Apple's 'iPhone 6s' could improve selfies with 1080p front-facing camera and flash

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited June 2015
Selfie fiends may have a good reason to upgrade to Apple's next-generation iPhone, as configuration files discovered in the first beta release of iOS 9 hint at new capabilities for the front-facing camera, including 1080p recording and a built-in flash.




In an iOS 9 manifest file --?discovered by developer Hamza Sood --?that lists ways for apps to determine the hardware capabilities of the device they're running on, a number of entries reference front-facing camera features that don't currently exist. In addition to 1080p recording and a front flash, the manifest also refers to "Front60FPSVideo," "FrontSlomo" and "FrontPanorama."

The front-facing camera on Apple's iPhone 6 series is capable of capturing video at 720p and 30 frames per second, and lacks the ability to capture panoramic photos or slow-motion video.

This marks the first suggestion that Apple could be planning an upgrade to the front-facing camera -- which the company markets as "FaceTime HD" -- in its next-generation iPhone. Until now, speculation has focused primarily on possibilities for the rear iSight camera.

Some expect Apple to move to a dual-camera setup on the rear, possibly with a new 12-megapixel sensor. Other reports have pointed to the addition of sensors with Sony's RGBW technology, which adds an extra white subpixel to improve low-light sensitivity.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 40
    msanttimsantti Posts: 1,377member
    Sounds good.

    Something will have to give though so Apple can keep its margins in tact.

    Probably start with a 8 GB model phone instead of 16.

    Then go with 32 and 64.
  • Reply 2 of 40
    peteraltpeteralt Posts: 155member
    I wonder what the Apple process is in developing next generation products. Do they have all the details figured out at the get-go, or do they have a long wish-list of features and changes they want to make and try to fit as many in as possible before a given deadline and a set of priorities with its given development budget? Do they have multiple variations being developed and the one they use is the one that looks most likely given the time and budget restrictions?
  • Reply 3 of 40
    jd_in_sbjd_in_sb Posts: 1,600member
    peteralt wrote: »
    I wonder what the Apple process is in developing next generation products. Do they have all the details figured out at the get-go, or do they have a long wish-list of features and changes they want to make and try to fit as many in as possible before a given deadline and a set of priorities with its given development budget? Do they have multiple variations being developed and the one they use is the one that looks most likely given the time and budget restrictions?

    Apple makes a whole bunch of prototypes each with slightly different features than the next, then they evaluate them all. That's what they did with iPhone 6. They made a variety of thicknesses and battery weights and chose the one that felt right with all trade-offs considered.
  • Reply 4 of 40
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    A feature that should have been since the 5 series.
  • Reply 5 of 40
    appleinsidaappleinsida Posts: 2member
    peteralt wrote: »
    I wonder what the Apple process is in developing next generation products. Do they have all the details figured out at the get-go, or do they have a long wish-list of features and changes they want to make and try to fit as many in as possible before a given deadline and a set of priorities with its given development budget? Do they have multiple variations being developed and the one they use is the one that looks most likely given the time and budget restrictions?
    Obviously they do have a budget and a timeline like all projects do. But I believe they have a lead time of about 2 years, if you can remember the rumors of 4,7" & 5,5" iPhones started long time before the 5s was released, people even thought it was going to be skipped. They also have to evaluate each component costs, otherwise the phone might be over engineered and costly. Lot of prototypes are tested, and with the costs and margins in mind the best option is selected. Once this is done, the final model is selected and rigorously tested.
  • Reply 6 of 40
    pfisherpfisher Posts: 758member
    Will need a button on the back for taking better selfies
  • Reply 7 of 40
    suddenly newtonsuddenly newton Posts: 13,819member
    mdriftmeyer wrote: »
    A feature that should have been since the 5 series.

    It might be nice for selfies, self broadcast videos, podcasts, etc.
  • Reply 8 of 40
    suddenly newtonsuddenly newton Posts: 13,819member
    pfisher wrote: »
    Will need a button on the back for taking better selfies

    The volume buttons function as a shutter release button in the camera app, FYI.
  • Reply 9 of 40
    schlackschlack Posts: 720member
    should be able to take a selfie by winking at the camera with a 1/4 second delay so you're not still winking while the photos is taken. and it will use facial recognition so that you, the owner of the phone, is the one winking, and not so dude photo bombing your selfie with a wink.
  • Reply 10 of 40
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,063member
    Apple Watch has a nice camera controller too.

    And this is a smart move by Apple. People love selfies. It's an in thing right now.
  • Reply 11 of 40
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,913member

    More power to Apple for greatly enhancing larger screen iphones but Apple must offer smaller screen iphone(bit cheaper) with missing technologies from their larger screen siblings like ApplePay, VOLTE(voice over LTE), Voice over Wifi, Camera. 

  • Reply 12 of 40
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,054member

    The problem with selfie camera is not only about resolution, but lighting,  aperture and image sensors. Currently, FT camera has not been much improved since 5S. It's time to bring some goodies in front. 

  • Reply 13 of 40
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,054member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by schlack View Post



    should be able to take a selfie by winking at the camera with a 1/4 second delay so you're not still winking while the photos is taken. and it will use facial recognition so that you, the owner of the phone, is the one winking, and not so dude photo bombing your selfie with a wink.

    what if you have multiple people, how the hell the camera would know which wink from a particular person to process the command?

  • Reply 14 of 40
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,054member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by eightzero View Post



    Apple Watch has a nice camera controller too.



    And this is a smart move by Apple. People love selfies. It's an in thing right now.

    Apple should make AppleStick for selfie. I bet people will buy it.

  • Reply 15 of 40
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,054member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by wood1208 View Post

     

    More power to Apple for greatly enhancing larger screen iphones but Apple must offer smaller screen iphone(bit cheaper) with missing technologies from their larger screen siblings like ApplePay, VOLTE(voice over LTE), Voice over Wifi, Camera. 


    Small siblings will be discontinued soon. Why bother? Unless Apple will make brand new 4" device for the line up 4", 4.7" and 5.5", I don't see any new features will go to old 4".

  • Reply 16 of 40
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    fallenjt wrote: »
    Small siblings will be discontinued soon. Why bother? Unless Apple will make brand new 4" device for the line up 4", 4.7" and 5.5", I don't see any new features will go to old 4".

    We'll at least see a cool 6c with 5s insides. Well hopefully.

    Ever seen the 5th generation iPod touch? Would love to see something like that in the future.
    schlack wrote: »
    should be able to take a selfie by winking at the camera with a 1/4 second delay so you're not still winking while the photos is taken. and it will use facial recognition so that you, the owner of the phone, is the one winking, and not so dude photo bombing your selfie with a wink.

    What if I wanna take one of those sexy stupid wink faces teen h*** do?

    Never mind. Figured a solution. Hold the wink for 1 second and the iPhone snaps a pic of your winky face.
  • Reply 17 of 40
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

    What's a "selfie"? Is that anything like a "self-portrait"?

  • Reply 18 of 40
    analogjackanalogjack Posts: 1,073member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post

     

    What's a "selfie"? Is that anything like a "self-portrait"?


     

    It's a self-portrait of an idiot.

  • Reply 19 of 40
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by eightzero View Post



    Apple Watch has a nice camera controller too.



    And this is a smart move by Apple. People love selfies. It's an in thing right now.



    So is there any doubt there will be a camera in the next gen ?Watch? What could be more convenient than taking a selfie without getting your phone out of your pocket or bag?

  • Reply 20 of 40
    boltsfan17boltsfan17 Posts: 2,294member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by fallenjt View Post

     

    Apple should make AppleStick for selfie. I bet people will buy it.


    Please no. I can't stand those things. 

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