 "Sony opens up camera API to let developers bake in remote access")
Sony seems to be on a roll as far as its imaging front goes at the IFA 2013 at Berlin. After launching a range of camera lenses that will serve as accompanists to smartphones, Sony has announced that it is releasing an API that will let third-party apps remotely operate its cameras.
The API is dubbed Camera Remote API and will serve as a remote control of sorts for Sony cameras. The API will give developers a chance to build applications that can control cameras from smartphones and tablets.
Opening up a world of possibilities between a smartphone and a camera
Not surprisingly, the newly launched camera lenses, DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 are a couple of cameras that will be covered under this API. Besides the new lenses, Sony’s NEX series of cameras – 5R, 5T and 6 – will also be controllable. Music video recorder HDR-MV1 and Action Cam HDR-AS30 and HDR-AS15 have also been listed. Sony says that more models will be added to the list of API-controlled cameras in the future.
Using this API, users will be able to control the camera, make it shoot pictures and videos and even perform actions like zoom in and out of a shot using smartphones and tablets as a remote. Interestingly the API is not a mould for just one platform; developers will be able to use it to build apps on any platform like iOS, Android and even Windows Phone amongst others.
Sony’s own PlayMemories application currently lets you handle your camera remotely to a certain degree but with the release of this API, Sony has opened up a world of possibilities for third-party developers. We could even be looking at apps that will let you shoot images to be uploaded straight to photo-sharing apps like Instagram. This, besides apps like Time Lapse Control and Auto Uploader makes the prospect of this API in the right hands mouth-watering.
Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.