Windows Phone 8 (WP8) Tips - Bing, Camera, and Image Apps (2)

WP8 already improved photo and video functions of the camera and added some interesting features and apps as preload services. 

• Image Editing: WP8 lets you edit photo directly through your phone. When viewing a photo, select "edit" then you can "rotate", "crop (trim or clip)", or "fix (enhance)" the photo. The following example use "crop" to clip the original photo into the desired area. Finally, press "done" and "save". Obviously, this function is useful while you want to edit your profile photos.

     

• Bing Service and Camera Integration: Translation and QR Code Recognition services provide by bing search can be accessed from WP8 camera. Just press "search" button on the right of "Home (Windows)" button, then click the "vision (eye)" button, focus on the text and press "scan text". By selecting the target language for translations within "TRANSLATE TEXT TO", you will obtain the translated texts covering on the original texts of the photo. (Following images of the first row.) The same processes are also workable for recognizing QR Codes, MS Smart Tags, ISBN of book, CD or DVD, as the second row images (the first two images) for demonstrating QR Code translation for URL. Like Google's home page that presenting everyday topic, bing search also provides some visions about today's topics as shown in the left column image on the third row. Just click the "transparent block", then you will get the "take a bow" message, click it to read the information and knowledge about today's topic.

  

 

 

• Bing/Scout: In the bing app press "scout", you can check POIs (point of interests) around your location based on bing map services.

• Camera/lenses: While using camera, many image processing apps are integrated into the camera app, you just click "lenses" on the settings, you will see image-related apps installed into your WP8. Press "find more lenses", you will get more interesting apps (image on the right column) that can be bind with the camera app. These apps are very useful and funny, I will introduce them in another blog article someday.