The camera-taking experience on Android is hit and miss. Some OEMs, like Samsung and Sony, really take care of their users, offering myriad modes, toggles and shooting options to frame just the right shot.
Other devices, especially those with the Nexus moniker, have not been treated so kindly. There are options for third-party replacements — Camera FV-5 is one of our favourites — but to date, few developers have delved into the support headache that is the Android ecosystem.
One such company, SmugMug, intended to do so 20 months ago, but fell short of their goal of releasing an iOS and Android version simultaneously due to development issues. The team has since had millions of downloads on the iPhone and today, after scrapping the app twice, is launching on Google’s OS.
While SmugMug is mainly a service that allows users to upload and store photos, the success of Camera Awesome for iOS has shifted the company’s lineup somewhat. The Android app allows users to take photos, adjusting many popular settings like white balance, exposure and more, and instantly upload them to the company’s servers for storage. Though it supports a very limited number of devices at launch — Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 3, Moto X, Nexus 4, 7, 10, Kindle Fire HD, HTC One, One Mini, Galaxy Nexus and Sony Xperia Z — more are coming soon, including the Nexus 5.
Camera Awesome for Android also has a number of relatively unique features, including an intervalometer for timing shots; a slow motion mode for Tegra 4 devices (which is currently in testing and coming soon); multiple composition modes including Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratio; and a level to ensure photos are straight.
There is also a built-in “Awesomizer,” which attempts to fix the most glaring issues with white balance, contrast and saturation, and there are a number of Instagram-like filters for easy sharing. It is well-designed and extremely fast — I noted absolutely no shutter delay on my Galaxy S4 — and well worth checking out.
Camera Awesome for Android is a very reasonable $3.13, and is a must-buy for any Nexus user unhappy with his or her shooting experience.
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