3.3 Status: Approved!
The Daemgen.net team has been hard at work on the latest ProCamera enhancements, and we are pleased that Apple’s iTunes Store Team has approved Update 3.3 and it is now available for download on iTunes!
Update 3.3 brings many upgrades and two new feature/functions:
- Volume Trigger (photos via volume control button or via headset controls)
- Steady Light (photoflash and permanent flashlight)
Volume Trigger allows you to snap photos simply by pressing the volume control button on the iPhone while in ProCamera app mode. This makes the iPhone feel/function like most single purpose “point and shoot” cameras. Volume Trigger also offers users the option of taking photos via the earbud (“headset”) volume controls. This is a particularly cool function as it allows iPhone users to take pictures “at arms length” (length of your earbud cord) without touching the iPhone screen. Previous “volume trigger” type functionality deployed in advanced camera apps, had been rejected by Apple. However, ProCamera submitted a variation to Apple that does not compromise the integrity of the iPhone volume controls (iPhone users can adjust the volume “on screen” while in the ProCamera app) and iPhotography and ProCamera can now enjoy this new method of taking photos.
Volume Trigger technical discussion from Jens Dämgen, ProCamera Founder & CEO (Update 11/4/11: Apple has “approved” Update 3.3):
* Two APIs: “This is something a little tricky right now. Apple had previously not opened this API to advanced camera apps (NOTE: Now that Update 3.3 has been approved, ProCamera is the 1st/only advanced camera app to offer “volume trigger” type functionality). Only very simple apps that use a simple API (“UIImagePickerController”) support the volume trigger out of the box. Advanced apps that use the complex API (“AVFoundation”) don’t get access to the hardware buttons the way it is supposed to be. The component that most simple apps use just offers a ‘take a photo’ option, and it cannot do separate focus and exposure, or whitebalance lock whatsoever.”
“We have implemented a workaround-solution, which is ‘in compliance’ with Apple’s requirements. The volume is still controllable and the display will show the current volume level, but you can also take a photo by using the volume buttons.”
“There are ‘legal’ hacks to get rid of the volume display, but these are ‘not pretty’ and I won’t implement ugly hacks into ProCamera. So the volume control display is a little annoying, but it’s a ‘clean’ solution when it comes to coding.”
The Steady Light feature is new in Update 3.3 and allows you to shoot photos in dim light or even in complete darkness. With Steady Light you are able to literally brighten up the subject of your photo before using the digital flash. This new feature allows you to fully control the light levels of your picture, even when your surroundings are pitch-black. Steady Light makes use of the iPhone’s digital flashlight mode, and turns the light to on/off/auto and, if you desire, can maintain “Steady Light” at all times, no matter flashlight mode selected.
Use Steady Light when you need a light in the dark to get your car lock open, when you’re looking for your door-keys, or when you find yourself on a dark path at night and need to know what’s ahead. Steady Light will be used for both practical tasks and creative iPhotography projects. We hope that this new user-friendly tool will become a favorite of ProCamera fans.
Update 3.3 also includes many upgrades:
- Up to 1 hour video recording with iPhone 4 and 4S, iPad2, iPod (2 hours for iPhone 3GS)
- Full support for iPhone 4S
- Full HD video recording for iPhone 4S
Everybody who has already purchased ProCamera on the AppStore, of course, gets the 3.3 Update at no cost … Free! Enjoy, and let us know what you think!
If you are a blogger or journalist, and would like to write about Update 3.3, please send an e-mail to: db@daemgen.net and we will provide you the promo code.
ProCamera is my favourite photo app, and it’s great to see yet another update, but is there no way of taking a photo using the volume buttons without changing the volume at the same time? I found your discussion of the subject a little unclear.