Today we're announcing the availability of this API across all Android devices running Google Play services 11.0 and up.
Its fully offline and P2P so it looks like that there is no need for them to be connected to the same wifi router.
While Sony teases new camera models to customers (UMC-R10C, UMC-S3C) and mentions both API access and USB connectivity (rather than wifi) - the Sony Camera Remote API currently only mentions wifi. Is there any information on how to use those upcoming cameras? Some 'selected' developers are integrating them already (see: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/sony-3dr-announce-new-enterprise-camera-for-solo) but independent developers are left in the dark.
Will the API be the same as the current Camera Remote API?
What kind of USB connection will it have. Just a USB network interface?
+1 on question/request. A lot of DIY'ers are interested in (buying and) controlling Sony cameras via USB. WiFi in 'noisy' environments is problematic.
I'm currently studying the Development Guide given with the Sony Camera Remote API beta SDK, and what I've understood so far, is that in order to send and receive messages between a camera and a mobile device, the smartphone or tablet should be connected through Wifi to the camera, which acts as an access point.
Actually, what I'd like to do after downloading a picture on the mobile device from the camera, is to pass it to a PC so that I will be able to print it and use it for other purposes. This process should be completely transparent and automatic for the final user.
Thus, my problem is that I need the mobile device to be connected, through Wifi, to both camera and PC.
The solutions I have in mind are :
Make the mobile device, and the PC, connect to the camera access point, so that they can be located on the same network.
Is this possible? I mean, can the Sony camera handle more than one client when acting as an access point? If yes, can I have a fixed IP for mobile device and PC so that I can easily make them exchange data?
Use a simple wifi router and make the camera, mobile device, and PC connect to this router.
Without acting as an access point (i.e. simple network client), can the camera be used with the remote control function?
If you guys see any other options, I'd be glad to read them !
Thanks,
Bertrand
Unfortunately, neither of your solutions would be supported. Only one device can be connected to the camera AP at a time, and the camera itself has to act as the access point (certain models support connecting to an access point from the camera but the Camera Remote API is not supported in this case).
If you don't need the mobile device to have access to the pictures, your best bet may be to directly connect the PC to the Camera and transfer the images using the API. The API is REST based so can be used on any platform.
I understand that I cannot use Camera Remote API beta to access Sony Cameras using USB. Is there any other API available? I found that somebody has already posted a question regarding this on another Sony camera api forum which is closed now. Please let me know.
Thanks,
Kumar
It is not possible to use Camera Remote API beta via USB. The Camera Remote API is based on HTTP and JSON and is only available over Wi-Fi.
The API itself is http/JSON based so it is platform independent so the only issue would be connecting by WiFi.
Ref: https://developer.sony.com/develop/cameras/
I'd like to use the QX10 or QX100 cameras, but unfortunately 2.4ghz is off the table.
The other options are:
- usb cable
- wifi A or AC connection over 5ghz
The https://developer.sony.com/devices/cameras/sony-smartphone-attachable-lens-style-camera-dsc-qx100/ doesn't specify , what kind of wifi these cams support.
Can I use the Camera Remote (or other) api to access the features of the camera through USB?
Can I connect to QX10 or QX100 via 5gz Wifi?
(I'd use linux to query the api, so no android or ios specific details matter.)
Thank you.
It is not possible to use Camera Remote API beta via USB. QX100 and QX10 support only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.