Google explains why some Nexus 5X pictures are upside down
If you recently splashed out on a brand spanking new Nexus 5X, you might be wondering why some of the images you take aren't the right way up. It turns out that it's a quirk of how the device was manufactured, thanks to a little insight from Google's Eino-Ville Talvala. After users began to complain about the issue on Reddit, the engineer popped up to explain where the problem comes from, and how to fix it.
According to Talvala, the image sensor inside the Nexus 5X was installed in a different orientation (landscape) to make the wires fit. As a consequence, Google had to tweak the software to ensure that your snaps wouldn't display upside down. Unfortunately, plenty of third-party apps didn't bother to update to the firm's latest imaging APIs, and as such all of the pictures that you take with them are all screwy.
Thankfully, if you find that your pictures are all topsy-turvy, you don't need to drag your phone down to the shop for a fix. Google is already asking creators of any apps that are yet to be updated to move over as quickly as possible. In addition, if you find the problem is persisting, you're asked to drop the developers a polite, loving, gentle email giving them a heads-up.
- Key Specs
- Prices
- TYPESmartphone
- OPERATING SYSTEMAndroid
- SCREEN SIZE5.2 inches
- INTERNAL MEMORY16 GB
- CAMERA12.3 megapixels
- DIMENSIONS5.79 x 2.86 x 0.31 in
- WEIGHT4.8 oz
- RELEASED2015-10
mattcoz
The problem isn't that it is installed in landscape, as opposed to portrait which would be just stupid, it's that it's installed in reverse landscape. I've actually ran into this issue before when developing apps for some tablets. Since this is not a new problem, even if it is rare, the app developers are the ones to blame for not compensating for it.
Uri.Pisarev
or Google can just admit they screwed up.
Fenix8452
If they updated an API, and software developers haven't bothered to recompile their code using the newest API, I believe the problem is with the developers not updating fast enough.
techfeasible
You can't expect developers to update their code quickly only because you had to make a tough hardware choice. Google screwed backwards compatibility big time and are now paying the price with a non-standard phone. At least until developers get around to updating.
apraetor
Really? Recompiling an existing app, with no changes required, is difficult? Marshmallow is out now, if apps haven't already been updated for compatibility then the developer needs to include a warning before selling software which doesn't fully support the latest OS.
brandon.pry
You must not truly understand how little Google is asking of the developer mate! Not to mention this is a known issue with other devices as well; they inform Google, Google updates the API and the world is good again.
mnl1121
One of the Best Practice rules for developing software is to never rely on hardware. Whether that hardware exists or not or in a specific orientation, software should be completely separate from the hardware, thus avoiding these kinds of problems. Google didn't screw up, the developers just aren't using best practices.
jasonpio
Next can they update the OS of every damn phone in the world to only take video in landscape mode no matter how you hold the phone? Thanks - everyone tired of idiot vertical vids.
IanKen
I was going to post the exact same thing. Would love to be able to snap landscape pictures and video holding it in portrait mode: IE holding it the way you always hold a phone.
rokky
I would hope your request will NOT be fulfilled unless those of us who like having the choice can continue to opt for both ways so we can get a more accurate preview of how the picture will look. Landscape images viewed in portrait mode can be very small. Also, I have needs for portrait mode at times, and I suspect a few others might, too...
apraetor
It's a typo in the article. The sensor is still portrait, but rotated 180 degrees -- reverse portrait. If it was landscape then the sensor would be producing images rotated 90 degrees, not upside down.
jaffipaffi
Only on Android...
brandon.pry
The only comment like this that actually works this time LOL! Yes, only on Android will there ever be enough devices to actually make this a thing.
GG002
lol yeah, I have literally never heard of this kind of problem before reading this article! And worse yet, I'm pretty sure google could have tweaked some hardware or firmware to make the image the right way up instead of blaming the developers. That's lazy engineering right there.
32 comments