[Watch App] & [Android] Watch Trigger v1.9 - Remote Camera Trigger for Android!

Chris Lewis

Update - 1.9: Lots: Read about it here.

NOTICE: I'm working on improving compatibility with Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread phones. If you own such a device and would like to test a build for me, let me know!

Introduction
Introducing Watch Trigger - an Android and Pebble app combo that allows you to use your Pebble watch as a remote trigger for your Android phone!

The Android app allows you to install the companion watch app (Thanks to Robert Meijer!). From there once you launch the Watch Trigger Android app the watch app will allow a photo to be taken with a press of the SELECT button. The name of the captured image is confirmed on the phone and watch.

Known bugs/issues

• Let me know of any you find!
  

Download

You can see more detailed info in on my blog: Initial Release & 1.9: Biggest Update Yet.

Enjoy! If you decide to test, please consider tweeting me a screenshot of how the app renders on your device. Please also leave any comments and suggestions in this thread!

PeterHardy

I knew an android equivalent would turn up sooner or later. Nice work. :-)

Would you consider working with the Pebble Snap people so that a single watch app can be made to work with both iOS and Android applications?

Chris Lewis

Thanks Peter.

Due to the presence of the already stated bugs, I'd like to keep working on this myself to a more fir-for-purpose state before going any larger. I'm open to contact though, if they desire.

I'm currently working on solving these issues first!

PeterHardy

Oh, no worries. :-)

I'll give it a try over the weekend and let you know how I get on.

Chris Lewis

@PeterHardy Let me know how you get on, and be sure you have the latest version!

Chris Lewis

1.3 released! Includes new features to control capture as well as vibration feedback. Any early adopters make sure you get the latest version!

Chris Lewis

1.4 released! Brand new watch app UI using ActionBarLayer, enabling control of the timer from the watch itself.

Magnitude

Hey @ChrisLewis, I have a Google play developer account I don't use. I could add you as a member on it so you could upload your app. PM me if you would be interested.

mark reed

i'm just about to try it, but can it (or is it possible), function like an old camera shutter release button???  is it possible to hold the shutter open by either a long button press for ?? seconds/minutes, or could you open/initiate the camera with one button press then end the photo (close the shutter) with another button press eg. for very long (hours) creative photos.   not even sure if this is possible with a phone camera...

AndyGlossop

Just got my watch and have given this a try, works as it should do. Well done mate, nice work!

Chris Lewis

Hi @markreed. Unfortuately with the Android API the 'trigger' is a call to Camera.takePicature(), and there is no control over manually opening or closing the shutter. If it were, I'd love to use the feature myself

@AndyGlossop, Thanks! Hope you enjoy it.

mark reed

@ChrisLewis that's what I thought.  oh well, never mind.  i suppose here we're only playing with a phone camera, rather than a real one!

Chris Lewis

Calling all Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread owners! You may be in luck very soon. See the notice at the top of the OP for details!

mark reed

@ChrisLewis.  Some feedback for you. ps great app!

- It would be nice in a future version if you could control (turn on/off) the camera flash from within the phone app. (just spotted it in settings - working fine!)

- I only seemed to be able to take 1 picture at a time before I needed to refresh the phone app.  Again, it would be nice if I could take multiple pics from my watch without needing to touch the phone.

- I noticed that after taking a few shots at 5s, when i changed to 0s it wouldn't take a picture. I could still control the timer from the watch but not get it to take a picture, even after refreshing the phone.

(Actually, after taking my first few photos, it seems to not be taking pictures anymore - for any time setting - even after killing and re-starting the app)

Info

- samsung galaxy note gt-n7000

- android v4.1.2

The photo quality and resolution seems fine, although the images seem to be oriented 'landscape' even though when they were taken the phone was in 'portrait'.

cheers,

mark

Chris Lewis

Hi mark,

Thanks for the feedback!

You can take another photo after the previous one without having to press the reset button if you turn off 'Instant Review' in settings. If you do this and the behavior still persists, let me know.

I do not experience this issue myself, but I'm open to the concept of the connection to the Pebble being flaky (re: recent updates from Pebble). If you have the latest Store version, enable 'Get Debug Log' in settings and send me the resulting file. That should spread some light on what is happening as you use the app.

The app is landscape only at the moment. The camera preview seems to have being in portrait for some reason. It's on my to-do list though.

Thanks again.

mark reed

thought there was probably a way. will play with the settings a bit more.

also found that re-starting the watchapp resolved most things. i have noticed mention of the landscape issue on your site.

ps. i have the latest 'debug' version so will send logs if anything weird happens again.

Chris Lewis

Thanks mark. I may try and abstract the connection to Pebble and keep track of whether or not the connection is stable, but that may be a challenging task.