The Google Play edition of Galaxy S4 and HTC One ship with Android 4.2.2 and include a new camera application that is not currently found on other devices running the same version of the operating system. If you'd like to install the new camera app on your smartphone or tablet, it's been made available for download.
When Google announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play editions, it offered consumers two of the most popular smartphones on the market with Nexus user experience. Google convinced Samsung and HTC to offer their flagship smartphones on the Google Play Store without the Samsung TouchWiz and HTC's Sense skins and without what many perceive as unnecessary bloatware. The Google Play editions also come with a nifty camera app.
The updated camera app was first spotted on a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 a few weeks ago and is believed to be part of the upcoming update to Android. Users won't have to wait for Android 4.3 to ship to get the new camera. The APK file for the camera app has been posted on XDA for download. Your device will not need to be rooted to install the app. Just download it to your device, and use your favorite file manager to open the APK and install it. Then you'll find the updated camera app in your app drawer.
Google has tweaked the camera app to make it much more intuitive to use than the previous version. The previous version's UI made it difficult to operate since your finger would almost always cover the various options. The updated Camera app features a new-stacked menu system that makes it easier to navigate different settings and options, like flash mode, exposure, location, countdown timer, picture size, white balance, Photo Sphere, HDR, and more. Google has also built in support to allow users to use the volume rocker to take snapshots.
Google will most likely include the new camera app in Android 4.3, but if you're the type who can't wait for things to be official, you can download and install the app in your Android device now.
