PC World - USA (2021-01)

(Antfer) #1
JANUARY 2021 PCWorld 25

mobile. When they do, smartphones using the
Snapdragon 888 will be able to record video
using the three different cameras, take their
light and dark image detail, and composite
them together quickly enough to allow for 4K
video with computational HDR applied to each
frame, rather than just a still image.
Last year, Qualcomm began signaling
that it would begin adapting its AI expertise
to its camera functions, and we’re seeing
more evidence of that. This is the first time
that its so-called 3A functions (autofocus,
auto-exposure, and auto-white balance) will
be powered by AI. Qualcomm said it had
trained its autofocusing capabilities using
neural nets and VR. That part of an image
that a human naturally focused upon first will


be used as a model for your smartphone
camera’s focus.
Qualcomm also said that it had worked
with ArcSoft, a developer of both embedded
firmware and imaging apps, to automatically
zoom, too, narrowing in on what the camera
thinks is the most important element of the
photo. Imagine a camera tracking a bride as
she walks down the aisle, with the
smartphone using the three cameras to
automatically keep the bride’s face in the
same proportions as she draws closer.
You’ll see improved still images with the
Spectra 580, too: richer 10-bit photo capture
using the HEIF file format (with 1 billion
shades of color) is now available, versus just
an 8-bit tone-mapped JPEG. Last but not least,

A summary of the Snapdragon 888’s camera features.

Free download pdf