Popular video conferencing platform Zoom has gained a competitive advantage in the market over its rivals. It has now got access to a private iPad camera API. The access was granted by Apple at a time when Zoom-like platforms are reporting a surge in users’ pool. The permission to enter a non-public iPad digital camera API will allow Zoom to use the camera during the Split View multitasking of the iPad. Zoom has now become the only platform other than FaceTime to use multitasking. FaceTime is a videotelephony service developed by Apple. The iPad Split View multitasking feature gives Zoom an additional advantage over competitors. The feature allows users to access the notes app, Twitter, and others during a call.
To get access to API, Apple needs to give an entitlement. It is just a privilege that grants support to execute specific capabilities. The iPhone maker provides public documentation. It also provides for requesting access to entitlements. Notably, there is no public process available for now to request a specific API. Also, there is nothing available in documents by Apple in the public domain about the entitlement. It remains unclear why did Apple grant access only to Zoom for this feature. The company, however, said that it treats developers equally. Notably, Apple had initially granted Hulu access to API before it was built-in to App Store.
The latest access granted by Apple will help Zoom to be in a position to get additional benefits over rivals. This privilege was earlier reserved for the FaceTime app. It is believed that Zoom had interactions with Apple over the latest entitlement. This will permit Zoom to make most of the iPad Break up View performance. Apple had in April announced a new feature called Center Stage. This feature is, however, available on the M1 iPad Pro only. It lets video calling apps take advantage of it subject to approval from their respective developers. The Center Stage feature allows the Ultra-Wide front camera to track the movement of the user, if any, during a video conferencing and position him/her accordingly in the frame.
