Since Google announced the updated version of Jelly Bean last week, taking it to Android 4.2, folks have been working to get access to the new camera app to use on other Android versions. Much of the desire is driven by the new Photo Sphere function. Photo Sphere is the function that extends the panorama photo feature of the camera to extend to a full 360 degrees on one plane and users can stitch in photos above and below that plane. The effect is to create a virtual sphere letting users pan around a photo sphere looking in all directions, very similar to what you can do with Street View. In fact, users can upload their photo sphere shots to Google Maps to enhance the database for other users.
As Android 4.2, or the standalone version of the camera app, starts to spread throughout the Android user base, we should start to see some interesting results. One user who got his hands on the new 4.2 camera app is Thomas Devaux, who headed over to Google's complex to get some images of Building 44, the Android team's headquarters. Devaux captured a nice view of the front lawn showing the Android “flavors.” He also discovered the new camera app is able to produce a “Tiny Planet” effect. Normally producing such an effect required the use of third party apps or photo editing software.
Do you have plans for any cool photo spheres once you get the new camera? Have you already taken some? Let us know.
source: Google+ Thomas Devaux photosphere, Google+ Thomas Devaux tiny planet
