Camera
The main difference in the camera UI is the transparent menu item where all of the camera buttons sit. You can see the difference when looking at the Jelly Bean screenshot (top) against the KitKat screenshot below it.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera – Manual mode
In Manual mode, the main addition in KitKat is the ability to take pictures at 15.5MP in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera – Superior auto mode
In Superior auto mode, there is finally an option to take pictures in 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
In the video settings for Superior auto mode, there is also an option to turn the Preview on or off.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera – Sweep Panorama mode
In Sweep Panorama mode, the settings menu has been split into camera and settings. The former only houses the Preview toggle, whilst the latter includes the same settings found in the Jelly Bean version.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera apps and widget
Viewing new camera apps in Sony Select in the KitKat firmware allows you to see more of the apps at once. Also the opaque background in Jelly Bean makes way for a background that shows you what your camera is seeing.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
The KitKat transparent element is also used throughout the camera widget. In Jelly Bean, the settings part of the widget is shaded.
Left – Android 4.3 Jelly Bean; Right – Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera app – AR effect
KitKat introduces the ability to use the AR effect whilst recording video, previously you could only use the augmented reality to take pictures.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera app – Creative effect
What was known as the “Picture effect” camera app in Jelly Bean is now called “Creative effect”.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
When launching the app in KitKat you now see all of the different effects in a ribbon on the right side of the display. This has enabled to add more effects than the nine offered in Jelly Bean.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Another big change in the KitKat app is the ability to record video with your filter applied. You will also notice that some of the UI elements have moved around, for example the button to take you back to the different picture effects now sits above the camera button.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Much like the Sweep Panorama mode, the settings menu for the Creative effect camera app is now split into camera/video/settings.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Camera app – Info-eye
The Info-eye camera app has moved from build version 1.3.04 to 1.3.07. We didn’t notice any changes in the main app, but the settings menu has removed the option to save search photos.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
