Android will soon allow thrid-party apps to take Ultra HDR images

In October, the Google Pixel 8 series introduced Ultra HDR picture format support, providing brighter and more vibrant images on HDR screens. Samsung upped the game with the Galaxy S24 series, announcing that Snapchat and Instagram will also be on board, supporting Ultra HDR on these new phones.

Now, Mishaal Rahman, a guru in the Android realm, has dug up proof suggesting that Google is gearing up to incorporate Ultra HDR image capture support in the CameraX API. This implies that third-party apps compatible with CameraX will soon have the ability to capture striking Ultra HDR shots that pop on HDR screens.

Beyond social media and messaging apps, this could be a fantastic enhancement for third-party camera apps. You won’t be limited to your device manufacturer’s camera app if you’re aiming for more vivid images. In any case, it’s exciting to witness an improvement in image capture for third-party apps.

It’s not clear whether this feature will work on all phones with the necessary HDR screens or just some of them. Nonetheless, we’re hopeful that this marks the beginning of widespread availability.

In the most recent twist, Google, after laying off more than 1,000 employees at the beginning of 2024, is preparing for another round of job cuts, especially in its advertising sales team. Business Insider was the first to catch wind of it.

When The Verge reached out to Google, a spokesperson spilled more details, confirming that they’re cutting “a few hundred roles globally” as part of a restructuring effort. Interestingly, the spokesperson also mentioned that those impacted can apply for other positions within Google.

The first scoop on Google’s potential layoffs surfaced through Business Insider, somehow getting hold of an internal memo from Google bigwig Philipp Schindler, the senior vice president. The memo hinted that the axe might fall on the Large Customer Sales (LCS) unit, responsible for handling ads for major businesses.

Shifting gears, the Google Customer Solutions team (GCS), handling ads for smaller players, is poised to become the primary ad sales crew. Rumors about job cuts in the LCS team started circulating back in October last year. It’s important to note that the California tech giant has been handing out pink slips in other teams too, including Pixel, Nest products, and engineering.