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Watching the Samsung/Google launch event of the Galaxy Nexus, I got the feeling there were many features of the Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich that didn’t make it into their (what I felt was) brief announcement. Turns out I was right.
Take the real-time, live video effects feature of the Android 4.0/Galaxy Nexus shown off by Matias Duarte as he visited the “On The Verge” Monday night video podcast. The video effects were shown off briefly to an amused studio audience as the face of Mr. Topolski was altered in real time using the Galaxy Nexus camera.
Before they signed off, Mr. Duarte said something I felt rang true when dealing with smartphone cameras. According to Matias, smartphones shouldn’t be chasing after the super advanced features of the point-and-shoot and DSLR. Instead, a smartphone camera serves another purpose entirely and that’s to “make memories [and] share moments with people.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Perhaps that’s why the Google/Samsung team didn’t feel the need to include an 8MP camera in this iteration of the Nexus? Check out the video below to see the Android 4.0 video effects for yourself.
this feature is tight. BO$$ shit
He also said we’ll see the Nexus here in November!
I think everyone is missing this. It’s around the 25:00 mark. Shouldn’t this be a headline!? Someone from Google is now on record confirming a November release.
I do not understand why but I just received an OTA update to Ice Cream Sandwich on my HTC Droid Incredible!
In your dreams! :D
HA!
lol
Wow, this guy is a moron when it comes to photography. There are plenty of times manually setting things can be beneficial.
He’s trying to make popular devices – Most people use auto settings even in their SLR’s. Sad, but it’s a fact. I wish every device had a “PRO” mode I could just switch on and get what I want, which in this case would be total manual control of the camera, exposure and shutter controls. Ok, most of the time I really don’t need them, but I like to be in control.
Most users do not know what white balance, or even exposure is. And by most, i mean 99% of the users.
That is why he thinks that if you want to bring a better photographic experience to a phone, you do not have to play catch up with the SLR world by adding dozen of manual settings, you need to make the automatic mode work better.
Adam Wood you are an idiot…that would be gingerbread you just got…kids
There is a reply button.
Where?
Adam wood lies
The truth is, smartphone cameras are putting a dent in DSLR sales. Most people take just normal, everyday “point and shoot” pictures. Smartphone cameras provide that. With one device people take the picture/video, and post it…done!
I think they all should leave the MPs, and the white balance, and the exposure stuff to the pros. Matias is right. If it’s something that is not completely obvious (i.e. you don’t need), then it should be taken care of by the device.
Professional photographers will have their SLRs; the masses will have their smartphones that do the job of the photographer for them, without them messing around with any setting.
“Instead, a smartphone camera serves another purpose entirely and that’s to “make memories [and] share moments with people.”
While true, how can you make memories if you can not make out what was in the picture. I think we need to keep advancing the cameras on phones as much as possible. I love having a camera on my phone in my pocket as carrying around a full size camera is not efficient.
I’m not saying that our phones need to take professional photos and such, but it would be nice if they could take a similar photo to a $100 – $200 Cannon or Nikon using the auto settings.
He looks like he would be saying “Me want Honeycombs!” in the pic.
Chris, regarding what you said about the GNex not getting an 8MP camera, all I gotta say is that I’m delighted that they kept it at 5MP. Those tiny sensors in smartphones just can’t absorb any more light. If they can improve the photo quality while keeping the same number of megapixels, that’s so much better than having the sensor grid chopped into a tinier grid, worsening the quality, and calling it higher mexapixels.