Google reworks Android's camera API, confirms Raw imaging
 |
|
This chart explains Android's new camera API.
|
Google has confirmed that Android phones will be able to take Raw photos in the future. Google has given its camera API a complete makeover in an attempt to make app development easier for programmers. When the new API rolls out, it will allow apps to take photos in Raw as well as capture in a burst mode.
"Android's latest camera HAL (hardware abstraction layer) and framework supports raw and burst-mode photography," Google spokesperson Gina Scigliano told CNET. "We will expose a developer API [application programming interface] in a future release to expose more of the HAL functionality."
As we've seen with Nokia's DNG files, RAW photography helps fix some of the flaws common in smartphone photos. Digital noise can be reduced, white balance can be corrected and small adjustments can be made to fix exposure issues. Android's new burst mode can be beneficial for action shots, but it can also be used for HDR photography like the Nexus 5's HDR+ feature.
Google details Android's new camera API here. While it may read like nonsense to non-programmers, there are still a few details to get excited about. A simpler API may prove enticing for programmers and the new API also gives easy access to a lot more camera features.
From the HAL overview:
Further, this simplified view makes it easier for application developers to use the camera's various functions. [...] This includes: resolution and pixel format; manual sensor, lens and flash control; 3A operating modes; RAW->YUV processing control; statistics generation; and so on.
Google is not ready to give a release date for the software, but it promises that the new API will ship "in a future release." Hopefully in the next candy-themed Android update, we will get some Raw sweetness.
![Sony Xperia XZ camera review]()
|
![Vivo Xplay6 features 4-axis stabilized 12MP dual-cam]()
|
![The iBlazr Case comes with 40 LEDs and a built-in battery pack]()
|
![A colorful journey through Morocco with the iPhone 7 Plus]()
|
|
Nov 25, 2016
|
Nov 18, 2016
|
Nov 23, 2016
|
Nov 20, 2016
|
The Canon EOS R3 is the company's first high-end mirrorless camera designed for sports, wildlife and photojournalism. Built around a 24MP Stacked CMOS sensor and the company's RF mount, the R3 is designed to handle virtually any situation it encounters. Learn more in our initial review.
The GFX 50S II takes a familiar sensor and adds the image stabilization and body design of the GFX 100S. Does this, and a lowest-ever price deliver a winning combination?
Leofoto is one of the best-known names in the world of affordable tripods and supports, but not necessarily for the best of reasons. With the LM-364C, Leofoto appears to offer some innovation and high value – so how does it perform?
The 2021 ASUS Zephyrus G14 offers a phenomenal combination of performance, power efficiency, and portability. With its AMD Ryzen CPU, RTX 3060 GPU, and color-accurate WQHD display, this little laptop might just be an M1 MacBook Pro killer.
The Nikon Z fc is a midrange ILC with the same eye-catching design as the company's classic film cameras. It's not just a good-looking camera, though: it's quite capable. Read our review to find out if the Z fc is right for you.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both speed and focus for capturing fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Most modern cameras will shoot video to one degree or another, but these are the ones we’d look at if you plan to shoot some video alongside your photos. We’ve chosen cameras that can take great photos and make it easy to get great looking video, rather than being the ones you’d choose as a committed videographer.
Although a lot of people only upload images to Instagram from their smartphones, the app is much more than just a mobile photography platform. In this guide we've chosen a selection of cameras that make it easy to shoot compelling lifestyle images, ideal for sharing on social media.
If you're looking for the perfect drone for yourself, or to gift someone special, we've gone through all of the options and selected our favorites.
Whether you’re just sharing clips with friends or you’re launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. We looked at cameras with selfie-friendly screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, and selected the best.
Comments