The iPhone 15 has brought to life a long-standing vision in the realm of photography, one that was likely shared by Steve Jobs more than a decade ago. This week, Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have unveiled the remarkable capability to capture depth data in photos featuring people or pets, enabling users to adjust the focus even after taking the shot. Remarkably, this concept was reportedly on Steve Jobs’ radar before his passing in 2011.
Apple first introduced Portrait mode photography with the iPhone 7 Plus, employing a dual-camera system to create a pleasing background blur around subjects. At the time, comparisons were drawn to the Lytro light field camera, a pocket-sized device resembling a lipstick that allowed for post-shot focus adjustments. Apple has now integrated this feature into Portrait mode photos on the iPhone 15 and other models.
However, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro take this innovation a step further. When the camera system detects a person, cat, or dog in the frame, it automatically captures depth data without the need for activating Portrait mode. This empowers users to fine-tune the depth effect and alter the focal point after the picture has been taken, all without switching to a separate camera mode.
These advancements undoubtedly align with the visionary ideas that Steve Jobs may have harbored for the iPhone’s camera system. In fact, Jobs had previously met with Ren Ng, the founder of Lytro, and was given a demonstration of the Lytro camera before its launch. This intriguing encounter is documented in Adam Lashinsky’s book, “Inside Apple,” published in 2012.
Ren Ng, a brilliant computer scientist with a Stanford PhD and CEO of Lytro, reached out to Jobs, who promptly responded, suggesting they meet that very afternoon. Ng rushed to Palo Alto, presented Jobs with a Lytro technology demo, engaged in discussions about cameras and product design, and, at Jobs’ request, agreed to send an email outlining three potential collaborations between Lytro and Apple.
Although Lytro eventually released its light field camera, the iPhone had already established its dominance in the realm of mobile photography. Notably, Apple was granted a patent for a camera system with post-capture focal point adjustment capabilities, and today, this is precisely how the iPhone camera system operates, fulfilling a vision that Steve Jobs may have held years ago.
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