Although the smartphones released in recent years have better and better cameras, unfortunately they do not offer the same quality as the cameras of compact devices, or if we are to make a distant comparison, of DSLRs. Apple is trying to resolve part of the problem, that of out-of-focus pictures, with the help of a technology that aims to improve the way we take pictures and eliminate out-of-focus. The technology allows the simultaneous recording of several pictures and their storage in a buffer from which the best one is chosen and saved for the user.
These image capturing devices typically use a preview resolution for capturing a preview image of a scene. Subsequently, a user provides an input to take a photograph. The device switches from preview resolution to full resolution prior to capturing an image. Switching from preview to full resolution causes a time lag, which may lead to user frustration. Also, camera shake during the time when a user presses a button or touches a touchscreen can degrade image quality.
Apple's technology is in the patent process in the US, it is probably far from being implemented in iDevices, but at least we know that in Cupertino there is real interest in solving this problem.
