Google Is Planning To Turn Android Phones Into Dashcams

This feature is hidden inside the latest build of the Personal Safety app.
(credit: Xingye Jiang on Unsplash)

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If you don’t have a dashcam inside your car, and you are using an Android phone, you could turn your phone into a dashcam instead.

According to 9to5Google, they have discovered a hidden feature inside the Personal Safety app that will turn your phone into a dashcam.

The Google Play Store accidentally released a “dogfood” version of the Personal Safety app, which is typically available on specific Android devices such as Google’s Pixel phones and even other devices like the Nothing Phone (1). This app provides beneficial functionalities like “Emergency Sharing,” “Safety Check,” and “Car Crash Detection.”

Dogfood” is a term commonly used to describe the practice of developers or companies using their own products to test and identify bugs or issues, often during the beta testing phase.

The new feature can be accessed by using the “Dashcam” shortcut located in the “Be prepared” section of the home page. Through this shortcut, users have the option to start manual recording or review their recent videos. Even while Dashcam is actively recording, users can still use their phone normally, including utilising Google Maps for navigation. Alternatively, if users want to conserve battery power, they can lock their screen, and the recording will continue uninterrupted.

(credit: 9to5Google)

During the setup process, users have the option to enable automatic recording initiation when they connect to a specific Bluetooth device, such as the car stereo or infotainment system. Similarly, the recordings will automatically stop when users disconnect from that device.

To save storage space, the app automatically deletes recordings after three days, unless users choose to save them. Furthermore, the videos are compressed to reduce file size. On average, the compressed videos take up approximately “30 MB per minute” of storage, and the maximum duration for a single recording is 24 hours.

9to5Google said there is no mention of Pixel exclusivity in the feature’s description. Therefore, it’s unclear whether Dashcam will be made available on other phones that have Google’s Personal Safety app. The availability of Dashcam on non-Pixel devices will have to be determined or announced by Google in the future.

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