One UI’s dedicated video recording camera mode is very frustrating
So there I was, walking down the streets in what is one of the poshest parts of my city, when I noticed a procession of hot cars (with some insane exhaust notes) making their way through traffic. Those cars were a bit far away, so I start jogging towards them so I could record a video on my Galaxy S10+. I opened the camera app as I got closer, quickly switched to the video recording mode, and aimed it at the cars.
Once I was done, I looked at the phone to hit the stop button, and that’s when I almost cried out in frustration. You see, in my excitement, I had forgotten to hit the start button, meaning I failed to capture those mechanical beauties on my phone. Of course, this can happen to anyone, but my frustration was a result of having run into the same issue a few other times, and I have really come to despise the dedicated video recording mode since then.
Inspired by the iPhone? Dictated by Google? No one can be sure
The iPhone has long had separate video and photo modes, but Samsung’s decision to add a dedicated video mode to its phones may also have been driven by Google. Samsung’s Multi Window functionality has been stripped down on Pie thanks to Google’s policies, and since Pixel phones also come with a separate video recording mode, it may have been the reason for Samsung making the move as well.
Of course, it’s not something we can confirm, and it may just have been the iPhone that served as inspiration here. Whatever the reason may be, the dedicated video mode on One UI didn’t go down well with everyone, and users lost the ability to record videos in Pro mode as a result. I had personally thought it would be easy to get used to the change, but that’s not what has happened.
Android Pie does give you an option to make the camera app start on the mode you used the last time, but having separate video and photo modes means you need extra time to pick the correct mode every time you launch the camera, making that option a non-solution. And that extra step can make all the difference when you want to quickly capture a moment before it passes you by.
Samsung probably isn’t going to change anything
Naturally, fumbling with camera modes is more of a problem for still pictures than videos, since moments that you capture on video aren’t usually as short as those you take photos of, but it is still an unnecessary complication that Samsung could easily fix. But it probably won’t, considering it has already had ample time to revert to the traditional video recording button from before Android Pie but hasn’t done anything yet.
And in my eyes, the separate video recording camera mode will always be one of the most problematic changes that Samsung’s beautiful One UI brought to its phones. It may come off as nitpicking to some, but I’m pretty sure there are plenty of people out there who agree with me. Sadly, regular consumers are unlikely to complain about this so it’s just something we’ll have to live with, as frustrating and–when it comes to the inability to record videos in Pro mode is concerned–as limiting as it may be.
What do you think? Have you managed to adjust to the dedicated video mode on your Galaxy phone camera after the Pie update, or is it something that continues to irk you?
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I have found that with One UI and also getting the S10, Samsung seems to have become restrictive. Just like iPhone is/was. The advantages of Android’s ability to be modified to suit the user seem fewer as time goes by
“Once I was done, I looked at the phone to hit the stop button, and that’s when I almost cried out in frustration”
#relatetothemax
btw, the best way to fast open video: hold down on camera button – select video. Still, this invalidates the “double press power to open camera” quickness, so still a bad move from samsung to change the app like that… 🙁
Same boat. Actually great article and it points out that while ONE UI got a lot in it for faster/better usability, there are also those strange anti that idea decisions like the camera and multiwindow needing a lot more steps for the same thing that before didn’t take long. Also I am not sure how to feel about that “google policy” part… samsung is one of their biggest customers + android is open source project with more freedom, why samsung didn’t try to talk with google about that? Their multiwindow in oreo is so much better vs pie, it’s not… Read more »
One UI is great, but i hate the iphone style camera app! Before, just one swipe from left and got all modes. Now many swipes to chose mode and between, every each mode my phone (note 8) micro freeze to calculate…
That’s the most frustrating thing about One UI, even if they don’t want to bring back Pro mode video recording at least add a quick “start video” button in the “Photo” screen.
I agree with this 100%. As a parent of a young child, we quickly pull out the phone and hit report. Once child is finished, we hit stop – only to realize it did not record. I do not like the update at all. This was likely tested by someone sitting at a desk and not some focusing on a subject of interest and then the desire to quickly start capturing it.
Whoever behind one UI camera app development
are brainless.
Yes. Camera app is really bad. That too while zooming in and out the app switching from one camera to other. There is a frame shifting as well as colour shifting. I wrote a mail to Samsung. They accepted that there is a hardware issue, which can’t be done anything and will rectify in the upcoming device. For that Samsung complement a galaxy watch.
“What do you think?”
Samsung Experience is the best software from Samsung to this day.
“Of course, it’s not something we can confirm, and it may just have been the iPhone that served as inspiration here.”
Samsung shouldn’t copy Apple.
Apple is sh*t.
“So there I was, walking down the streets in what is one of the poshest parts of my city”
In what city do you live ?
Hyderabad, India. And you find the most diverse kind of premium cars here, while the rich in other big Indian cities usually just buy a Mercedes to show off, so i often take photos of cars here.
You can simply long press camera Button in home and choose video…. the camera app will open in video mode and after pressing record will start to record…..
Try this while focusing on a kid and deciding mid-act to start recording.
One option is to add a separate video recording shortcut to your home screen. Long-press the camera icon then drag the Video prompt to the home screen. This does not help if you rely on hardware keys like the Bixby key to launch, but it might be useful to some.
Is that possible with the rest of the modes?
I only see options for Photo and Video, not for all the variations.
I get that some thing have to change. I think that camera app and some one ui feauteres are dumb. But Samsung could at least give us alternative – If you like Oreo camera – just install it. But no, I have to use camera apps from google play instead of using cool Oreo camera. I loved swipes in standard apps of samsung expirience, why the hell should I push buttons like its 2013. Why they moved camera options from bootom of the screen to the top? it was so easy to turn flashlight, change some settings. now you have… Read more »
Also, you can’t record video from Pro Mode
This is the only sane change they made in the latest version, and you want it removed?
What else do you want on ‘auto’, camera finding good events to shoot at, by itself?
Countless times I have accidentally cycled through video mode, and I had to delete stupid 2s videos later by hand…
Another thing they could do would be to allow the setting for defining the function of the volume key to be 1) take photo, or 2) record video, or 3) do whatever mode you are in. That would give some flexibility, and even be helpful when you are in other strange modes.
David
This happens to me ALL the time. I can’t even tell you how many times this has happened in recent history
Even when I’m recording, I’m constantly checking the record button on the display to verify It is actually recoding. And even then, I can barely see the difference between Stoped and Recording – when I’m outdoors, I can’t see the red color very well.
Thumbs down for this decision.
But 2 thumbs down for terrible/poor quality low light shots.
“Even when I’m recording, I’m constantly checking the record button on the display to verify It is actually recoding.”
Hah, exactly what I keep doing from fear of missing out on a moment.
Adding steps was definitely the wrong move, especially considering the functionality we lost.
I’ve been saying for a while that this new iPhone like camera UI first introduced with the S9 and then turning video recording into a mode was unnecessary. The good thing with One UI is that Samsung at least brought back the ability to change the aspect ratio and the timer on the viewfinder without the need to go to setting. Best Samsung’s camera UI was the one introduced with android Marshmallow on Note 5 and S6 variants where you could change basically everything on the viewfinder, get all the modes at once either by just swiping from left to… Read more »
So you can’t make multiwindows at all? Or is there a alternative way to multiwindow?
Multiwindows? What’s this got to do with multiwindows?
@Biransahin He means the part where I say “Samsung’s Multi Window functionality has been stripped down on Pie thanks to Google’s policies.”
@Khlad, no, you can still run apps in Multi Window, but some shortcuts have been stripped. For example, you can’t hold down the recent apps button to initiate Multi Window like you could before Android Pie, so starting up apps in Multi Window is a longer process on Pie just like accessing the video recording mode is.
I understand you Abhijeet, but really it’s just a case of getting used to the new layout. It will come naturally to you very quickly, though it is a pity you missed out on the cool cars.
Not sure, I’ve been using Pie since January now on various devices, and it can still be a problem at times. And the worst is pretty much the extra time you need to switch between these modes now. Just an unnecessary change that serves zero purpose in my opinion.
ROTFL, this is so not the case.
I record video, or WANT to record video often and I still have not used to it!
Is not simply about leaning to swipe to Video, it’s also about how difficult it is to verify if you are recording when you think you are.
The old UI, was simple and made it obvious when recording was happening. Long press and go.
Once you start the camera its not recording automatically you need to press record button. If you know your phone you will not forget to switch to video mode and press record. Its not samsung’s fault. By the way, i almost every day record scenes so maybe you need more practice
Thank you Mr. Obvious.
But unfortunately I don’t have the same experiences you are having.
I press Record, or I think I press Record. It’s nearly impossible to tell if you are or are not recording – especially outdoors where sunlight makes seeing the red recording button appears less vivid.
Also, when worn my S10+, there is a slight delay in recording and if I’m to quick or in a rush, I start and stop recording without even knowing it – and I recorded 1-2 seconds instead of 5, 12 or 30 minutes.
Based on experience outdoor, if you want to take videos you just have to increase the brightness or just set to auto brightness. Besides you dont need to look at the red button. You need to look at the middle bottom part to see the timer of the recording.
I’m assuming you are recording trees and not a kid who is still one moment and then in a middle of something you want to capture the next moment.
Abhijeet, just stop. You messed up, not Samsung or anyone else but you. I have had the S10+ since the 6th of March and had no issues with recording.
Not complaining about the S10, only about the video mode. Continues to irritate me that you need to switch to it, adds unnecessary time when i quickly want to record something.
Never said you where complaining about the S10. People do not use multiple phones like reviewers and what not. So people who own the phone would get used to swiping over to video mode? Just because it’s not for you does not make it unusable or irritating for everyone. I take heaps of photos so if they have the old layout how they had the recoding button above the photo mode I could potentially lose a good shot. But then again yes, people who wants a quick video could say the same. But with photo, every second/frame counts. I personally… Read more »
*Red to black/white
I don’t get it: if i use multiple phones, all of them running Pie, I’m still taking photos and recording videos on them and using the camera app regularly. And i never said it’s going to irritate everyone, that’s why this is just an opinion. I totally get it if you and many others don’t have a problem with it, but there are many who do.