Code found in the first iOS 9 developer betas reveals that Apple is planning to support some significant camera features and upgrades with the new software version. Presumably planned for the next iPhone hardware version, developer Hamza Sood has discovered code in iOS 9 that reveals support for long-awaited changes to the front-facing FaceTime camera. According to the code, iOS 9 adds support for a FaceTime camera with 1080p video capture, up from the current 720p camera on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus… Code in iOS 9 also hints at support for capturing 240fps video at 720p using the front facing FaceTime camera, Sood notes. Other additions to iOS 9 discovered in the code include support for a front-facing camera flash — something Apple hasn’t included on any previous iPhone — and the ability to capture panoramic selfie photos using the front camera.
Currently, Apple reserves many of these capabilities for the more powerful backside camera, although it’s likely that Apple would plan feature improvements for the popular front facing camera on future iPhones. Major camera upgrades for the primary camera including a jump from 8MP to 12MP have been expected with this year’s iPhone revision. Apple has also made recent acquisitions including LinX, which creates multi-sensor cameras that enhance low light photography without requiring large lenses.
The popularity of selfie apps and dedicated selfie sticks for taking single and group photos while being able to preview the image from the iPhone display certainly warrants attention given to improving the FaceTime camera. Bringing brand new features like front flash and existing features like panorama and slow-mo capture to the FaceTime camera should amount to a compelling upgrade for many iPhone users if the what the code suggests does ship this fall.
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