iPhone Video Recording Interface, Digital Compass, Voice Control and Auto-Focus Camera

MacRumors · Apr 7, 2009

Since the release of Apple's iPhone 3.0 beta firmware, users have been scouring the configuration files looking for evidence of future iPhone capabilities. The possibility of video recording has seemed increasingly certain with files for video uploading and editing having been discovered.

A new finding, however, should put to rest any doubts about whether or not Apple is planning to include video recording in future iPhones. This screenshot, which was discovered in the latest iPhone 3.0 beta, shows the interface Apple will provide for video recording:

The interface shows the normal iPhone camera interface but with a switch on the bottom right which toggles between still camera photography and video recording. The video recording is not presently functional in iPhone 3.0 beta, and the interface is not accessible by default. Only when configuration files were modified telling the firmware that a Video Camera was present will this interface appear.

Other interesting capabilities found in the configuration files include "auto-focus camera", "magnetometer" (digital compass), and "Voice Control".

Apple is expected to release the final version of iPhone 3.0 this summer, and many believe that Apple will also introduce an updated iPhone around that time as well.

Article Link: iPhone Video Recording Interface, Digital Compass, Voice Control and Auto-Focus Camera

3282868 · Apr 7, 2009

Can't wait! I haven't had the chance in poking around 3.0 Beta 2, but I'd like to see if this is easily enabled.

Schizoid · Apr 7, 2009

...with a better quality camera hopefully.
what were the rumours? 3.1 and 5 MP (possibly for some future 'product')

dwd3885 · Apr 7, 2009

I wonder if the video record will be enabled in the current iPhone, or you will have to purchase the new one to use it

gibbz · Apr 7, 2009

looks like iPhone 3.0 will be awesome.

zombitronic · Apr 7, 2009

Magnetometer!! I'm sold.

ZunePod · Apr 7, 2009

This is just getting me more and more excited about the new iPhone, infact, I'm going to put this firmware on my iPod now and scroll through the files

angemon89 · Apr 7, 2009

That's awesome. Can't wait to be able to record videos on my iPhone!

But I wonder, will this work on the 2G and 3G iPhones?

scottintosh · Apr 7, 2009

The first gen iPhone is capable of video recording because there are apps for jailbroken phones that allow it. Video quality isn't that great though

Gravity · Apr 7, 2009

I'm buying one!

My 1st gen iPhone is two years old... having purchased it on June 29 of '07. It's not holding battery charges very well these days... it dies after two hours of continuous use. I cannot WAIT for the new iPhone 3.0 and I'm definitely going to upgrade when the new phone arrives.

3282868 · Apr 7, 2009

scottintosh said:
The first gen iPhone is capable of video recording because there are apps for jailbroken phones that allow it. Video quality isn't that great though

I forget whether iPhone 2G 3.0 allows for video recording based on the (little) information we have. Most people know that it can record video on a jailbroken iPhone, yet the quality is lacking. Knowing Apple's insistence on quality, I wonder if they will officially allow it when 3.0 is released.

justflie · Apr 7, 2009

The key phrase in all that is "auto-focus camera." Thank the good Lord. Sharper photos and videos, here we come!

Stately · Apr 7, 2009

dwd3885 said:
I wonder if the video record will be enabled in the current iPhone, or you will have to purchase the new one to use it

I would think we would have it, but the next iphone will obviously be upgraded in certain ways and video for example will probably look better coming from that phone due to things like a lens change.

longofest · Apr 7, 2009

angemon89 said:
That's awesome. Can't wait to be able to record videos on my iPhone!

But I wonder, will this work on the 2G and 3G iPhones?

So far, it seems like its geared towards a future iPhone, and you won't see this functionality on current iPhones.

tiguk · Apr 7, 2009

bedifferent said:
I forget whether iPhone 2G 3.0 allows for video recording based on the (little) information we have. Most people know that it can record video on a jailbroken iPhone, yet the quality is lacking. Knowing Apple's insistence on quality, I wonder if they will officially allow it when 3.0 is released.

No, not a chance.

This is one of the selling points of the new iPhone, they're not going to enable it for previous generations, otherwise they'd have announced it as part of iPhone OS 3.0

jholzner · Apr 7, 2009

Man, I need to stop reading rumor sites 'cause it's just making the wait intolerable! My first gen iPhone will be a year and a half old in June. I originally planned on holding out until the two year mark but there is just no way I will be able to wait!

talkingfuture · Apr 7, 2009

All those features sound great, looking forward to seeing this phone a lot now.

sunfast · Apr 7, 2009

Wow. The iPhone just gets better and better!

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

srl7741 · Apr 7, 2009

Neat

The "magnetometer" (digital compass) sounds interesting.

Lepton · Apr 7, 2009

I believe I heard something about video recording not being enabled on current devices partly because of a memory problem. Perhaps the way the hardware currently is set up, video recording causes each frame to record in a buffer in the SAME section of flash memory every time. This constant rewriting of the same physical chunk of flash would eventually wear it out and damage the hardware. Perhaps newer hardware would buffer to nonflash RAM and therefore not wear it out.

3282868 · Apr 7, 2009

tiguk said:
No, not a chance.

This is one of the selling points of the new iPhone, they're not going to enable it for previous generations, otherwise they'd have announced it as part of iPhone OS 3.0

Marketing marketing, that's the way of the technological world.

I was wondering whether Apple has had these "new" features for a while. As many have mentioned, most smart phones have had MMS, cut/copy/paste, video recording, etc. so I'd be surprised if Apple released the iPhone without planning on releasing these features sometime down the road as it would be a bit of a gamble on not knowing if they would work in a multi-touch platform. Holding these features back and releasing them slowly seems to be a good strategy at keeping iPhone sales strong.

billchase2 · Apr 7, 2009

This is getting exciting! June can't come soon enough.

Stormbringer · Apr 7, 2009

YES!!!!!!!

They only have to add a LED which could be used as a light and it's perfect!

fleshman03 · Apr 7, 2009

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've waited 2-years to get an iPhone.

eastercat · Apr 7, 2009

Since both versions of the current iPhones can record video, I hope that this new video recording software is available to everyone. However, I'm worried that it'll only be available to purchasers of v3.
Well, I was already excited about the inclusion of copy and paste. Everything else is vegan gravy.

iPhone Video Recording Interface, Digital Compass, Voice Control and Auto-Focus Camera

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