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Front-facing camera disabled in hardware or software?

S

sinoth

Lurker
I'm curious if anyone knows whether the front-facing camera is disabled in hardware or software. There are definitely holes on the front of the case that look like they could be a camera.

 
I thought it was just a proximity sensor and a light sensor...but you're right, it almost looks like 3 different things going on up there.
 
Thanks for the quick response! Had no idea about the proximity sensor... interesting. So we can tell how close someone's face is to the screen? xD
 
Memories of the Incredible forum back in April... everyone thought it (the proximity sensor) was an FFC. And who knows, might be, but several months later and a 720p update around the corner and no talk about "getting it activated".

The ambient sensor is so the display can auto-change brightness, the proximity sensor is so when you're talking on the phone the display powers off so you don't hang up with them cheek whiskers.
 
iPenguin said:
Memories of the Incredible forum back in April... everyone thought it (the proximity sensor) was an FFC. And who knows, might be, but several months later and a 720p update around the corner and no talk about "getting it activated".

The ambient sensor is so the display can auto-change brightness, the proximity sensor is so when you're talking on the phone the display powers off so you don't hang up with them cheek whiskers.
Click to expand...

But it looks like there is a third sensor/light/camera/whatever.

Does one of the processes (proximity or ambient) use two sensors?
 
On the Galaxy S, the FFC is mounted behind a much larger hole on the upper right side of the front (as you look at the phone) ...
 
tcv said:
But it looks like there is a third sensor/light/camera/whatever.

Does one of the processes (proximity or ambient) use two sensors?
Click to expand...

I believe a proximity sensor would have a transmitting IR LED and a receiving IR sensor, mounted together. I think that is what you are seeing on the one with two devices behind the same hole.

The other single device is an ambient visible light detector.
 
Dennis_Bham said:
I believe a proximity sensor would have a transmitting IR LED and a receiving IR sensor, mounted together. I think that is what you are seeing on the one with two devices behind the same hole.

The other single device is an ambient visible light detector.
Click to expand...

Correct. The larger hole shows the TX and RX for proximity. The smaller opening is the ambient light sensor for automatic brightness.
 
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