In October, we saw the launch of Google's latest renditions in the Pixel lineup, the Google Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL. Lauded as the 'most leaked phone' this year, both phones come packed with a host of software features and hardware sensors on the front, including the Soli radar and two infrared cameras, creating a complete all-around comfortable smartphone to use.
The controversy surrounding the facial recognition system bundled on the phones aside, it seems that there's an interesting use-case for the two infrared cameras on the face of the phones. As reported by 9to5Google, you can now take eerie, monochromatic photos using the IR cameras.
To do so, you will need to download an app called HedgeCam 2: Advanced Camera from the Google Play Store that will let you access the live feed from the cameras.
Once you have downloaded the application, tap the switch cameras icon twice, once to switch to the front camera and the other to switch to a monochrome live feed from the left IR camera. Once you've accessed the monochrome feed, you can take the pictures as per your liking.
The right IR camera does not seem to factor in the live feed's view, but when covered, it leads to a shadow effect on the live feed. The export resolution will be limited to VGA, 640x480, due to restrictions on thermographic cameras.
It goes without saying, the quality of the photos and the detail in them won't be that great. Sadly, you can't trigger the flash of IR dots from within HedgeCam 2 either to capture the tirade of minute dots used by facial recognition. To capture those, you might want to use two Pixel 4's lined up side-by-side, recording from one while simultaneously unlocking the other.
Source: 9to5Google
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