The latest version of the Google Camera smartphone app for Google Pixel, version 7.5, started rolling out last night. We decompiled the APK to see if we could find any clues to the upcoming Pixel camera features, and found some notable features. We also uncovered more evidence that there will be no Pixel 5 SG model this year but there will be a Pixel 4a 5G In addition to the standard Pixel 4a which has already been widely leaked.
An APK teardown can often predict features that may come in a future app update, but any of the features mentioned here may not be done in a future release. This is because these features are not currently implemented in the live build and developers can use them at any time in a future build.
Google Pixel 4a 5G = bramble, Google Pixel 5 = redfin
Earlier this month, code within the Google app suggested that the two Pixel devices from late 2020 will be called Pixel 4a 5G (codenamed “bramble”) and Pixel 5 (“red fin”). We’ve seen codenames “bramble” and “redfin” before when an AOSP repository revealed that these devices will be powered by the sm7250 mobile platform, which is Qualcomm Snapdragon 765, Snapdragon 765G, or Snapdragon 768. We “have also seen it appear” redfin “in the Android 11 code for reverse wireless charging, suggesting that this premium feature won’t be available in” bramble. “Again, we’re looking at code that suggests there won’t be a Pixel 5 XL this year. One class within Google Camera 7.5 (the same class related to Google Lens seen in the Google app, remember) makes the same reference to “bush” as Pixel 4a 5G and “redfin” as Pixel 5.
A line within a library suggests that Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, or both devices will have dual cameras. The line refers to a binary called p20_dual_camera_rig_proto.binarypb that we do not have access to. We’re still not too confident about drawing conclusions from this line, but we’ll be watching for more evidence of this year’s Pixel flagship camera capabilities.
Audio zoom
Before the Pixel 4 launched, we first discovered that Google was working on a new feature called Audio Zoom. This feature, as seen on various smartphones from HTC, LG, Samsung, and other device manufacturers, uses the phone’s microphones to adjust the audio focus when zooming in or out. When Pixel 4 was released, the feature was not present. However, it is still in process, as evidenced by new strings added in Google Camera 7.5:
Boost the sound where the user is zooming in on.
Audio zoom With the help of XDA senior member cstark27, we showed off the Audio Zoom toggle in Google’s camera settings. However, it doesn’t work on my Pixel 4. Maybe my device doesn’t have the necessary hardware (another microphone next to the camera?) Or the necessary libraries for this function to work.
Help improve Google camera
Another new lever coming to the Google Camera app is a preference for improving the camera over time. According to the network, the camera app “will learn over time” as you use it. All data stored by the camera application “[stay] on your device, “although Google will use” privacy preservation technology “to”[combine] information from you and many other participants to make Camera smarter for everyone. “We are not sure what kind of data Google will collect and what kinds of improvements can be made based on this data.
Allow Camera to learn over time as you use it. Your data stays on your device while privacy-preserving technology combines information from you and many other participants to make Camera smarter for everyone. Extended social participation
A nifty feature introduced in the Google Camera app with the release of Pixel 4 is “Social Share”. This feature makes sharing photos you’ve just taken quick and easy. After taking a photo, simply swipe up from the thumbnail to share the photo on social media. In the Google Camera settings, you can choose which 3 social media apps appear on the Social Share carousel. Supported social media apps include Discord, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Messenger Lite, Chat, Messages, GroupMe, Hangouts, Helo, Imo Messenger, Instagram Stories, KakaoTalk, Kik, LINE, ShareChat, Signal, Skype, Snapchat, Telegram, Textra, Twitter, Verizon Message +, Viber, WeChat and WhatsApp.
Hidden in the Google Camera 7.5 code is a list of 25 applications with which users can quickly share videos. In essence, Google is expanding Social Share to support the quick sharing of videos on social media and / or messaging applications. Currently supported apps include Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Messages, Instagram, KakaoTalk, Line, Snapchat, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, WhatsApp, GroupMe, Kik, Skype, Discord, Signal, imo, ShareChat, Helo, Verizon Messages, Textra, Twitter, Hangouts, Slack and VSCO.
New camera modes
We’ve been tracking the addition of new camera features to Google Camera, and version 7.5 adds even more obfuscated camera modes behind codenames. These include Lasagna, Naruto, Catfish, and Catshark. Once we are sure we know exactly what they are, we will let you know.
Thanks to Xstar Senior Member cstark27 for their help on these findings and PNF Software for providing us with a license to use JEB decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.
