iPhone image metadata hints at more cameras on the next iPhone
Well, this is interesting. Our twitter follower @chenks points out that, hidden in the metadata of a picture taken with his OS 4.0-enabled iPhone, there is a title stating that the picture came from the phone's "Back Camera." Of course, if the phone currently has a back camera, there's a possibility that it could, in the future, have a "Side Camera," or more appropriately, a "Front Camera."We're being facetious, of course. This certainly seems like yet another hint that the next version of the iPhone (expected sometime next month) will have a front facing camera; that's not only a long-awaited feature for the iPhone faithful, but it was also seen on that lost iPhone prototype not long ago.
So, at this point, it's more or less a terribly-kept secret that the next iPhone will finally have a front facing camera. The question is: will you use it? I'd rather not have my ugly mug going out across the wires every time someone calls me, but I suppose there are a few applications (possibly including an official iChat Mobile application) where it might come in handy.
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Well, this is interesting. Our twitter follower @chenks points out that, hidden in the metadata of a picture taken with his OS 4.0-enabled...
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All the people who can't see any uses beyond the obvious video chat are just being unimaginative.
With eye tracking and facial recognition software this could be used to provide a completely different interaction point with the phone. It doesn't have to record/send the video, it can process the data to, for example create a 3d effect when you move the phone relative to your face...
Bingo! That's exactly what I've been thinking since I saw the front facing camera. I remember seeing an Apple patent a year or two ago, showing an iPhone in a car. The phone could identify, via facial recognition, who was gesturing to it. Unfortunately, I can't find that reference but I found several other Apple patents regarding facial recognition and gesture control, so it seems reasonable to assume that this is one of the primary functions of the front side camera
This would be a much more compelling use of the front camera than a simple video chat device.
Has the author been living under a rock! Everyone else has seen the new iPhone twice now! Of course it has a front facing camera!
May 14 2010 at 9:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNevermind. I read further.
May 14 2010 at 9:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyBen, you clearly have itchy comment finger! Didn't you read to the end of the post?
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Never mind, I read further down the comments.
:)
Bring it!
Video is the only thing I "need" my laptop for anymore. Skype, Oovoo, WebEx, and gotomeeting. iPhone HD this year and iPad LTE 2011, yes!
I just don't get all the hype for a forward facing camera.
Do a lot of people really want to be trying to put their phone on a tripod so they can see each other while they speak? You certainly couldn't hold a phone still enough for someone at the other end to have a comfortable and watchable live image.
The only other use I can see is people taking photos of themselves while they view themselves on the screen.
Is all this really worth it? Wouldn't it be better if Apple used the valuable space for something else? Slightly bigger battery (or removable battery), better GPS, more memory, etc.
Many of us take self-portrait pictures either alone or with a friend. For this reason alone, a "forward" facing camera is a great idea. Then there are numerous apps like Skype that could become fully functional using this newly positioned camera. Bring it on, baby!
May 14 2010 at 6:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI've never heard of a phone with a side camera?
How would that be any more useful than the back camera?
Bang Olufsen had a mobile with a side camera, hardest thing to use though as you would try and take a photo and it would be crooked and when you tried to fix rotation you made it worse by accident
May 14 2010 at 8:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMy Nokia phones had forward facing cameras. I barely used them for Video Call, but when I did, the cost was high and did not come off my "free" minutes.
May 14 2010 at 5:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replydo you think apple would approve a chatroulette app? probably not.
May 14 2010 at 3:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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