Apple has recently patented an unusual method for dealing with the much-maligned "notch" that contains its front-facing camera. Rather than use a system that places the camera under the display, Apple instead has designed a moving "window" that can open to reveal a camera behind it.
As part of the fourth Android 12 beta release which rolled out to Pixel phones last week, an updated version of Google's Android Accessibility Suite shows a way to interact with the device without using the touchscreen. Instead, it can leverage the front-facing camera to read expressions on a face.
As part of its Unpacked event yesterday, Samsung announced two new folding smartphones. While there was a lot to "unpack" about each, one feature in the company's new flagship Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn't appear to have flagship performance: its under-display camera.
Several companies have been grappling with the physical issues that come with hiding a selfie camera behind a display, but Oppo seems to have cracked the code. Its next-generation under-display camera appears to have no distinguishable downsides when compared to one in a notch or hole-punch.
To avoid the dreaded "camera notch" interrupting smartphone screens, some manufacturers have begun introducing pop-up or flip-up selfie cameras. But, thankfully, the future looks like it will be more elegant with the introduction of cameras hidden under the displays themselves.
Apple's new iPhone XS and XS Max are at the center of a new controversy some have dubbed 'Beautygate.' The front-facing camera is said to be automatically smoothing skin in selfies, and there's no way to turn this "beauty filter" off.
Front facing cameras on smartphones have traditionally been dwarfed by the camera on the back. After all, you're supposed to take "serious" photos with the rear camera, and the front one is mainly used for things like video conferencing, right?
Well, the emergence of "selfie culture" is changing the game. As more and more people snap and share self-portraits using their front cameras, phones are evolving to meet this need. HTC's new Desire Eye is one such phone: it features the world's most powerful front-facing camera.
Instagram's Hyperlapse app has taken the App Store by storm and already inspired many thousands of people to try out the genre thanks to its super simple interface and incredibly smooth results. But Instagram's not done shaking things up yet, because the next evolution in Hyperlapse videos just arrived thanks to a minor update to the app: they call it, the #selfielapse.
Today's minor update from Instagram -- you can tell it's minor because it's version 4.0.2 -- was actually a bit more feature-packed than the number suggests. Coming on the heels of the major Instagram Video update in 4.0, the newest iOS update adds much sought-after landscape support as well as video stabilization when using the front-facing camera.
The all-mighty selfie has gained a lot of ground over the years -- even the Mars Rover Curiosity is doing it -- but high-quality has never been its trademark. This is due, in part, to the horrible quality of most front facing smartphone cameras. Having to sandwich a sensor between a whole mess of other stuff leaves little to beef up quality.
OmniVision aims to solve that space issue, and it's doing so by packing a whole lot of power into an itsy bitsy sensor: the newly announced OV2724.