Zoom seemingly granted access to private iPad camera API

Zoom appears to have been granted access to a previously unknown iPad software feature that allows camera access during Split View multitasking, one developer claims.

The feature was discovered by mobile developer Jeremy Provost, who said that he was "surprised to see that Zoom had somehow been able to tap into using the camera during iPad Split View multitasking." That currently isn't an API-level feature for developers, and Apple has not made any announcement related to the functionality.

Provost notes that it's useful for teleconferencing, since it allows users to view notes or presentations while on a video call.

Provost said his team reached out to Zoom and the teleconferencing company responded, revealing the existence of an apparently "private process" open to a select number of developers.

"Unfortunately, unlike with CarPlay there is no public process for requesting this entitlement. In fact, its existence is not even documented by Apple publicly," Provost said.

Fellow developer Michael Tsai highlighted the API in a blog post this week.

Although Apple claims to treat every developer the same, some evidence to the contrary has surfaced during the Epic Games v. Apple trial. For example, Apple reportedly has a set of whitelisted developers — which includes Hulu — that are able to gain special subscription-based features.

20 Comments

jimh2 670 comments · 8 Years

About 3 years ago

It’s a business. Apple can do as it pleases. This typical of all large companies.

jungmark 6927 comments · 13 Years

It’s called pilot testing new features. You need real world results but you don’t want to release to everyone yet. My company does that internally with many ERP feature upgrades.

22july2013 3736 comments · 11 Years

AppleInsider said:

Although Apple claims to treat every developer the same, some evidence to the contrary has surfaced during the Epic Games v. Apple trial. For example, Apple reportedly has a set of whitelisted developers -- which includes Hulu -- that are able to gain special subscription-based features.

Yes, the idea of pilot testing new features does seem to slightly contradict the idea of treating all developers equally, but on a scale of 1 to 100 of evilness this contradiction is only a 3. Apple should clarify what it means and all should be well.

MauiMac5341 29 comments · 6 Years

That sounds a bit misleading. The feature sounds more like a beta of a new feature being tested by some developers with the chops to professionally work with Apple on it than it does a Microsoft style competitive secret feature set

clexman 218 comments · 15 Years

jimh2 said:

It’s a business. Apple can do as it pleases. This typical of all large companies.

It also says one thing publicly and does another privately. I guess, also typical.

Beta test is nonsense. This is available on the official app. You could use that excuse if labeled it as experimental or limited access to the feature.