9to5Mac has discovered that iOS 7 beta 2, which was released yesterday, offers a new function for developers that allows them to locate facial expressions in photos.
As of iOS 5, the APIs have provided basic face recognition, but in iOS 7, characteristics such as blinking and smiles can be individually distinguished. The changes stand out because the framework has been neglected up to now.
It’s no surprise that iOS 7 will offer new camera enhancements for use by developers. Each version of iOS has included new features for its built-in camera, iOS 5 offered shutter operation via the volume controls, and iOS 6 saw panorama abilities added to the OS.
9to5Mac opines that Apple could add smart logic to delay the taking of a photo until everyone is smiling, or have finished blinking. Some Android phones already offer a “best shot” mode which will take several photos in a row, and then select the best one.
In previous years, Apple has kept some iPhone camera features secret until a new generation iPhone has launched, so we’ll be sure to pay attention to any new features Apple may sneak in when the new iPhone models are announced later this year.
