Among all the changes that have been introduced in Android 11 , we have seen curiosities, customization options and some useful additions such as the ability to record the screen natively. All these are changes that sooner or later should come and that users wanted, although however we also find changes that can harm users, such as the limitation that can affect GCam and third-party cameras.
After several beta versions of Android 11, it has finally been clarified that it is not an error in the code and that the limitations to take advantage of camera apps are a reality by having eliminated the “VIDEO_CAPTURE, IMAGE_CAPTURE and IMAGE_CAPTURE_SECURE” functions . Until Android 11 we have been able to use any third-party camera as if it were the one that comes by default on our mobile, something that was very simple and easy.
Can we continue to install third-party cameras like GCam?
The possibility of installing these cameras does not disappear and that is why it is possible to find the GCam even in apps on Google Play. Android is an open source system, although camera intents are now limited. There are many applications developed expressly for specific models that try to improve the results of the photographs and they achieve it, although from now on their use will be very different.
Android 11 seeks to improve user privacy in many ways and one of them is by limiting the use of third-party cameras . It is difficult to know the origin of all the cameras that are developed beyond the official one that comes in our mobile, as well as to know their behavior and data that is collected, with this intention Google seeks to limit it.
How this change affects users
In a way, the changes for most users will not exist, we will be able to continue enjoying third-party cameras to improve camera results, although it cannot be used through applications. Android 11 does not eliminate the GCam, it only affects the mobile’s default camera, which cannot be changed in any customization layer. To use GCam in Android 11 we will have to enter the app and then share the result from the gallery.
By opening the camera directly in applications such as WhatsApp or Instagram we will be using the data package provided by the native camera and not those modified by third-party cameras. This change seeks to be able to offer a more similar result in all Android models through the CameraX project as it already happens in the iPhone. By offering the same style, data and behavior in the cameras on social networks, it is common to associate images of greater clarity and quality with Apple smartphones. Android, however, until now has to live with endless data that applications cannot adapt to.