Google Camera Version 4.4 For Pixel, Nexus, Android One: 5 Features To Know

Google has launched the Google Camera app version 4.4 for Pixel, Nexus and Android One devices in its Google Play store.

The update brings along features that were revealed in Android O Developer Preview 3 and Android O Beta.

The new update brings many new features with it, some of them incremental, but it will build up to Android O, which is expected to bring large camera improvements. If you happen to own a Pixel, Nexus or Android One device, you might need to check the Play Store for the update.

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Here are some of the features of the update:

Easier swiping between camera and video: In the previous version of the Google Camera app, users needed to swipe on the viewfinder to switch between video and camera and an indicator above the capture button would show the current mode. User can now do this using a button on the camera app screen and can even change the mode by swiping like they previously did.

Double tap to zoom in/zoom out: Zooming in and out of photos will be easier with the new app. Double tapping on any photo will make the photo zoom in by 50 percent and double tapping it again will return it to normal dimensions. This seems more convenient than the pinch and zoom function present on many Android phones.

Easier access to front and rear camera: The icon for switching between rear and front camera is also simpler.

Selfie flash: Many a times, images taken from the front camera in low-lit conditions come out hazy. To sort this problem, the new app version comes with a feature called “selfie flash.” How it works is simple – just before taking an image from the front camera in lowly-lit surroundings, the screen light will go white, to throw light at the subject. While a display might not be able to produce as much light as a camera flash, this feature will help many selfie lovers, until a front-facing flash becomes the norm on smartphones.

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Bigger shutter button: A bigger shutter button is expected to make it easy to take images faster.

In case you don’t find the official update, you can download it via an APK, which has been approved by Google and comes with a cryptographic signature, which guarantees that the file is safe to install and has not been tampered in any way.

If you have a non-Pixel or non-Nexus device, don’t try to install the update as it might malfunction and not give the results you hoped for. It would be better to stick to the manufacturer’s or stock camera.