Smartphones And Mobiles
The new Google Camera app finally brings features that were once only available on Nexus devices to every other Android snapper out there. Well, as long as those Android devices are running KitKat, that is.
Two of the app's biggest features are Photo Sphere and Lens Blur. If you're remotely familiar with the Nexus 5, or even the Nexus 4 that came before it, Photo Sphere is definitely not a new trick, but it was very limited in terms of who could use it.
Photo Sphere allows you to create panorama-like images with a 360-degree field of view. That means you're not limited to just panning straight across a scene, but you can move your phone camera up or down to include more of the sky and foreground.
The stitching job on the 360 panoramas is pretty good, or at least as good as it can be on a really difficult image to piece together. And you'll be able to view them in full on your Android device or on Google+ if you want to share the photos.
The next notable feature is Lens Blur, which is similar to what you'll find on the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S5. Basically, you select your subject and everything else gets blurred out so the focus is mostly on your subject. It's like shooting with shallow depth-of-field on a DSLR.
These photo blurring effects sometimes work very well, and other times they seem very artificial. When it's done right, the results can be dreamy and natural. On the other hand, if it's a little overdone - like it is on the HTC One compared to the Galaxy S5 - it can look a little gimmicky.
However, if you use it sparingly and carefully, you can get pretty good results and really show your subject and get rid of all the clutter in your photo.
In the end, the Google Camera app is pretty simple, and the UI is designed to make taking photos easier. You can download it via the Play Store now if you're sporting a device with Android 4.4 KitKat. Enjoy!
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Claimed HTC Nexus X benchmarks have surfaced, with the heavily rumoured tablet tipped to run a 64-bit Tegra K1 processor. Expected to launch later this year, the Nexus X is being tipped as a HTC-manufactured follow-on to the hugely popular Nexus 7 tablet...
- Get The Best Photos With Your Nokia Lumia 1020 - Tips And Tricks
If you bought a Nokia Lumia 1020, you must be after its superb 41 MP camera. Lumia 1020 does not impress as a phone, but, it has one of the best camera unit among the smartphones as of yet. However, what good is a 41 MP camera unit if you can't take...
- Motorola Moto X Tips And Tricks
Want to get the most out of your Motorola Moto X? You?ve come to the right place. We?ve been investigating every feature and secret of the phone to find out the ways to get that little bit more out of it. It?s not quite ready for primetime fresh out of...
Smartphones And Mobiles
Google Camera app brings Nexus photo fun to all Android 4.4 devices
The new Google Camera app finally brings features that were once only available on Nexus devices to every other Android snapper out there. Well, as long as those Android devices are running KitKat, that is.
Two of the app's biggest features are Photo Sphere and Lens Blur. If you're remotely familiar with the Nexus 5, or even the Nexus 4 that came before it, Photo Sphere is definitely not a new trick, but it was very limited in terms of who could use it.
Photo Sphere allows you to create panorama-like images with a 360-degree field of view. That means you're not limited to just panning straight across a scene, but you can move your phone camera up or down to include more of the sky and foreground.
The stitching job on the 360 panoramas is pretty good, or at least as good as it can be on a really difficult image to piece together. And you'll be able to view them in full on your Android device or on Google+ if you want to share the photos.
Blurry like a DSLR
The next notable feature is Lens Blur, which is similar to what you'll find on the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S5. Basically, you select your subject and everything else gets blurred out so the focus is mostly on your subject. It's like shooting with shallow depth-of-field on a DSLR.
These photo blurring effects sometimes work very well, and other times they seem very artificial. When it's done right, the results can be dreamy and natural. On the other hand, if it's a little overdone - like it is on the HTC One compared to the Galaxy S5 - it can look a little gimmicky.
However, if you use it sparingly and carefully, you can get pretty good results and really show your subject and get rid of all the clutter in your photo.
In the end, the Google Camera app is pretty simple, and the UI is designed to make taking photos easier. You can download it via the Play Store now if you're sporting a device with Android 4.4 KitKat. Enjoy!
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- Google Nexus 6 Benchmarked, Blows Away The Competition
The Google Nexus 6 should be with us any day now, and if this alleged benchmark is anything to go by, it will be an absolute monster. Geekbench claims to have put the handset ? aka the Motorola Shamu ? through its paces. The results are very impressive,...
- Stunning Nexus 6 Specs And Facts 'revealed' In All Their Glory
Call it the Nexus 6, call it the Nexus X, call it the Shamu, call it whatever you want, the fact is that while we have many names for Google's new smartphone we don't have a huge number of details as yet. But a new report from 9to5Google reiterates...
- Htc Nexus X Tablet Leaks With 64-bit Tegra K1 Processor
Claimed HTC Nexus X benchmarks have surfaced, with the heavily rumoured tablet tipped to run a 64-bit Tegra K1 processor. Expected to launch later this year, the Nexus X is being tipped as a HTC-manufactured follow-on to the hugely popular Nexus 7 tablet...
- Get The Best Photos With Your Nokia Lumia 1020 - Tips And Tricks
If you bought a Nokia Lumia 1020, you must be after its superb 41 MP camera. Lumia 1020 does not impress as a phone, but, it has one of the best camera unit among the smartphones as of yet. However, what good is a 41 MP camera unit if you can't take...
- Motorola Moto X Tips And Tricks
Want to get the most out of your Motorola Moto X? You?ve come to the right place. We?ve been investigating every feature and secret of the phone to find out the ways to get that little bit more out of it. It?s not quite ready for primetime fresh out of...