Skip to content

Quick Launch Smartphone Camera with Gestures, Motion and Proximity Sensor

Recently, we had written an article on ways to open the camera app faster. While users can always use widgets, shortcuts, icons etc both from the home screen and the lock screen to open a camera app, there exist certain apps which provide users the ability to open the Camera app through motion or gestures made in the air. These apps might even allow users to open apps without touching the phone, through the proximity sensor. Let us have a look at these unique ways to open the Camera app.

Quick Camera Launch with Gestures

twisty 1twis2

Twisty Launcher is an app which allows users to access apps through Hand Gestures. Users merely have to pick up the app they want, along with the gesture they want enabled for that app, and the app starts to detect gestures in the background. There are three gestures that that the user can choose from, but only one is enabled in the free version, along with the Camera app attached to it.

tilme1tilme3

Tilt Me Launcher allows users to open apps when the device is tilted to a particular side. For example, users can set the Camera app to open on tilting to the left side. As soon as the the device is tilted to the left, the app will open up. While the continuous opening of the related app due to an unintended tilt might bug some users initially, the app can come very handy once you get used to it.

task1task3

But the actual leader amongst these apps is a very creative app called Tasker. Tasker essentially allows users to automate functions. Users can create various profiles on this app and link tasks to occur on activation of  those profiles.


task4

The app allows users to activate profile through gestures too, and users can decide and record the very specific points on which the gestures will occur. When the device performs a gesture on those points, an associated task of opening the Camera app will allow users to access the Camera.

Tasker isn’t however limited to opening profiles through gestures – among various other options, profiles can be opened through motions too, such as through shaking your device, about which we will talk in the next section.

Quick Launch Camera with Motion

There are some apps which allow users to open a particular app through motion as well, and particularly through shaking the device. As mentioned above, the automation app Tasker allows users to open apps through gestures.

task5 task2

Instead of gestures, users can opt to call a profile through a Shake too. Users can decide a particular axis for the shake, the sensitivity of detecting the shake, and the Duration of the shake. When the shake is performed, the profile will be activated and the associated task will run the camera app.

shake2 shake1

The Shake app can be used to access any app by shaking the device. It provides the option of choosing different apps to open for Horizontal and Vertical shakes, or to open one app for a simple shake.

shake3

The Pro version offers more options related to shaking the device and users can use this app even when the device is locked.

ss1

The Shake Starter app allows user to start a number of actions on shaking the device. Users can choose to open an application, call a phone number, answer incoming calls, turn silent mode on/off or toggle WiFi using the app. Users can set the Camera app to open on a shake and then access the Camera easily.

droid1droid4

The Droid Shake app provides a number of options to user when opening up the camera using a shake. For starters, users can modify the Shake threshold and the time pause between shakes.

droid3 droid2

Moreover, users can select the mode in which they want the camera opened – Image Mode, Video Mode or Default. On those devices which have a secondary Camera available with the primary snapper, users can even choose which camera to open.

Click Camera Photos Faster with Proximity Sensor

Many smartphones come with a proximity sensor which can be used to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. Some apps make the use of this proximity sensor to provide the user access to the Camera simply through a wave of the hand.

prox1 prox2

The Proximity Action app is one such app. Users can choose the proximity actions they want the app to perform, and select whether a ‘Wave’ or a ‘Hold’ will trigger that action. While a ‘Wave’ action implies waving the hand in front of the proximity sensor, a ‘Hold’ action would require the user to hold and press his finger on the top of the Proximity sensor.

prox4 prox9

Users can further choose how many waves over the proximity sensor would make the app perform an action. They can also choose the action to be performed when the screen is On, and when it’s Off, different Settings such as the Minimum wave time, Maximum wave time etc. One of the actions that can be associated with the waves is opening an app, and the user can open the camera app through this option.

prox10prox13

Similarly, when the users will hold the Proximity sensor, the app will make the device vibrate repeatedly. users can set the Camera app to be opened after a certain number of vibrations, ranging from one to four, and decide on the time interval between the vibrations.

svr1svr2

The Secret Video recorder app allows user to take Pictures and Videos by waving their hand in front of the sensor as well. However, the users can not open up the Camera app, and the pictures/videos will merely be taken behind the screen and stored on the device.

Conclusion

The apps mentioned above not only allow the user easy access to the camera app, they also save him the amount of time which might be the difference between taking a good photo and a lost opportunity.Android Smartphones do not always have a dedicated Camera button, as is the current trend in Nokia Lumia devices. However these apps we have mentioned allow Android users to make sure that they get to access the Camera as comfortably as a user of any other Smartphone.

nv-author-image

Abhishek Bhatnagar

Abhishek Bhatnagar, a known technology blogger & YouTuber from India. A Software Engineer by qualification, now he works as the editor-In-Chief, Webmaster, & Managing Director at Gadgets To Use. He runs a number of other technology websites as well.