FAQ
What is CorvoCam?
CorvoCam is a remote-camera platform that turns a spare Android phone into a dependable long-duration camera. Time-lapse is its first mode; you monitor and control it from any phone or browser.
Is it only a time-lapse app?
No. Time-lapse ships first and motion detection is built in, and the same device grows new modes over time — project monitoring, security checks, wildlife watching.
Do I need a subscription to use CorvoCam?
No. Capturing, latest-frame monitoring, remote control and video export all work without a subscription — nothing in CorvoCam auto-renews. Optional cloud backup is covered by non-renewing passes, because cloud storage is the only thing with an ongoing cost.
What do I need to get started?
A spare Android phone to act as the camera, power for it, and the CorvoCam app. Your everyday phone — Android or iPhone — or any web browser becomes the viewer and remote control.
Does it really keep capturing with the screen off?
On supported Android phones, yes: a foreground camera service keeps capture running with the screen off, always indicated by a persistent notification. On other phones CorvoCam keeps the screen awake behind a true-black dimmer instead. Either way, jobs resume automatically after crashes and reboots.
Is CorvoCam only for construction time-lapse?
No. Job-site time-lapse is where CorvoCam started, but it is a remote-camera platform: renovations, real estate, workshops, gardens, wildlife, boats, cabins — any long-running scene you want to watch or film. Motion detection is already built in, and more modes are on the way.
Can I see what the camera is seeing?
Yes. Your viewer shows the newest captured frame, pushed to it as soon as the camera uploads one, so how current it is follows your capture interval — a five-minute time-lapse means a new frame every five minutes, and a shorter interval brings it closer to now. The full frame gallery and every compiled video are a tap away.
Who owns the footage?
You do. Frames are captured to the camera phone’s own storage first, and compiled videos save locally by default. Anything you choose to sync to the cloud stays private to your account — no ads, no data sales. See the privacy policy for the full picture.
What happens when the site has no internet?
Capture keeps running. CorvoCam is offline-first: frames queue on the camera phone and sync when a connection returns. Remote view and control need the camera online, but the footage itself never depends on it.
How long can a time-lapse run?
Weeks to months. Cap local storage with automatic recycling of already-synced frames and get alerts if battery or storage runs low; with Pro, you can restrict capture to scheduled working hours (including overnight windows).
Which platforms does CorvoCam support?
The camera role runs on Android — that is where a dedicated phone can capture reliably for weeks. Viewing and control work from Android, iPhone and any web browser.