android High-res Photo Spheres and panoramas might come Android phones

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Google has been steadily improving the camera for the Nexus 5 and soon it might turn its attention to give all Android users some much-needed improvements.

An insider aware of Google's plans confirmed with Engadget that the search company is testing a new version of the built-in camera app.

The source said the new camera will come with a refreshed user interface and a 100-percent viewfinder. This means users snapping away smartphone photos and videos will be able to see a completely uncropped version of exactly what they're capturing through the sensor on the screen before they hit the shutter button.

The camera app Android deserves

The same source also highlighted several improvements including one that will add a background-blurring effect for portrait pictures. In this effect, Android phones will create photos that simulate the shallow depth of field and bokeh effect of large aperture lenses.

Higher-resolution panorama and Photo Sphere modes are also purported to be included with this next camera update.

What's more the search company will supposedly open up the camera app with support for third-party filters. If it really happens, this would allow developers and die-hard smartphone shooters to create and import custom effects to the official camera app.

Camera Improvements for all

While the spread of different Android versions is still pretty mixed with some devices still running older versions of Android KitKat, the Google insider indicate that the new camera app will come separately.

Supposedly any non-Nexus owners using an phone running Android 4.4 or higher will be able to take advantage of the improvements.

The alleged software patch for the camera will come sepearte from the rumored Android 4.4.3 update we reported on last week. Last Thursday, we heard the next version of KitKat would only provide a small fix to remove the Nexus 5's blue tint issues with many other features still remaining unknown.

• The new HTC One (M8) has a pretty nifty dual-sensor camera, see what it can do in our review

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