improve the camera component

[halatmit]

Access use the Camera API to improve the Camera Compnent. Espcially the ability to control fron-tfacing vs back-facing, and image orientation.

See

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/media/camera.html

[halatmit]

also see pull request #335

[marksherman]

This is absolutely the right answer.

[josmas]

is this taken care of by #363 ?

[halatmit]

@josmas
I don't think that #363 covers this, but I'm not sure.

[josmas]

#363 is re-writing the component based on an old design from GSoC12 that uses a surface view to do the live feed, instead of the default camera, so this should be scoped into that work.
@thequixotic are you going to work on this over the summer?

[sjais789]

Camera API 2 supports to check whether your device is used to get no of cameras on the device. getCameraIdList() method and getCameraCharacteristics() to add properties like use front_camera or not.
But camera 2 API supports on Android API 21+ (Android 5 - Lollipop).

[thequixotic]

We support App Inventor from API Level 4. We try to be consistent with features so that they are evident on most devices. I don't know if its nice to include it as it might disappoint most users (who use devices below API 21).

[sjais789]

I agree with it but if can we try two code paths for API (>21+) and API (<21+) to solve our front camera issues. @josmas @thequixotic .

`(Please guide me if i am getting it wrong, i want to fix this issue)

[marksherman]

What would the semantics of the blocks language be to handle that with maximal compatibility? On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 9:58 AM Shubham <notifications@github.com> wrote: I agree with it but if can we try two code paths for API (>21+) and API (<21+) to solve our front camera issues. @josmas <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_josmas&d=DgMFaQ&c=lqHimbpwJeF7VTDNof4ddl8H-RbXeAdbMI2MFE1TXqA&r=LSK4ZJvCmGVZ1u3kVxFdcOB46IO-bbzvhavuoIxMLKQ&m=Zkd_LdnU1_ebnli00whGa5KXYrk6DYgueCvTdr3ZG1s&s=dETF0NofzbA_upu_bGEmhPZzxpHkeDchNiwDmwfZ_bA&e=> @thequixotic <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_thequixotic&d=DgMFaQ&c=lqHimbpwJeF7VTDNof4ddl8H-RbXeAdbMI2MFE1TXqA&r=LSK4ZJvCmGVZ1u3kVxFdcOB46IO-bbzvhavuoIxMLKQ&m=Zkd_LdnU1_ebnli00whGa5KXYrk6DYgueCvTdr3ZG1s&s=LuQmC-snfjMy9xz28HUSmPqfFDnwsEWXq9pGnT7TM8c&e=> . [image: capture] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__cloud.githubusercontent.com_assets_12415740_24251042_d47141d6-2D0ffe-2D11e7-2D904f-2D209d70446c4e.PNG&d=DgMFaQ&c=lqHimbpwJeF7VTDNof4ddl8H-RbXeAdbMI2MFE1TXqA&r=LSK4ZJvCmGVZ1u3kVxFdcOB46IO-bbzvhavuoIxMLKQ&m=Zkd_LdnU1_ebnli00whGa5KXYrk6DYgueCvTdr3ZG1s&s=1zipEkUW_mfHnYbv6YFzslwRSSeHc3qgytH3vOHtJIY&e=> `) — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_mit-2Dcml_appinventor-2Dsources_issues_338-23issuecomment-2D288727314&d=DgMFaQ&c=lqHimbpwJeF7VTDNof4ddl8H-RbXeAdbMI2MFE1TXqA&r=LSK4ZJvCmGVZ1u3kVxFdcOB46IO-bbzvhavuoIxMLKQ&m=Zkd_LdnU1_ebnli00whGa5KXYrk6DYgueCvTdr3ZG1s&s=yzHb7oQpDKvzEHHua_mWTEvYGE_8p0BNj354pO51awA&e=>, or mute the thread <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__github.com_notifications_unsubscribe-2Dauth_AB8NzT71eOhXeknRd91KXhA9MXKgpok-5Fks5ronqagaJpZM4D2Jih&d=DgMFaQ&c=lqHimbpwJeF7VTDNof4ddl8H-RbXeAdbMI2MFE1TXqA&r=LSK4ZJvCmGVZ1u3kVxFdcOB46IO-bbzvhavuoIxMLKQ&m=Zkd_LdnU1_ebnli00whGa5KXYrk6DYgueCvTdr3ZG1s&s=YFFOxk0Vy1iD0pRM4M3CcMC3-ON4qyu8w5F7rqGLFPI&e=> .

…

-- Mark Sherman UMass Lowell Computer Science

[Ang-YC]

In Block Language, the basic functionalities should include:

when [Camera].Error (message) do
when [Camera].AfterPicture (image) do
when [Camera].Switched do

call [Camera].Open
call [Camera].Close
call [Camera].TakePicture
call [Camera].SwitchCamera

set [Camera].Front to (true/false)

get [Camera].IsOpen (true/false)
get [Camera].Front (true/false)
get [Camera].HaveFront (true/false)
get [Camera]

When [Camera].Front is set to true, it will start the camera using Front Camera, user can also check this value to know if current Camera is Front or Back.

And also other methods inherited from AndroidViewComponent

[Camera].Width, [Camera].Height, [Camera].Visible

This will be implemented using custom SurfaceView with no controls, user can use other components to call the method to take picture.

[marksherman]

That sounds good. What do those blocks do when running on a device with a lower API level?

--

Mark Sherman UMass Lowell Computer Science

[Ang-YC]

I have submitted the code few days ago for GSoC 17 (I hope you are one of them that can read the application) which also includes the link to my modified App Inventor server with Embedded Camera feature. I am not planning to post the link here to prevent server abuse anyway. (Can I send you an email of the link so you can try it on?)

It's tested on Android 2.3, 4.1, 6.0 (real device), Android 2.0, 2.1 (emulator), I think it screws up on Android 1.6 (Not sure what's the problem, logcat shows java.lang.VerifyError: Verifier rejected class)
Compiled APK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-XsmXCo7K41anNOdkRvVThYcmc/view?usp=sharing