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iOS 9 code hints 1080p, 240fps, flash coming to iPhone FaceTime cameras

iPhone 6 Camera

Code found in the first iOS 9 developer betas reveals that Apple is planning to support some significant camera features and upgrades with the new software version. Presumably planned for the next iPhone hardware version, developer Hamza Sood has discovered code in iOS 9 that reveals support for long-awaited changes to the front-facing FaceTime camera. According to the code, iOS 9 adds support for a FaceTime camera with 1080p video capture, up from the current 720p camera on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus…Code in iOS 9 also hints at support for capturing 240fps video at 720p using the front facing FaceTime camera, Sood notes. Other additions to iOS 9 discovered in the code include support for a front-facing camera flash — something Apple hasn’t included on any previous iPhone — and the ability to capture panoramic selfie photos using the front camera.

Currently, Apple reserves many of these capabilities for the more powerful backside camera, although it’s likely that Apple would plan feature improvements for the popular front facing camera on future iPhones. Major camera upgrades for the primary camera including a jump from 8MP to 12MP have been expected with this year’s iPhone revision. Apple has also made recent acquisitions including LinX, which creates multi-sensor cameras that enhance low light photography without requiring large lenses.

The popularity of selfie apps and dedicated selfie sticks for taking single and group photos while being able to preview the image from the iPhone display certainly warrants attention given to improving the FaceTime camera. Bringing brand new features like front flash and existing features like panorama and slow-mo capture to the FaceTime camera should amount to a compelling upgrade for many iPhone users if the what the code suggests does ship this fall.

[tweet https://twitter.com/hamzasood/status/608666970616160256]

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Comments

  1. im just here praying it will get the current 8 megapixel rear facing camera on the front side and a dual camera set on the back side

  2. iluvappleblog - 9 years ago

    Seems to me they will just use the current 8 megapixel camera in the front, less development costs and less production costs instead of an all new camera in the front and at the back. I’m not so sold on the front flash though, unless it is dimmer than the current one at the back.

    • iAlborz - 9 years ago

      they’re not going to have another petruding camera on the front… seems very unlikely…
      I think they’ll have a 2 megapixel capable of shooting 1080p video that’s thin enough to fit in the same space as the current one.

      • friarnurgle - 9 years ago

        I have a theory that the camera was never meant to protrude. It was likely due to the vendor’s inability to deliver the desired thickness in time for the phone release. Can’t imagine Jony Ive going “Make the camera stick out.”

        We’ll likely see a flush camera design this year or next.

      • Geetha Nagaraju - 9 years ago

        @friarnurgle.you may be right.because ipad air 2(6.1mm thin) doesnt have protruding camera

      • RP - 9 years ago

        perhaps the camera from the 5s. that module may be inexpensive enough now to use on the front.

  3. Toro Volt (@torovolt) - 9 years ago

    The iPhone needs 3:2 or 16:9 Aspect Ratio Sensors. It is a better AR compromise than the 90’s era 4:3.
    You can get wider angles of view for the same Focal length, as seen on the Galaxy S6 and Note 4 and is abetter match for today’s display AR.
    I also hope that Raw capture is enable, just like it is in Android now.

    • 16:9 sensors are only good for shooting video, and most people take more photos than videos
      when you take photos in 16:9 ratio they just look silly and unless you’re using a phone, they’re just too tall and too narrow to appreciate the picture as a whole

  4. dksmidtx - 9 years ago

    I just want them to add OIS tot eh backside camera on the iPhone 6s so I can downsize from the iPhone 6 Plus. The battery life is an incredible boon, but the lack of iPhone 6+ specific software makes choosing the smaller device very attractive – BUT – I wouldn’t give up my OIS for that.

  5. PhilBoogie - 9 years ago

    Any word on that 480 MacBook camera?

  6. Kevin Noah - 9 years ago

    When I read flash in the headline my first thought was: Hell no Adobe Flash!?!?! XD

  7. kadajsouba - 9 years ago

    Wide angle camera please.

  8. João Nunes - 9 years ago

    There is also another hint about 2GB of ram in Xcode asset catalog!

  9. Kari Parker - 9 years ago

    Seems awesome.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.