Dual Camera Smartphones Expected to Inspire New 'Killer Apps'

[MacRumors]

Spurred by industry leaders like Apple and Huawei, adoption of dual-camera or dual-lens smartphones is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. "We think the dual-cam rally is more about when than if," Morgan Stanley analyst Jasmine Lu wrote in a recent research report.

Lu believes dual cameras will catch on due to their impressive image quality and for future capabilities like 3D object mapping and depth analysis, all of which have the potential to lead to "killer apps" from smartphone manufacturers and third-party developers.

Dual cameras in the Huawei P9, image via VentureBeat​

"We believe dual-cam not only helps narrow the image quality gap with SLR cameras but also allows developers to design new killer apps by leveraging in-depth analysis/mapping for 3D objects," Lu wrote. "We expect dual-cam to trigger a multiyear upgrade cycle for the optical industry."

Rumors suggest Apple is working on a version of the iPhone 7 Plus that includes dual-lens camera technology acquired in its LinX purchase last year. LinX worked on smartphone cameras with the potential to cut down on noise, boost light sensitivity, enable refocusing, and improve the level of detail in captured images, narrowing the quality gap between DSLRs and mobile device cameras.

LinX camera modules were also capable of creating detailed depth maps to create 3D models. Such capabilities in the iPhone could lead to apps that are able to do impressive things, from mapping the layout of a room for envisioning new furniture layouts to 3D scanning a real-world object for printing or manipulation purposes. New augmented and mixed reality games that merge real-world objects with virtual objects are also a possibility with that kind of technology. Apps, says Lu, are a key factor that could heavily impact the appeal of dual camera devices.

Early dual camera smartphones may not focus on advanced features like 3D depth mapping, but as dual camera adoption expands and technology improves, it is a logical direction for dual camera evolution.

Apple, with the iPhone 7 Plus, and Huawei, with the upcoming P9, are expected to be the main drivers of dual camera adoption in 2016. The iPhone 7 Plus won't be available until September, but the P9, images of which were shared this morning by VentureBeat, is expected in the first half of 2016. Rumors suggest the camera will enable features like post-capture refocus and simulated aperture adjustment.

Article Link: Dual Camera Smartphones Expected to Inspire New 'Killer Apps'

 

[Jonny1989]

Literally?

 

[mattopotamus]

I am all about improvement, but like 3D touch, will it be a year or two before it is taken advantage of? To me, a killer feature is something I can use today and benefit from. 3D touch has been anything but that. On the other hand, touch ID and live photos are my killer.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Don't care for killer apps. Give me killer photo quality.

 

[samcraig]

I imagine the killer apps will come from developers and not Apple. And then Apple will either absorb the company and/or just take their ideas and put it into iOS....

 

[cube]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_3D-enabled_mobile_phones

 

[JohnApples]

After seeing the image quality, lowlight performance, and optical zoom capabilities of a dual lens system, I'll be very disappointed if the iPhone 7 doesn't have it. This needs to be a key feature for the 7, and not just a "7 Plus Pro" (if people are actually believing that). Otherwise, what else will the 7 bring new to the table?

 

[e93to]

Didn't an HTC phone (or Sony?) have dual cameras at one point? I thought it was a nice gimmick, and the 3D effects were nice (one of my friends had the phone). I'm surprised industry didn't immediately follow suit. But then again, the uses for dual camera seemed very limited and, well, gimmick. I guess it's up to the developers to came up with apps that actually give meaningful purpose to dual camera

 

[2457282]

The LinX acquisition was very exciting, but we have seen nothing from it so far. This would be a very good thing if implemented correctly (as in not like that photos which is horrid).

 

[bondsbw]

I'd think having cameras on opposite ends of the phone would provide more realistic 3D photo/video capabilities than two cameras that are next to each other, as in the phone shown here.

If they decide to have adjacent cameras, it seems odd that they would house them separately. A rounded rectangle could hold two or more and allow other sensors to exist between the lenses without compromising the design.

 

[stu.h]

This will be on the 7S IMO.

 

[nutmac]

After seeing the image quality, lowlight performance, and optical zoom capabilities of a dual lens system, I'll be very disappointed if the iPhone 7 doesn't have it. This needs to be a key feature for the 7, and not just a "7 Plus Pro" (if people are actually believing that). Otherwise, what else will the 7 bring new to the table?

Agreed. And I really hope Apple widens the focal length from current 29mm to 17mm (although I will settle for 20-24mm).

 

[LordQ]

Killer Apps for iPhone Pro only, according to rumours.

 

[tigertazz]

Literally?

Binocular vision and a hive brain through iCloud and skynet will be born.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_3D-enabled_mobile_phones

The first mobile phone with a 3D camera was available in 2007! It is almost 2017!

Of course Samsung stole the idea from Apple in 2007! /s​

 

[keysofanxiety]

Well if you told analysts back in 2007 that in less than a decade we'd have phones with desktop-class CPUs and console-level GPUs, I imagine they'd be saying a pretty similar thing. Sadly we've got an App Store predominantly full of addictive freemium pay-to-play rubbish games.

Hardware innovation only goes so far towards inspiring great things.

 

[CFreymarc]

This is one of those hardware releases I am tempted to take a month off and just whip something up for the novelty app market.
[doublepost=1456863099][/doublepost]

Well if you told analysts back in 2007 that in less than a decade we'd have phones with desktop-class CPUs and console-level GPUs, I imagine they'd be saying a pretty similar thing. Sadly we've got an App Store predominantly full of addictive freemium pay-to-play rubbish games.

Hardware innovation only goes so far towards inspiring great things.

Freemium games are very big money. Get off the high horse, skip DefCon for a year and make an app that gives you your life ticket. Seen way too many talents eaten alive and spit out by open source communities and never properly rewarded.

 

[bchreng]

Haven't seen this asked yet and am too lazy to Google it right now. Does the orientation of the cameras have an effect on landscape vs portrait orientations of the phone?

 

[ignatius345]

Don't care for killer apps. Give me killer photo quality.

If image quality is paramount, consider getting a dedicated camera. Smartphone cameras are incredible now and have very impressive in-phone processing and such -- but they're working against the physics of forcing light through a tiny lens onto a tiny sensor. Bigger lens/sensor = more light = more speed/more options.

I'm sure phone camera quality will keep moving forward, and dual lenses/sensors will certainly help with that, but it's not like DSLR (or mirrorless) cameras are just sitting still either. They're leveraging the same advances in image processing that phones are and getting better all the time as well.

 

[BarcelonaPaul]

Killer apps - wrong choice of wording for the iPhone,

 

[ThaRuler]

Didn't the Amazon phone try this already?

 

[RiddlaBronc]

Glad i saved my upgrade for the 7. Hopefully the plus and "pro models have it. If not ready to cough up another 1k.

 

[Larry-K]

Well if you told analysts back in 2007 that in less than a decade we'd have phones with desktop-class CPUs and console-level GPUs, I imagine they'd be saying a pretty similar thing. Sadly we've got an App Store predominantly full of addictive freemium pay-to-play rubbish games.

Hardware innovation only goes so far towards inspiring great things.

I'd settle for an intelligible phone call, but I know it's too much to ask.

 

[LarryJW]

I'd think having cameras on opposite ends of the phone would provide more realistic 3D photo/video capabilities than two cameras that are next to each other, as in the phone shown here.

If they decide to have adjacent cameras, it seems odd that they would house them separately. A rounded rectangle could hold two or more and allow other sensors to exist between the lenses without compromising the design.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe 3D can be done with lenses close together.

I have a Realist Camera, built in 1952, that takes 3D pictures -- lenses an eye-width apart -- placing two images on 35mm film, mounted in special "slides" and scene through a viewer, the pictures are wonderful.

Alas, complications on both ends -- taking the initial picture, then rendering for the 3D effect -- the latter will be the persistent problem -- is this where Google glass-like devices will shine?

 

[RickInHouston]

Days of the killer app are dead. Killer app has jumped the shark.