Future iPhone, iPads could have even more sophisticated pic/video abilities

Future iPhones and iPads could sport even more sophisticated picture taking/video recording abilities as hinted by a newly filed Apple patent for “devices, methods, and graphic user interfaces for capturing and recording media in multiple modes.”

In the patent filing, the tech giant says that current methods for controlling camera functions and reviewing recorded media items are “cumbersome and inefficient.”For example, using a sequence of inputs to access a desired image recording function or mode causes unacceptable delay and missed opportunities for capturing and recording desirable images. 

Apple says that the user is required to make a decision and execute required actions within a very short window of time without sufficient information and assistance from the device, “which places undue cognitive burden on the user and increases the chance of user mistakes.” What’s more, performing one function using the camera user interface (e.g., taking a still photo) will prevent concurrent performance of another function of the camera user interface (e.g., taking a video). In addition, these methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. Apple wants to rectify this.

Here’s the summary of the patent filing: “A device displays a camera user interface for recording media images in a plurality of media recording modes. While displaying the camera user interface, the device captures media with one or more cameras. In response to capturing the media, in accordance with a determination that the captured media is consistent with a first media recording mode, the device displays a first prompt in the camera user interface that prompts a user to take one or more actions associated with the first media recording mode; and in accordance with a determination that the captured media is consistent with a second media recording mode, the device displays a second prompt in the camera user interface that prompts the user to take one or more actions associated with the second media recording mode, where the first media recording mode is different from the second media recording mode.”