Posts Tagged ‘android’
Seamless Photo Transfer and Backup with Android
If you want to keep your photos safe when travelling, you don’t need to schlep a notebook or netbook around: an Android device can be used to pull photos from the camera’s storage card and back them up on an external hard disk or upload them to a cloud storage. The easiest solution is to use a USB On-The-Go (OTG) cable to connect an external storage device like a portable hard disk or a high-capacity USB stick and use them for storing backup copies of the photos. However, this approach requires an Android device which supports the USB OTG functionality, and not all smartphones and tables do that. This also means that you have to remember to pack yet another piece of hardware. An alternative solution is to set up a wireless backup system which enables you to seamlessly back up photos on a remote storage device or service using your Android device. Here is how this can be done.
Eye-Fi Android app
The first piece of the puzzle is a Wi-Fi-enabled SD card. Eye-Fi is probably the most popular choice, but there are other Wi-Fi SD cards out there, including Transcend Wi-Fi SD card, Toshiba FlashAir, ez Share, and PQI Air. I use an Eye-Fi Pro X2 16GB SD card and the accompanying Eye-Fi Android app. The card is configured to use the Direct Mode, so it automatically connects to the camera and downloads RAW files to the Android device.
FolderSync
Another important component is an Android app that takes care of backing up the transferred photos to an SD card and a remote server. There are several apps in the Google Play Store that can do the job, but you can’t go wrong by choosing FolderSync. This app can handle a wide range of protocols, including SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and SMB. In addition to that, the app supports popular cloud-based storage services, such as Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box.net. All you need to do is to configure FolderSync to push the photos from your Android device to a server or service of your choice. The described backup solution does have its weaknesses, though. The amount of storage available for backup is limited to the free space on your Android device. You can, of course, use a microSD card for backups (provided the Android device has a microSD card slot), and replace the card when it gets full. Also, uploading photos to a remote server or storage service requires a relatively fast and stable connection which might not be readily available at your travel destination.
Android-Based Portable Wireless Remote Control Setup for Nikon DSLR Cameras
Install the DSLR Dashboard app on your Android device, and you can use it to control a Nikon DSLR camera via a USB connection. But in certain situations, tethering the Android device to a camera using a cable is not ideal. This is where DSLR Dashboard’s wireless functionality can come in rather handy. Using this feature, you can link up two Android devices running the app via a Wi-Fi connection. In this case, the device connected to the camera acts as a wireless bridge (or client in DSLR Dashboard’s terminology) between the camera and the master (or server) Android device. And the latter is used to control the DSLR camera remotely. Here is a diagram that illustrates this setup:
Wireless remote setup diagram
- Nikon DSLR camera
- Android device running DSLR Dashboard that acts as a client
- Wi-Fi access point (AP)
- Android device running DSLR Dashboard that acts as a server
As shown on the diagram, both devices must be connected to the same AP. Instead of using a regular wireless router, you can opt for a mobile router like TP-LINK TL-MR3020 to make the entire setup portable. The clever part is that many mobile routers can be powered via a generic power adapter which can be bought cheaply on eBay. This allows you to create a wireless network whenever and wherever you need it and use it to link Android devices running DSLR Dashboard.
To set up this portable wireless remote control solution, you need the following items:
- Two Android devices running Android 2.3 or later
- A USB OTG cable (can be bought cheaply on eBay)
- A USB cable supplied with your DSLR camera
- A mobile wireless router like TP-LINK TL-MR3020
- A battery power adapter
Power up the mobile wireless router and configure it as an AP (consult your router’s documentation on how to do this). Connect the Android device that will act as a server (i.e., the device for controlling the DSLR camera) to the wireless network created by AP. Tap the Menu button and choose the Start Network Server command. Connect the other Android device to the DSLR Camera using the USB OTG and the USB cables. Enable Wi-Fi on the device and connect it to the wireless network created by AP. Turn the DSLR camera on and launch the DSLR Dashboard app. Once the app has detected the camera, tap Menu and choose the Start Network Client command. This should automatically hand over control to the server device which you can then use to operate the DSLR camera in the usual manner.
Use an Android Device as a Wireless Remote Trigger for a DSLR Camera
A wireless shutter trigger for a DSLR camera can come in handy in many situations. And if you already own an Android device, you don’t have to splurge on a dedicated remote trigger. To turn an Android device into a flexible tool for triggering the shutter wirelessly you need three things:
- The DSLR Remote app installed on your Android device
- TriggerTrap dongle and cable combination for your specific DSLR model
- Generic Bluetooth A2DP receiver (can be purchased on eBay)
Start with installing the DSLR Remote Control app on your Android device. Connect then the Bluetooth receiver to the DSLR camera using the TriggerTrap cable as shown below.
A2DP Bluetooth receiver connected to the camera using a TriggerTrap dongle and cable combo.
Enable Bluetooth on the Android device, and turn the Bluetooth receiver on. On the Android device, switch to Settings → Bluetooth and pair the device with the receiver.
Configuring DSLR Remote
Next, configure the DSLR Remote app. The exact configuration profile depends on the particular receiver. In most cases, you only need to specify the appropriate cable type in the app’s Settings section. To do this, launch the DSLR Remote app, switch to the Settings section, and set the Remote Type option to Cable S. Close the settings screen, switch to the Remote section and press the S button. This should trigger the camera’s shutter. If this doesn’t work, then try enabling the Bluetooth option, or set the Remote Type option to Cable A.
Track Photo Locations on Android Device using GPS Map
The GPS Map app can turn an Android device into a handy tool for keeping track of locations you’ve already photographed or plan to photograph later. The app allows you to add so-called placemarks to the map, and you can use photos stored on your Android device as markers.
Adding a placemark in GPS Map requires several steps, but ultimately it’s a rather straightforward thing to do. Long-tap on the desired location on the map and tap Yes. Tap then Marker → Import Image. To import an existing photo, tap Gallery (or Browse) and select the desired photo.
Adding a photo to a placemark
If the selected photo contains geographical coordinates, you can attach the photo to the current placemark using the Import Image button, or you can import the photo as a new placemark by tapping on Import Image & Placemark.
Once you’ve attached the photo to the placemark, return to the Placemark Edit screen, modify the default description is necessary and tap the Confirm button to add the placemark. You should then see the placemark with a tiny thumbnail of the attached photo on the map. You can create as many placemarks as you need and use the Settings → Placemarks screen to manage existing placemarks.
GPS Map’s interface is somewhat unpolished, and the app can be slow at times, but if you are looking for a tool that can help you to track locations in an efficient manner, then the app is just the ticket.
Photo of the Day: Renzu-san
I bought a set of snap-on smartphone lenses which turned out to be total crap, so I found a new use for them. Meet Renzu-san (or Mr. Lens). Taken with Nikon D90 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D. Processed on Nexus 7 using Photo Mate and Snapseed. Shutter speed: 1/60 sec. Aperture: f/7.1 ISO: 200
Renzu-san
The photo is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Camera FV-5: Android Camera App for Serious Photographers
The Camera FV-5 app is designed for serious photographers, and as such, it lacks fancy trimmings like scene modes, effects, and sharing capabilities. Instead, it puts all essential controls at your fingertips, and offers a handful of genuinely useful features. Camera FV-5′s interface resembles that of a DSLR camera, so photographers will feel right at home using the app. The main screen provides quick access to key settings, such as focusing mode, metering mode, White Balance, ISO settings, and exposure compensation. The dedicated Menu button lets you configure the exposure bracketing feature and intervalometer. The latter tool can come in rather useful for time-lapse photography. The Program button can be used to switch between two modes: Program (automatic exposure) and Speed priority (manual exposure). You can use the pinch gesture to zoom in and out. The app also allows you to use volume hardware keys for zooming.
Camera FV-5
Besides the efficient interface, Camera FV-5 boasts several unique features. For starters, the Camera FV-5 can save captured photos in the lossless PNG format. This is a real boon if you plan to post-process photos using your photo processing software of choice. The app can write metadata into the photos or separate XML sidecar files (or both). Saving captured photos in the PNG format is a resource-intensive task but the app processes the images in the background without affecting Camera FV-5′s overall performance. The app also sports long exposure functionality (which does have certain limitations), which is perfect for low-light and night photography.
In short, Camera FV-5 is a perfect camera app for Android-totting enthusiasts or serious photographers. A free version of the app is available on the Google Play Store, so you can give Camera FV-5 a try and see whether it fits your needs.
Android Snap of the Day: Font Bonanza
Despite the fact that I’ve been living in Aarhus for almost 18 years, I often get lost in my own city. Last time that happened, I discovered this vintage door sign. According to the missus, the sign dates back to the 30′s. What makes it particularly interesting is that a different font is used for each line (except the first two words). In case you wonder what the sign says, here is the translation: Dealing, begging, carrying goods up the main stairs, and parking bikes and prams is prohibited
The photo is published on Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Door_Sign_(Aarhus).jpeg
Photo of the Day: Plates
While I always schlepping around my trusty Nikon D90, I enjoy snapping photos with my Samsung Galaxy S II (or whatever Android device I currently use). Of course, I use digiKam for processing and organizing my snaps.
.jpg "Plates")
I applied the cross-process effect (as described in the digiKam Recipes ebook) to the photo above and sharpened it a bit.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stacked_Colorful_Plates_(Closeup).jpg
Piwigo App for Android
If you happen to use Piwigo to publish and share your photos on the web, you’ll appreciate the brand new Piwigo app for the Android platform.
This app is designed to help you manage your Piwigo gallery from the convenience of your Android device. As such it doesn’t allow you to browse albums and view photos (to do that you might want to give the ReGalAndroid app a try). The app itself is pretty straightforward in use. First off, you have to connect the app to your Piwigo instance, which is done in the Settings section. The Album view lets you select an existing album and change its permissions, create new albums, and upload photos.
Before you can upload photos, you have to select them in the Photos view. Here, you can also edit the title, author, and description for each selected photo. Once you are done, press the Upload button and the app will do the rest. That’s all there is to it. The Piwigo app is not exactly overloaded with features, but it gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.
Geotag Photos with Open GPS Tracker and digiKam
You don’t need a fancy camera with a built-in GPS receiver to geotag your photos. An Android device with the Open GPS Tracker app and digiKam can do the job just fine. The app lets you track your route and save it as a GPX file which you can then use to geocorrelate your photos in digiKam.
Geocorrelation is a relatively simple process which assigns geographical coordinates from the GPX file to the photos based on their time stamps. So for this technique to work its magic, you must sync the time on your Android device with your camera. When you head for a photo walk, launch Open GPS Tracker on your Android device and start a new tracking session. When you are back home, stop the tracking session, and use the Share Track button in Open GPS Tracker to save the recorded track in the GPX format on the SD card or send it via email to your machine.
Offload then the photos from your camera to digiKam, select them, and choose Image » Geolocation » Correlator. Press the Load GPX File button and select the GPX file. digiKam should then automatically assign geographical coordinates to the photos. By default, digiKam can tolerate a 30-second gap between the time settings of the camera and the GPX track. If the gap is longer, the application may fail to assign geographical coordinates to some of the photos. In this case, you can increase the time gap in the Max time gap field. Press then the Correlate button to refresh the geographical coordinates. This makes geocorrelation less precise, but you can use the Edit button to adjust the coordinates manually. Once you’re satisfied with the result, press the Apply button to save the assigned coordinates in the photos’ metadata, and you are done.
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