2 days ago we reported the release of the revamped eWeLink Camera app. The app that turns your your (old) Android phone into an IP security camera that can be used in the normal eWeLink app. Aditionally the stream now also can be viewed on eWeLink Web and Amazon Echo Show. The app is not perfect yet and that’s why eWeLink already has plans to improve the app.
Inventarising demand for iOS version
eWeLink proudly announced the revamped eWeLink Camera app on Facebook and included a link to the Google Play Store to download the app to your (old) Android phone. This triggered iOS users to wonder why there is no iOS version.
eWeLink noticed the demand for an iOS version and replied on the post with the following text:
Hi guys, if you need iOS version of eWeLink Camera App, let us know by giving this comment a Like. 👍
Source: eWeLink’s reply to their Facebook post about the revamped eWeLink Camera app, January 7, 07:25 GMT+1
So if you like to see an iOS version of the eWeLink Camera app go to the Facebook post and like that reply of eWeLink!
Permissions explained
Some people were wondering why the app needs serveral permissions to operate. eWeLink explained them at a reply on their Facebook post:
eWeLink Camera App permissions explained:
To protect your privacy, Android 6.0+ asks you for permissions when you launch eWeLink Camera App for the first time.
Here are the permissions needed and why:
- Access to Camera: to record videos or take pictures.
- Access to Microphone: to record audios.
- Access to Storage (photos, media, files): to store videos or snapshots to system albums.
Source: eWeLink’s reply to their Facebook post about the revamped eWeLink Camera app, January 6, 11:02 GMT+1
There is a fourth permission needed which is not explained by eWeLink: access to phone calls. We believe this will be needed to pause local recording as some country laws / regulations don’t allow to automatically record phone calls.
Login issues solution
Some people (including us) reported login issues with the eWeLink app. For those people wanting an immediate solution there is one. Manually download this APK file and install it: http://app.coolkit.cn/cam/camera.apk This version will be released as a hotfix release soon. It will have version number 1.0.1 and first have to be reviewed and accepted by Google before it becomes available on the Google Play Store. This can take up a few days.
New features
In a chat with eWeLink they announced a more extended update of the eWeLink Camera app. eWeLink expects to release an update to the eWeLink Camera app with new features mid-January. eWeLink didn’t tell which new features to expect.