“In a patent filing discovered on Thursday, Apple describes a digital camera implementation that continuously captures and stores images in a buffer until the user releases the shutter, at which time the system automatically selects the best picture based on a number of predetermined variables,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October of 2012, Apple’s ‘Image capturing device having continuous image capture’ offers owners of small, portable devices more leeway when trying to get the perfect shot,” Campbell reports. “Apple’s system starts up when a user launches a photo app like Camera, continuously capturing and storing sequential full-resolution images to a buffer. When a request is given (shutter press or screen touch), the system pulls from the pool and chooses one image based on when it was captured, its quality, or a combination of the two. ”
More info, and Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.