360Photography

Tag: Android

  • Former Google SVP prefers iPhone over Android for mobile photography

    Vic Gundotra was an SVP of engineering at Google for almost eight years before leaving the company in 2014, and heavily involved in running Google’s mobile initiatives. However, despite being one of the main drivers behind Android from 2007 to 2010, Gundotra appears to prefer Apple’s iPhones over Android devices, at least for photography.

    In a Facebook post, Gundotra called the results of the background-blurring iPhone 7 Plus portrait mode “stunning” and “the end of the DSLR for most people”. When replying to comments on the post he went on the say that, in terms of imaging, Android phones were years behind the iPhone:

    Here is the problem: It’s Android. Android is an open source (mostly) operating system that has to be neutral to all parties. This sounds good until you get into the details. Ever wonder why a Samsung phone has a confused and bewildering array of photo options? Should I use the Samsung Camera? Or the Android Camera? Samsung gallery or Google Photos?

    It’s because when Samsung innovates with the underlying hardware (like a better camera) they have to convince Google to allow that innovation to be surfaced to other applications via the appropriate API. That can take YEARS.

    Also the greatest innovation isn’t even happening at the hardware level – it’s happening at the computational photography level. (Google was crushing this 5 years ago – they had had “auto awesome” that used AI techniques to automatically remove wrinkles, whiten teeth, add vignetting, etc… but recently Google has fallen back).

    Apple doesn’t have all these constraints. They innovate in the underlying hardware, and just simply update the software with their latest innovations (like portrait mode) and ship it.

    Bottom line: If you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone. If you don’t mind being a few years behind, buy an Android.

    Apple’s portrait mode doesn’t come without its limitations, but it’s probably fair to say among all the various incarnations of depth or bokeh effects we have seen so far it is the best performing. On the other hand some Android smartphones, such as the Google Pixel or HTC U11, offer an advantage over the latest iPhone models in terms of detail resolution and textures.

    So, like with so many things, the smartphone camera that is best for you depends a lot on your personal requirements. Vic Gundotra definitely seems to have made his mind up, though. In another post he says he “would NEVER buy an Android phone again if I cared about photography.” Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Google’s Motion Stills app is now available for Android

    Last year Google launched Motion Still for iOS, an app that stabilizes the iPhone’s Live Photos and makes them shareable as looping GIFs and videos. Now the software giant has made the app available for Android devices running version 5.1 and later of its own mobile OS.

    The app works a little differently on Android to the iOS version. Instead of using an existing Live Photo, the Android version forces you to record video inside the app. Stabilization is then applied using a, compared to the iOS version, redesigned video processing pipeline that processes each frame of a video as it is being recorded. As consequence the results are instant and no waiting is required to share the created GIFs.

    Fast Forward is a new feature and builds on the stabilization algorithm to capture longer clips and create stabilized time-lapses or hyperlapses. Playback speed is adjustable from 1x to 8x and GIF output can be created in three sizes.

    Motion Stills for Android is now available on Google Play.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Adobe updates Lightroom Mobile with new features and interface on iOS and Android

    Today’s Lightroom Mobile updates include the addition of the selective brush on iOS, and a new interface for Android users.

    Adobe released a major update to Lightroom Mobile for both iOS and Android users today. Each update is unique, offering different features depending on which operating system you use. Scroll down for a summary of both.

    Lightroom Mobile for iOS

    For iOS users, today’s update includes a new selective brush, improved details tab, and an improved interface for iPad users.

    The new selective brush is a much-requested update, allowing you to paint enhancements onto specific parts of your image. What’s more, 3D-touch enabled devices (iPhone 6S or later) will vary the strength of the brush based on finger pressure.

    Other improvements include the addition of global sharpening and noise reduction to the Details tab, and a new iPad interface that has been optimized to take full advantage of the powerful processors found in the iPad Pro and iPad Pro 2.

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5384339921″,”galleryId”:”5384339921″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    Lightroom Mobile for Android

    On the Android side, today’s update focuses on making Lightroom mobile faster and, in Adobe’s own words, “more Android-y.”

    “We wanted to provide the best Android experience possible ,so we redesigned Lightroom for Android from the ground up to be faster, more efficient, and, well, more Android-y,” explains Adobe’s Josh Haftel. “Every screen has been redesigned with the goal of ensuring a natural, native Android experience while providing the highest quality, professional-grade mobile photo editing app ever.”

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_1712960971″,”galleryId”:”1712960971″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    To take advantage of these updates on both iOS and Android, either update your Lightroom Mobile or download a new copy off the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • VSCO adds free ‘Oakley’ photo filters to iOS and Android apps

    VSCO has teamed up with eyewear brand Oakley to launch new photo presets that replicate the company’s lens technology. These presets are free and available for both the Android and iOS versions of the VSCO app, enabling anyone to alter their photos to create scenes seemingly viewed through a pair of Oakley glasses.

    The new photo presets are collected under the ‘Oakley PRIZM Series,’ and they can be found by opening the app and navigating to its store.

    The free pack contains a total of three image filters called ‘Oak1,’ ‘Oak2,’ and ‘Oak3.’ VSCO says these presets are best used with landscape and outdoor adventure photography; however, they’re only available for a limited, unspecified duration so jump on it if you want to add that… sunglass touch to your photos.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Android creator Andy Rubin reveals modular Essential phone with dual-camera

    After a prolonged period of teasers and speculation, Android creator Andy Rubin’s new company Essential has released its first smartphone. The new brand’s debut model is an uncompromising high-end device, with premium components and materials all around. The Essential’s body is made of titanium and ceramic and the front is almost entirely covered by a 5.71″  QHD edge-to-edge display with a 19:10 aspect ratio. 

    The built-in camera uses a concept similar as Huawei’s latest flagships Mate 9 and P10, combining a 13MP RGB sensor with a 13MP monochrome chip. Image data from both sensors is merged for optimal image quality. Both lenses come with fast F1.85 apertures but there is no talk of optical stabilization. A hybrid autofocus system combines contrast, phase detect and IR laser assist methods. The front camera is capable of capturing 8MP still images or 4K video clips.

    Other components include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB of RAM, a 3040mAh battery and 128GB of internal storage. Unfortunately there are no microSD-slot or 3.5mm headphone jack. One of the Essential’s most interesting features are two connectors at the back, though. They allow for the attachment of accessory modules, similar to what we’ve seen on the Motorola Moto Z line of devices. The first available module is a tiny 360-degree camera, which can shoot spherical UHD (3840×1920) video at 30 fps. 

    The Essential Phone will be available in four colors, Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White and Ocean Depths and cost you $ 699 on its own or $ 749 when bundled with the 360-degree camera. You can pre-order from today but there’s no information on shipping dates yet. 

    Key specifications:

    • Dual 13MP camera (RGB/Monochrome sensors)
    • F1.85 aperture
    • Hybrid AF with contrast, phase detect and IR laser assist methods
    • 4K video
    • 8MP/4K front camera
    • Android 7.1.1
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
    • 4GB RAM / 128GB storage
    • 5.71″ QHD edge-to-edge display with a 19:10 aspect ratio

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Android 7.1.2 update fixes Google Pixel’s pink camera streaks issue

    Google has released Android 7.1.2 for the Pixel and Nexus smartphones, and with it comes a fix for the pink streaking issue affecting some Pixel cameras. Owners affected by the issue report a pink banding and vertical lines that appear on photos taken using the Pixel’s camera app. Google had encouraged affected handset owners to factory reset their phone as a temporary solution for the problem, and now it has released a permanent fix with the latest version of Android.

    In addition to fixing the Pixel’s pink banding problem, Android 7.1.2 for Pixel and Nexus phones brings improvements to Bluetooth connectivity and fingerprint swipe performance, and also adds battery usage alerts. Google says audio popping and early shutdown issues have also been fixed.

    The update is available now via both OTA update images and factory images. Handset owners who don’t want to manually flash their device with an image can wait for the update to be delivered to their phone over-the-air, the rollout of which is happening now.

    Via: Android Police

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Android 7.1.1 update for OnePlus 3T brings improved video stabilization
    In our review of the OnePlus 3T we were in general quite impressed by the device’s camera performance and thought the 3T represented excellent value for money. However, video stabilization was a point of criticism as panning could lead to noticeably shaky footage. 
     
    OnePlus claims to have fixed the issue with its OxygenOS 4.1.0 update which is based on Android 7.1.1. and says the performance of the electronic video stabilization is now on the same level as the Google Pixel. Looking at the sample clip we recorded after installing the update we’ll have to agree. Stabilization is noticeably improved and panning is now buttery smooth, allowing for very steady hand-held shooting.
     
     
    Other new features and improvements of the update include the following:

    • Upgraded Android 7.1.1
    • Updated Google security patch to 1st March 2017
    • Added expanded screenshots
    • Improved picture taking of moving objects with blur reduction
    • Improved WiFi connectivity
    • Improved bluetooth connectivity
    • General bug fixes

    The over-the-air (OTA) update will be incremental. So if you own a OnePlus 3T and haven’t received it yet, don’t despair, it should arrive on your device within the next few days. 

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Insta360 Air 360-degree camera for Android quick review

    Insta360 Air
    $ 129/£139 | www.insta360.com | Buy Now 

    The Insta360 Air is a smartphone add-on that turns your Android device into a fully-fledged 360-degree VR camera. It’s capable of capturing still images and video, and comes with a live-streaming function. It only weighs 26.5 grams / ~1oz, comes with a protective rubber case and attaches to your phone either via the microUSB or USB Type-C port. We got our hands on the latter version and have tried it out on the Huawei P10 and Motorola Moto Z Force.

    Key specifications:

    • Phone Compatibility Android phones
    • Dual-fisheye lenses
    • F2.4 aperture
    • 3008 x 1504 (3K) still image resolution
    • 2560 x 1280 video resolution (3008 x 1504 with some smartphones)
    • 30 frames per second
    • Real-time stitching
    • 37.6mm / 1.48in diameter
    • 26.5 grams
    • Available with microUSB or Type-C connector 
    The Insta360 Air is small and lightweight enough to always be carried anywhere. A rubber case provides protection on the go.

    Operation

    The capture screen offers a good range of features, including filter effects. Optionally images and videos can be exported in ‘tiny planet’ format.

    Using the Insta360 Air is very intuitive. Plugging the camera into your phone’s USB-port launches the Insta360 app which lets you capture images, record video or live-stream to YouTube or a web-address. When shooting images or video you can apply exposure compensation or Instagram filters, which are applied to the preview image. 

    The integrated viewer allows you to create albums and see your recorded content in all its 360-degree glory. There is also a range of sharing options which let you choose between sharing full 360-degree photos/video or ‘tiny-planet’ style images or animations. Overall the app is nicely designed, works reliably on our test phones and reacts swiftly to user input. 

    The Insta360 Air can also be used as a 360-degree webcam on Skype and other video-chat applications after connecting to a PC’s USB 2.0 or 3.0 port. 360-degree webcam support for Mac should be provided soon via a software update. 

     The Insta360 Air can also be used as a 360-degree webcam.

    Stills

    In still image mode the Insta360 Air captures photos with a size of 3008 x 1504 pixels. That’s less still image resolution than you’ll find on cameras like the Samsung Camera 360, the LG Cam 360 or the Ricoh Theta SC and when viewed in 360-degree mode on a large screen the levels of fine detail aren’t great. That said, images usually show good color and exposure, and the stitching algorithm that joins the two halves of the images does a very good job. Very occasionally, minor ghosting can be visible but otherwise images taken in good light are relatively free of artifacts.

    To view this image in the Google Photos 360 degree viewer click here.

    When sharing images, you get the option to export them in a ‘tiny planet’ style format which can, depending on the subject, make for interesting effects. The radius of your ‘planet’ can be adjusted by pinch-zooming. The image below is the ‘tiny planet’ version of the photo above.

    This is another image in bright light. Up-close the images can look a little soft but still provides a very immersive experience when viewed in a 360-degree viewer. We also like the way the area right below the camera is slightly darkened to make it less intrusive in the image.

     To view this image in the Google Photos 360 degree viewer click here.

    The Insta360 Air deals well with well-lit interior scenes like the one below. There is some luminance noise in shadow areas but given the relatively low image resolution it is not very intrusive.

      To view this image in the Google Photos 360 degree viewer click here.

    The image below has captured a good impression of what’s going on in this busy scene at MWC 2017. The camera white balance deals very well with the many different sources of illumination and image detail is not significantly reduced from outdoor images. There is no EXIF-data reported but the shutter speeds are fast enough to avoid most motion blur in indoor scenes.  

      To view this image in the Google Photos 360 degree viewer click here.

    Image filters can be applied at the point of capture, like I did for the image below, or in post-processing.  

     To view this image in the Google Photos 360 degree viewer click here.

    Video

    In video mode the Insta360 Air can record 2560 x 1280 video resolution, which is more or less in line with other entry-level 360-degree cameras. Insta360 says that with some phones a resolution of 3008 x 1504 pixels can be achieved but neither the Motorola Moto Z Force or the Huawei P10 which I used for this test offered this option, despite start-of-the-art chipsets. 

    2560 pixels wide is more than Full-HD resolution but stretched across an entire 360-degree circle the it’s actually not that impressive and at screen size videos look a little soft. They are great at typical social media size though, with good exposure and color and smooth motion. As with the stills, occasionally some ghosting is visible. 

    The 1280p low-light clip below is clean but again pretty soft. Nevertheless, the clip offers a good impression of the interior space it was recorded in. 

    The camera also offers a 960p video option which saves you some space in your phone’s storage, but as you can see in the clip below, compared to the 1280p footage detail is noticeably reduced. If you’re not about to run out of space, 1280p is definitely the better option. Still, the clip below shows that, thanks to the super-wide angle lenses, Insta360 Air footage looks quite stable, even when captured hand-held from a fast-moving bike.

    The 960p video below shows that the Insta360 Air is capable of capturing a usable exposure even at night but image quality is suffering quite a lot, making this clip only watchable at small output sizes.

    Like in stills mode, you get the option to share videos in the ‘tiny planet’ format. It’s a great way of displaying your entire surroundings in a standard video format and can be a fun effect.

    Conclusion

    The Insta360 has a lot going for it. It is one of the most affordable 360-degree cameras we have seen, and perfectly integrates with your Android device. It’s ready to shoot a few seconds after plugging it into your phone and doesn’t require a microSD card as it is using your device’s built-in storage. The small dimensions mean you can always carry it with you and inside its rubber carrying case the camera is well protected.

    The USB-connector means there is no need for a potentially flaky Wi-Fi connection to your mobile device but it does look a little fragile – disconnecting the camera when using your smartphone for other things is wise. In terms of still image resolution the Insta360 Air is not quite on the same level as some of its rivals in the entry-level segment, but images are well-exposed and mostly free of stitching artifacts. 

    Overall, the Insta360 Air is a great introduction to the world of 360-degree imaging that offers a good variety of features and functions to play with. And at $ 129 it doesn’t break the bank either. More information is available at insta360.com.

    What we like:

    • Compact dimensions
    • Intuitive app control 
    • Generally good stitching quality
    • Price

    What we don’t like:

    • Still image resolution lower than some competitors
    • USB-connection to smartphone feels a little fragile
    • No tripod mount

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photo planning app PhotoPills now available for Android

    PhotoPills has for long time been one of the most popular photography planning apps for the iPhone. Now finally, after a long wait, the Android version has arrived on the Google Play Store.  Like its iOS-counterpart, PhotoPills for Android will set you back a hefty $ 10 but if you take your photo planning seriously this could be a small price to pay.

    Among a host of other functions PhotoPills allows you to find out when and where the sun will set at a particular location, when the moon will rise and where the Milky Way will be visible. The Android version has been one year in the making and on an especially setup Android Version Page the team behind the app explains that it was the goal to offer exactly the same features, attention to detail and reliability as the iOS version. 

    It’s worth mentioning that the app is still in public beta stage, with the full release expected by the end of the month. So it’s possible you might still encounter the occasional bug or malfunction. If that doesn’t put you off you can can download PhotoPills now and install it on any device that runs Android 4.1 or newer.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Insta360 Air turns Android phones into 360-degree VR Cameras, now available in US and Europe

    The Insta360 Air camera, which attaches to an Android smartphone via a microUSB or USB Type-C port, turns your phone into a 360-degree VR camera. It’s now available in the US and Europe. The Insta 360 Air uses, via a dedicated app, the smartphone display as a viewfinder and captures 360-degree stills and videos with its dual fisheye lenses.

    The camera offers real-time image stitching and comes with integrated live-streaming to YouTube and other platforms. Content can be shared directly from the app to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The app allows for viewing content on-screen or through a VR headset. 

    The Insta360 Air can also be used as a 360-degree webcam on Skype and other video-chat applications after connecting to a PC’s USB 2.0 or 3.0 port. 360-degree webcam support for Mac should be provided soon via a software update. The Insta360 Air weighs only 26.5 grams and can capture 3K photos (3008 x 1504 pixels) and 2.5 K video (2560 x 1289 pixels) at 30 frames per second. The company also says real-time image stabilization will be introduced via a firmware update ‘in the coming weeks.’

    The Insta360 Air is now available for $ 129 at retailers in the US. The device can also be purchased in the UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Japan through Amazon. We are currently working on a review of the device, so watch this space. 

    Press Release:

    Insta360 Air Arrives in US and Europe, Turns Android Phones into 360° VR Cameras

    Real-Time Image Stabilization on the Way
    SHENZHEN, Mar. 7, 2017 – The Insta360 Air, a smartphone add-on that instantly turns Android phones into 360-degree cameras, is now on sale across the United States and Europe. 

    “The Air is what we’re all about — cutting-edge technology that empowers people to capture and share experiences just the way they live them,” said J.K. Liu, CEO and co-founder of Insta360. “We can’t wait to see what the world’s Android users create.” 

    Android and iOS account for more than 90 percent of the world’s smartphone users, and the release of the Air means all of them can now enjoy seamless 360-degree photography and live-streaming. The Insta360 Nano, launched last year, offers a plug-and-play 360 experience to iPhone users. 

    The Insta360 Air’s simple, intuitive design makes capturing and sharing 360-degree content easier than ever. After connecting via USB Type-C or Micro-USB port, the Air uses a smartphone’s display as its viewfinder, allowing users to capture 360-degree stills and videos with the Air’s dual fisheye lenses and camera-interface app. 

    With real-time image stitching and integrated live-streaming support for YouTube and other platforms, users can broadcast immersive experiences to the world or share 360-degree content to friends on a host of popular social media — including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Messenger — directly from the app interface. Users can explore content on a screen or through a VR headset for an even more immersive experience. 

    The Insta360 Air experience isn’t limited to mobile. The Air also serves as a 360-degree webcam on Skype and other video-chat applications after connecting to a PC’s USB 2.0 or 3.0 port. 360-degree webcam support for Macs will also be introduced in a future update.

    The Insta360 Air captures 3K photos (3008 X 1504 pixels) and 2.5 K video (2560 X 1289 pixels) at 30 frames per second. Weighing only 26.5 grams and with a diameter smaller than a ping-pong ball, the Air is also the most portable consumer 360-degree camera on the market. 

    Real-time image stabilization coming soon 

    Insta360 is committed to providing ongoing support to both devices and users well after purchase. Air users can expect regular updates to the Insta360 Air app and camera firmware. Among the most-exciting updates on the horizon for the Air is the planned addition of an all-new feature, real-time image stabilization. 

    The advanced image-stabilization technology corrects unwanted vibrations and sudden directional changes as they happen, letting users capture smooth and steady live streams and video. 

    The technology will mean a vastly improved experience for viewers using an immersive VR headset. And by reducing the variation between adjacent frames of a live-stream or video, it also offers big bandwidth savings. Real-time image stabilization is set to be released via app update in the coming weeks, and Insta360 Nano users can expect the feature as well. 

    Priced at $ 129 USD, the Insta360 Air is now available via Amazon in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Japan. U.S. consumers can buy the Insta360 Air offline at B&H and Fry’s Electronics, with other regions also offering offline sales at select retailers.

    Watch the Insta360 Blog for more updates.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)