Motorola DROID cameras silently patched?
We and everyone else that has managed to get some hands on time with the Motorola DROID came to the same two conclusions — it’s a damn good smartphone, but its camera couldn’t focus for beans. Overnight, however, our tips line was literally flooded with reports that the DROID’s autofocus camera was finally doing its job and, well, automatically focusing. First reporters were humorously utterly convinced that their wiping off the anti-glare coating on the lens was responsible for the improvements, but as more and more people starting chiming in it became increasingly apparent that someone, somewhere was hard at work behind the scenes pushing out a silent update ahead of the oft-discussed OTA update due out on December 11th. Such a silent update is a bit of an odd move, but to be perfectly honest, it could go either way. We’re not convinced it improved our camera performance as we never had an issue focusing. Our issue was even though the boxes went green to signal a “lock” our pictures still came out blurry. But we’re curious; how many of our readers with a DROID have experienced a tremendous improvement in camera performance?
Thanks to everyone that sent this in!
Yep, its fixed! Did not clean my lens or install any camera apps. Definitely a silent update by Verizon.
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Just tried mine and it is a LOT better. The photo also stays on the screen long enough for you to preview it!!! Props to Moto/VZW/Google and whoever for the fix.
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There must have been something done…not only does my camera get the green bars almost 100% of the time, but this is the first time I have ever gotten the barcode scanner app working AT ALL. Props to big red and company.
Yeah they did something because my barcode scanner works now too. I was trying to use it yesterday for like 15 mins. with no luck. Today I tried it out after reading this and wah la.
Fixed here as well. Great job!
Same here, not sure when but I feel like my camera has gotten a lot better since day one. It would be nice to hear about these updates, is there any versioning done that we would be able to see?
my droid rebooted all by itself yesterday could that have been it?
That happened to me too, actually. I thought it was a game that had crashed it, but maybe not.
plus if there was any kind of update the firmware version number would change on our phone, right?
yes it would. i don’t about anyone else but i always note firmware versions, ex BB user, and mine hasn’t changed. nor have the those of the 3 other people i know with droids although 1 person is claiming his camera is working much better now….
Techcrunch seems to think that the phone shipped with a film on the lens so either cleaning it or just general use of the camera, touching the lens, taking it in and out of your pocket, etc., basically cleans it and takes care of the issue. Actually does make some sense.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/17/droid-autofocus-fix-now-available-clean-the-lens/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+(TechCrunch)&utm_content=Netvibes
Thats awesome. See an issue fix an issue. Awesome.
I just tested the Barcode Reader app and it works MUCH better.
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must be “user” error since it appears to work for everyone else….
Not exactly user error or everyone else.
http://forum.androidcentral.com/motorola-droid/1637-email-spell-check.html
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/16412;jsessionid=3B4BA0FA2A233173E5FBD69914356F4E.node0
Overall the camera does seem faster this morning. Almost twice as fast when it comes to a sequence of images. If this really was a silent OTA update then I am WAAAYYY more impressed with Google and Verizon than I ever thought I could be. Guess this is why they call it the Google Experience phone, experience instant updates…
yeah, Google barges in, ignores user privacy, and installs software without authorization. Even Microsoft asks if you want to install its service packs and upgrades. Google is gonna teach you guys a lesson the hard way. Its YOUR phone, not theirs. They’ve intruded on your privacy with an access you weren’t even aware they had…
Definitely a silent update. The first round of pictures I took had a blur effect to them like the auto-focus wasn’t working. Was tempted to take it back and then 2 days later it was corrected.
WOW
i cant find another reason for not buying it!
cant wait the GSM one to release
I never had the problem to begin with.
Bar code programs seem to be able to focus and read the bar code much quicker.
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Works much better!
Wow, I has pretty much written the camera off, but after playing with it, that is a huge improvement. It focuses much quicker, and the pictures are way, way sharper.
Interesting.
Yes mine seems a lot better..cool.
Mine works….niiiiiice!
Curious though….though we were supposed to be notified of any updates? Not complaining, just asking.
I’ve had my DROID since Friday and I’ve only used the camera twice.
Just checked and mine is fixed too! sweet
Definitely faster focusing and pictures are much better. I did not clean off the lense either! I’m liking this OTA update functionality 
Fixed! Wow just yesterday the camera would not focus enough to get the barcode off the side of an energy drink can. Today same can, same light.. Read the barcode in seconds.
That’s just good ‘ole web 2.0 crowd sourcing. Squeaky wheels always get oil…
Exactly! I would bet vital parts of my anatomy that no patch was silently slipped in. I made note of my firmware version when I got my Droid last week and it’s still the same today. And the 3 other people that I know with Droids all have the same version. 1 claims that his camera has been fixed even though his firmware is the same. Mind you, his claim came after reading this! Lol. The power of suggestion.
I don’t know what the power of suggestion can do, but can it make it so that I stop getting red lines on the camera, and the camera focuses immediately, instead of going from blurry to focused back to blurry again?
Cuz if it can, I’m all for it…otherwise, it was a ’silent patch’.
The camera’s function has improved when taking pictures via the physical key without a DOUBT.
but as we all know now it wasn’t a “super secret update that fixed it. and as i’ve posted elsewhere, put your camera focus to infinity and it resolves the issue also.