Hey,
I've noticed that in some scenarios photo data can be corrupted from the cameras on iPhone 17 Pro. The requirements are:
The zoom level is greater than 2 times the base zoom, so 2x for the wide lens, and 8x for the telephoto.
QualityPrioritization is set to .Quality. If set to .Balanced the images look as expected.
The scene is well lit. I haven't managed to work out if there's an ISO cut off, but in darker scenes the images look as expected.
The scene does not contain any objects or texture, e.g. a blank white screen, a blue sky, up close against a bright wall.
Here is an example:
This is really weird behavior. I have opened a ticket here: https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/feedback/22092908
There's also a repo here if anyone would like to try it:
https://github.com/alexfoxy/CameraQualityTest.
Thanks,
Alex
Photos & Camera
RSS for tagExplore technical aspects of capturing high-quality photos and videos, including exposure control, focus modes, and RAW capture options.
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Hello Apple Developer Support,
I’m developing a virtual camera using the CMIOExtensionDevice / CMIOExtensionStreamSource APIs on macOS. While the virtual camera appears in system settings and apps like Zoom and Google Meet, the video output exhibits the following issues:
Jittering frames: The first frame sometimes appears correctly, but subsequent frames flicker or jitter.
Solid color fill: Eventually, the camera feed fills entirely with a solid accent color (e.g., blue), rather than the intended video content.
Console logs: Repeated messages appear in Console.app:
Invalid display 0x00000000
Setup details:
The virtual camera is created using CMIOExtensionDevice and CMIOExtensionStream.
Video frames are rendered from NSImage/CGImage using CGContext and copied into CVPixelBuffers.
Frame delivery is controlled by a DispatchSourceTimer at 60 FPS.
macOS version: [Your macOS version here]
Xcode version: [Your Xcode version here]
Observations:
The Invalid display 0x00000000 logs suggest that CGContext drawing or NSImage operations are failing in headless mode (i.e., there is no real display attached to the virtual camera).
Using CIContext with .useSoftwareRenderer = true appears to mitigate some flicker, but not entirely.
Questions / Requests:
Is it expected that CoreMediaIO virtual cameras cannot reliably render CGImage / NSImage frames offscreen?
Are there recommended APIs or approaches to render virtual camera frames fully headless to avoid display-dependent jitter?
Is there any documentation or sample code from Apple showing stable video output from a virtual camera extension that does not rely on a physical display?
Any guidance or examples would be greatly appreciated. This issue prevents the virtual camera from being used reliably in standard video apps.
Thank you,
Savvy
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Photos & Camera
Tags:
System Extensions
Core Media
Continuity Camera
Hi,
I am trying to implement a PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension to upload backup media files to an external cloud service based on these docs: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/PhotoKit/uploading-asset-resources-in-the-background#Acknowledge-completed-jobs
Creating jobs and actual uploading is working as expected, but the problem I have is in the acknowledgeCompletedJobs() function.
When in this function, I am trying to access a job's resource. The resource is nil and thus has empty assetLocalIdentifier and originalFilename.
Did anybody successfully implement this extension or knows, why this would happen? Because the resource of an acknowledgable job is empty, I can not match it back to my processed assets.
Hi,
I am trying to implement a PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension to upload backup media files to an external cloud service based on these docs: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/PhotoKit/uploading-asset-resources-in-the-background#Acknowledge-completed-jobs
Creating jobs and actual uploading is working as expected, but the problem I have is in the acknowledgeCompletedJobs() function.
When trying to access a job's resource, the resource is nil and thus has empty assetLocalIdentifier and originalFilename.
Did anybody successfully implement this extension or knows, why this would happen? Because the resource of an acknowledgable job is empty, I can not match it back to my processed assets.
How I can get iCloud photo file size?
Could I use private API like this in prod? Does anyone know another way? (without downloading the file to the device)
func getFileSize(asset: PHAsset) -> Int64? {
let resources = PHAssetResource.assetResources(for: asset)
let resource = resources.first
let size = resource?.value(forKey: "fileSize") as? Int64
return size
}
Opening this question after discussing the issue in the AVCapture lab, hopefully so we can track down this issue.
We've been noticing some crashes in App Store Connect caused by layoutSublayers being called on a background thread.
After debugging the issue a bit we found that all calls which modified the AVCaptureSession or preview layer were indeed done on the main thread. It would be useful to see what results in AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer.updateFormatDescription being called.
I've attached the crashlog below.
Crash log.ips - https://developer.apple.com/forums/content/attachment/800b0dba-3477-4c5a-b56c-f4cc393b384f
I know how to search for Smart Albums (favorites, selfies, etc...) containing photos:
// Get smart albums
PHFetchResult *smartAlbums = [PHAssetCollection fetchAssetCollectionsWithType:PHAssetCollectionTypeSmartAlbum subtype:PHAssetCollectionSubtypeAlbumRegular options:nil];
I have the following questions:
Is there a way to enumerate the People Smart Albums and access the photos in a specific People Smart Album?
Is there a way to enumerate the Places Smart Albums and access the photos in a specific Place Smart Album?
Is there a way to enumerate Shared Albums (shared to the current iCloud user) and access the photos in a specific Shared Album?
I'm developing iPad app that will be mostly dedicated for certain external camera for visually impaired people.
The linux UVC api (e.g. using guvcview) allows to enable automatic exposure for the camera. IOs api "isExposureModeSupported" unfortunately returns false for any of the exposure modes.
Is it a bug? Or perhaps AVFoundation doesn't support UVC exposure yet?
I am working on an iOS application using SwiftUI where I want to convert a JPG and a MOV file to a live photo. I am utilizing the LivePhoto Class from Github for this. The JPG and MOV files are displayed correctly in my WallpaperDetailView, but I am facing issues when trying to download the live photo to the gallery and generate the Live Photo.
Here is the relevant code and the errors I am encountering:
Console prints:
Play button should be visible Image URL fetched and set: Optional("https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/...") Video is ready to play Video downloaded to: file:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/.../tmp/CFNetworkDownload_7rW5ny.tmp Failed to generate Live Photo
I have verified that the app has the necessary permissions to access the Photo Library.
The JPEG and MOV files are successfully downloaded and can be displayed in the app.
The issue seems to occur when generating the Live Photo from the downloaded files.
struct WallpaperDetailView: View {
var wallpaper: Wallpaper
@State private var isLoading = false
@State private var isImageSaved = false
@State private var imageURL: URL?
@State private var livePhotoVideoURL: URL?
@State private var player: AVPlayer?
@State private var playerViewController: AVPlayerViewController?
@State private var isVideoReady = false
@State private var showBuffering = false
var body: some View {
ZStack {
if let imageURL = imageURL {
GeometryReader { geometry in
KFImage(imageURL)
.resizable()
...
}
}
if let playerViewController = playerViewController {
VideoPlayerViewController(playerViewController: playerViewController)
.frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
.clipped()
.edgesIgnoringSafeArea(.all)
}
}
.onAppear {
PHPhotoLibrary.requestAuthorization { status in
if status == .authorized {
loadImage()
} else {
print("User denied access to photo library")
}
}
}
private func loadImage() {
isLoading = true
if let imageURLString = wallpaper.imageURL, let imageURL = URL(string: imageURLString) {
self.imageURL = imageURL
if imageURL.scheme == "file" {
self.isLoading = false
print("Local image URL set: \(imageURL)")
} else {
fetchDownloadURL(from: imageURLString) { url in
self.imageURL = url
self.isLoading = false
print("Image URL fetched and set: \(String(describing: url))")
}
}
}
if let livePhotoVideoURLString = wallpaper.livePhotoVideoURL, let livePhotoVideoURL = URL(string: livePhotoVideoURLString) {
self.livePhotoVideoURL = livePhotoVideoURL
preloadAndPlayVideo(from: livePhotoVideoURL)
} else {
self.isLoading = false
print("No valid image or video URL")
}
}
private func preloadAndPlayVideo(from url: URL) {
self.player = AVPlayer(url: url)
let playerViewController = AVPlayerViewController()
playerViewController.player = self.player
self.playerViewController = playerViewController
let playerItem = AVPlayerItem(url: url)
playerItem.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 1.0
self.player?.replaceCurrentItem(with: playerItem)
...
print("Live Photo Video URL set: \(url)")
}
private func saveWallpaperToPhotos() {
if let imageURL = imageURL, let livePhotoVideoURL = livePhotoVideoURL {
saveLivePhotoToPhotos(imageURL: imageURL, videoURL: livePhotoVideoURL)
} else if let imageURL = imageURL {
saveImageToPhotos(url: imageURL)
}
}
private func saveImageToPhotos(url: URL) {
...
}
private func saveLivePhotoToPhotos(imageURL: URL, videoURL: URL) {
isLoading = true
downloadVideo(from: videoURL) { localVideoURL in
guard let localVideoURL = localVideoURL else {
print("Failed to download video for Live Photo")
DispatchQueue.main.async {
self.isLoading = false
}
return
}
print("Video downloaded to: \(localVideoURL)")
self.generateAndSaveLivePhoto(imageURL: imageURL, videoURL: localVideoURL)
}
}
private func generateAndSaveLivePhoto(imageURL: URL, videoURL: URL) {
LivePhoto.generate(from: imageURL, videoURL: videoURL, progress: { percent in
print("Progress: \(percent)")
}, completion: { livePhoto, resources in
guard let resources = resources else {
print("Failed to generate Live Photo")
DispatchQueue.main.async {
self.isLoading = false
}
return
}
print("Live Photo generated with resources: \(resources)")
self.saveLivePhotoToLibrary(resources: resources)
})
}
private func saveLivePhotoToLibrary(resources: LivePhoto.LivePhotoResources) {
LivePhoto.saveToLibrary(resources) { success in
DispatchQueue.main.async {
if success {
self.isImageSaved = true
print("Live Photo saved successfully")
} else {
print("Failed to save Live Photo")
}
self.isLoading = false
}
}
}
private func fetchDownloadURL(from gsURL: String, completion: @escaping (URL?) -> Void) {
let storageRef = Storage.storage().reference(forURL: gsURL)
storageRef.downloadURL { url, error in
if let error = error {
print("Failed to fetch image URL: \(error)")
completion(nil)
} else {
completion(url)
}
}
}
private func downloadVideo(from url: URL, completion: @escaping (URL?) -> Void) {
let task = URLSession.shared.downloadTask(with: url) { localURL, response, error in
guard let localURL = localURL, error == nil else {
print("Failed to download video: \(String(describing: error))")
completion(nil)
return
}
completion(localURL)
}
task.resume()
}
}```
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Photos & Camera
Tags:
Files and Storage
Swift
SwiftUI
Photos and Imaging
When trying to edit some Live Photos, calling PHLivePhotoEditingContext.saveLivePhoto results in the following error:
Error Domain=AVFoundationErrorDomain Code=-11800 "The operation could not be completed" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=An unknown error occurred (-12815), NSLocalizedDescription=The operation could not be completed, NSUnderlyingError=0x300d05380 {Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-12815 "(null)"}}
I was able to replicate it on my device by taking a new Live Photo. Not sure what's wrong with that one specifically, not all Live Photos replicate the issue.
I've submitted FB15880825 with a sysdiagnose and a Photos Diagnostics as well. Any ideas what's going on here? It's impacting multiple customers. Thanks!
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Photos & Camera
Tags:
Media
Photos and Imaging
PhotoKit
AVFoundation
According to the docs:
The first time your app performs an operation that requires [photo library] authorization, the system automatically and asynchronously prompts the user for it.
(https://developer.apple.com/documentation/photokit/delivering-an-enhanced-privacy-experience-in-your-photos-app)
I.e. it's not necessary for the app to call PHPhotoLibrary.requestAuthorization.
This does seem to be what happens when my app runs on an iPhone or iPad; the prompt is shown. But when it runs on a Mac in "designed for iPad" mode, the permission dialog is not presented. Instead the code continues to see status == .notDetermined.
That's today, on macOS 15.3. It may have worked in the past.
Is anyone else seeing issues with this? Should I call requestAuthorization explicitly? (Would that actually work?)
I’m developing a hybrid app (WebView / Turbo Native) that uses getUserMedia to access the back camera for a PPG/heart rate measurement feature (the user places their finger on the camera).
Problem: Even when I specify constraints like:
{
video: {
deviceId: '...',
facingMode: { exact: 'environment' },
advanced: [{ zoom: 1.0 }]
},
audio: false
}
On iPhone 15 (iOS 18), iOS unexpectedly switches between the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses during the measurement.
This breaks the heart rate detection, and it forces the user to move their finger in the middle of the measurement.
Question: Is there any way, via getUserMedia/WebRTC, to force iOS to use only the wide-angle lens and prevent automatic lens switching?
I know that with AVFoundation (Swift) you can pick .builtInWideAngleCamera, but I’m hoping to avoid building a custom native layer and would prefer to stick with WebView/JavaScript if possible to save time and complexity.
Any suggestions, workarounds, or updates from Apple would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a lot!
Hey,
I have a camera app that captures a ProRaw photo and then runs a few Core Image filters before saving it to the device as a HEIC. However I'm finding that capturing at 48MP is rather slow. Testing a minimal pipeline on an iPhone 16 Pro:
Shutter press => file received in output: 1.2 ~ 1.6s
CIRawFilter created using photo file representation then rendered to context, without any filters: 0.8s ~ 1s
Saving to device ~0.15s
Is this the expected time for capturing processing? The native camera app seems to save the images within half a second. I'm using QualityPrioritization.balanced and the highest resolution available which is 48MP.
Would using the CIRawFilter with the pixelBuffer from the photo output be faster? I tried it but couldn't get it to output an image. Are there any other things I could try to speed this up? Is it possible to capture at 24MP instead?
Thanks,
Alex
I want to create a Live Photo. The project includes a .jpg image and a .mov video (2 seconds). I am sure they are correct.
Two permissions in xcode have been added:
Privacy - Photo Library Usage Description
Privacy - Photo Library Additions Usage Description Simulate: iphone 16, ios 18.3
The codes in ContentView.swift :
private func saveLivePhoto(imageURL: URL, videoURL: URL, completion: @escaping (Bool, Error?) -> Void) {
PHPhotoLibrary.shared().performChanges {
let creationRequest = PHAssetCreationRequest.forAsset()
let options = PHAssetResourceCreationOptions()
options.shouldMoveFile = false
creationRequest.addResource(with: .photo, fileURL: imageURL, options: options)
creationRequest.addResource(with: .pairedVideo, fileURL: videoURL, options: options)
} completionHandler: { success, error in
DispatchQueue.main.async {
print(error)
completion(success, error)
}
}
}
guard let imageURL = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "livephoto", withExtension: "jpeg"),
let videoURL = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "livephoto", withExtension: "mov") else {
showAlertMessage(title: "error", message: "cant find Live Photo ")
return
}
print("imageURL: \(imageURL)")
print("videoURL: \(videoURL)")
saveLivePhoto(imageURL: imageURL, videoURL: videoURL) { success, error in
if success {
xxxxx
} else {
xxxxx
}
}
Really need help, thanks
If I want to edit image in preview app. But there is only option to rotate left and right 90degree rotations. No option to rorate in any prticular angle. So Please look into this and provide option in next update
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Photos & Camera
Tags:
Image I/O
Graphics and Games
App Review
Media
Hi all,
I'm using Apple Sample Code below to create application using dockkit.
"Controlling a DockKit accessory using your camera app"
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/dockkit/controlling-a-dockkit-accessory-using-your-camera-app?changes=_8
I used vision hand recognition and put the observation data to dockAccessory.track, but Belkin or Insta360 devices never move on iPhone 16 Pro Max with iOS 18.3.
If I use other functions like face search (system tracking) in the app, those work ok.
I used Belkin and Insta360 Flow 2 Pro to reproduce the problem.
My friend is also saying that the custom tracking feature was working fine on the OS 18 beta, but on recent iOS 18.3 that feature does not work.
If I can get the iOS 18.0 beta then we can test that feature. But I cannot revert my iOS from 18.3 to the iOS 18.0 Beta.
Regards,
TO
On some devices, loadFileRepresentation(forTypeIdentifier: completionHandler) take a loong time(about two minute) to callback result for some large video(about 200 MB, take by device camera).
environment:
Model: iPhone 12
Model Number: MGGM3CH/A
iOS Version: 18.3.2
PHPickerResult.NSItemProvider.loadFileRepresentation()
// import PhotosUI
func picker(_ picker: PHPickerViewController, didFinishPicking results: [PHPickerResult]) {
picker.dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
guard let provider = results.last?.itemProvider else { return }
guard provider.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(UTType.movie.identifier) else {
return
}
Task {
provider.loadFileRepresentation(forTypeIdentifier: UTType.movie.identifier) { url, error in
guard let url = url else {
return
}
// Do some stuff...
}
}
}
ps: I also try some other function, eg: provide.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier:), but not work too.
On some devices, when i select the same media multiple times, the data by` loadFileRepresentation(forTypeIdentifier: completionHandler) ` returned is different(data.count is not equal).
environment:
* Model: iPhone 12
* Model Number: MGGM3CH/A
* iOS Version: 18.3.2
```Swift
// import PhotosUI
func picker(_ picker: PHPickerViewController, didFinishPicking results: [PHPickerResult]) {
picker.dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
guard let provider = results.last?.itemProvider else { return }
guard provider.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(UTType.movie.identifier) else {
return
}
Task {
provider.loadFileRepresentation(forTypeIdentifier: UTType.movie.identifier) { url, error in
guard let url = url else {
return
}
if let data = try? Data(contentsOf: url) {
print("data count is: \(data.count)")
}
}
}
}
```
ps: I also try some other function, eg: ` provide.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier:)`, but not work too.
I'm developing a tennis ball tracking feature using Vision Framework in Swift, specifically utilizing VNDetectedObjectObservation and VNTrackObjectRequest.
Occasionally (but not always), I receive the following runtime error:
Failed to perform SequenceRequest: Error Domain=com.apple.Vision Code=9 "Internal error: unexpected tracked object bounding box size" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Internal error: unexpected tracked object bounding box size}
From my investigation, I suspect the issue arises when the bounding box from the initial observation (VNDetectedObjectObservation) is too small. However, Apple's documentation doesn't clearly define the minimum bounding box size that's considered valid by VNTrackObjectRequest.
Could someone clarify:
What is the minimum acceptable bounding box width and height (normalized) that Vision Framework's VNTrackObjectRequest expects?
Is there any recommended practice or official guidance for bounding box size validation before creating a tracking request?
This information would be extremely helpful to reliably avoid this internal error.
Thank you!
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Photos & Camera
Tags:
ML Compute
Machine Learning
Camera
AVFoundation
I am developing a video streaming app for iPhone.
Minimum version is IOS 13.
I want to connect an external USB camera to the iPhone app and stream from it.
I have looked through a lot of information and have not found how to do this.
Is it possible to do this? Is there any documentation on this?