Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Some Google Pixel Owners' Camera Photos Aren't Saving (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the lost-memories dept.

Some users on Reddit and Google's support forums are reporting an issue in which taking a photo using Google Camera occasionally fails to save. The issue appears to be widespread, "affecting original Pixel phones as well as the Pixel 2 / 2 XL," reports The Verge. From the report: The issue occurs specifically in cases when the user takes a photo with Google Camera, and switches to another app or locks the phone immediately after. Users are able to see a thumbnail of the photo in the Camera gallery circle, but upon tapping it, the photo disappears. In some occasions, the photo doesn't appear at all at first, but it will reappear in their gallery a day later.

There's also some reports of Galaxy S9, Moto Z2, Moto E4, and Nexus 5X owners experiencing the issue after using Google Camera, so it's unclear whether the issue is limited to Pixel phones or if it's connected to a larger Android bug. For now, users have come up with a workaround for an issue they believe is related to HDR photo processing time. Reddit user erbat suggests leaving the camera app open until HDR processing completes or turning off the HDR function completely.

47 comments

  1. NOTHING OF VALUE LOST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just sayin.

    1. Re:NOTHING OF VALUE LOST by crunchygranola · · Score: 0

      I swear that when I saw the headline I thought it said "Some Google Pixel Owners' Camera Photos Aren't Worth Saving " and wondered how that could be a story.

      --
      Second class citizen of the New Gilded Age
    2. Re:NOTHING OF VALUE LOST by ole_timer · · Score: 1

      either way it's not a story

      --
      nothing to see here - move along
  2. Well done Google! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Glad I use a custom ROM. CyanogenMod/LineageOS stock camera app FTW.

    If you're stuck on a carrier supplied firmware, try Simple Camera. It's very basic but it does the job.

    Open Camera is another possibility, but I've had problems with it not saving pictures too.

  3. Android - totally ready for prime time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can tell by the QA on this #1 most popular feature, these guys aren't cutting any corners.

    1. Re:Android - totally ready for prime time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well someone with mod points just had their hair parted.

  4. Yes, it isn't new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This has been a 'feature' of my shitty Nexus 5x since somewhere around Marshmallow end to Nougat. I wondered if it was a wider problem, shit for response to it from Google as usual.

    1. Re: Yes, it isn't new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True dat. Why fix it when you can just add more broken features. Sounds like google to me. Or even better, come out with a competing product that completes with your own and further fragment your products. Thatâ(TM)s google.

  5. I don't think ... by PPH · · Score: 1

    ... my Rolleiflex has ever failed to save a picture.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:I don't think ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to have one of those. Don't know what ever happened to it though.

      Hmm, now where did I put that Kodak 4000?

    2. Re:I don't think ... by thomst · · Score: 1

      PPH observed:

      ... my Rolleiflex has ever failed to save a picture.

      The differences between your rollie and a Pixel include the fact that the rollie is a one-trick pony (in addition to the fact that your rollie uses actual film), whereas the Pixel is a general-purpose computer integrated with an cell phone and a digital camera - er, sorry, I meant "and digital cameras."

      The rollie takes photos. Full stop.

      You're essentially comparing an apple to a grocery store ...

      --
      Check out my novel.
    3. Re:I don't think ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, are you really that much of a shut-in loser? The basic nuances of human communications seem utterly lost on you.

      He's comparing a camera to a doorstop. (AspieTip: The Google Pixel is the doorstop)

    4. Re:I don't think ... by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      ... my Rolleiflex has ever failed to save a picture.

      But neither has my iPhone.

    5. Re:I don't think ... by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Wow, are you really that much of a shut-in loser? The basic nuances of human communications seem utterly lost on you.

      and then

      (AspieTip

      Classy...

    6. Re:I don't think ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not all of us can be spineless and dishonest like you. Some of us actually call things as they are. The fact that you are incapable of grasping that concept means that you're probably an aspie too.

    7. Re:I don't think ... by PPH · · Score: 1

      You're essentially comparing an apple to a grocery store ...

      A grocery store that is all out of apples. So if that's what you wanted ...

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    8. Re:I don't think ... by thomst · · Score: 1

      I pointed out:

      You're essentially comparing an apple to a grocery store ...

      Prompting PPH to reply:

      A grocery store that is all out of apples. So if that's what you wanted ...

      It's not, though. The bug described in TFS is a product of users closing the camera app - or shutting off their Pixel - before it has fully finished processing an HD photo. (Note that some users discover that the"missing" photo turns up in their gallery - which is to say "in their Google Camera /pictures directory - "a day or so later." Which very likely means "within seconds," but the user in question didn't actually bother to look there until a day or so later.)

      So the grocery store in my simile isn't "all out of apples," after all. The display case for apples is empty at the time the shopper looks at it, but there are plenty of apples in the stockroom, and all it takes is a little patience - a very little patience - on the shopper's part until the display case is restocked.

      BTW - I wasn't actually criticizing you. If I had had points, I'd've given you a +1 Funny upmod. But I was all out, so I went into Literalist Fuckhead mode, and replied to your post, instead ...

      --
      Check out my novel.
    9. Re:I don't think ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why isn't it completing the job in the background then? Or why doesn't it tell the user that it's working and have an hourglass cursor or that spinning circle shit that everyone seems to use now? How come other camera apps don't have this problem? I snap tons and tons of pictures with my phone and have never had a problem.

      What you're doing is called "victim blaming". The users are not at fault, the camera app is.

  6. Same bug since at least the Nexus 5X days by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nexus 5X has same issue/bug with Google Camera. Perhaps even older phones too?

  7. Easy workaround by Guillermito · · Score: 1

    This seems to be related to the battery optimization mode introduced in Android 6 (also know ans "Doze"). It seem that when you turn off the phone screen immediately after taking a photo, Doze tries to optimize the battery usage too aggressively and that kills the camera background process while it is trying to save the photo in the background. This is especially noticeable when the HDR mode is on and extra processing is required. Deactivating Doze for the Camera and Photos applications fixes the issue for me (This can be found in Setting -> Apps & notifications -> Special Apps Access -> Battery Optimization).

  8. Sure they are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... it's just really hard to see a single pixel!

  9. Yep - anecdotal info - but this happens on my P2XL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fairly repeatable bug on my Pixel 2XL phone

  10. What about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...the ongoing issue where it replaces words with misspelt ones instead? After three updates this has yet to be fixed.

    On the upside my pixel 2 survived 4 days in a river, so that's good.

  11. not just Google phones by bigtreeman · · Score: 1

    not just Google phones.
    The last picture I took of my Dad disappeared.
    It reappeared days later with the bottom quarter lost.
    Locking the phone immediately seemed to cut off the picture processing.
    Luckily I've still got his last smile to remember him by.

    --
    Go well
  12. can we just stop mentioning android altogether? by gTsiros · · Score: 0

    it's embarrassingly low quality software, nothing of value comes from it

    --
    Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
    1. Re:can we just stop mentioning android altogether? by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Troll skills - poor... too obvious...

    2. Re:can we just stop mentioning android altogether? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unlike iOS, Mac OS and Windows, right?

      And I'm not sure how you expect people to stop mentioning Android when it is the number one consumer operating system in the world, with no close second, used by more than 2 billion people globally. Sounds like you're just jealous.

      I'll let get back to your family Mac and your Windows party. Glad Android never had anything embarrassing like those, LOL.

  13. Similar problem in Nexus 5X by trawg · · Score: 1

    I had this problem with the Nexus 5X. Was driving me fucking nuts until I figured out what the cause was; I lost a few important photos.

    In my case it was because I had HDR enabled. What would happen (I think) is I'd take an HDR photo and there'd be a small moment after the photo was taken where it would be "processing". There was a little notification in the taskbar as it was doing this.

    What I realised was if I switched applications while this would happening, the final output file would get saved in a corrupted state - it would just show as an all grey picture.

    I simply stopped using HDR at this point. I wonder if it's related.

    1. Re:Similar problem in Nexus 5X by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not the first to make the connection. I had a similar problem (but in my case, the bug resulted in no image being saved at all) and stumbled on that theory in an Android forum. I bet it's the same dang bug (which means it's YEARS old), and one of many reasons I'm happy I switched to an iPhone.

  14. Can confirm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Moto E4 has this issue.

    It happens reliably if you boot the phone up and open a few big apps (Inbox, Google Maps, Youtube), then take two HDR photos, then lock the phone.

    Only one of your two HDR photos will be in the gallery when you unlock.

  15. c6gunner IMPERSONATING me again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: his FAKEname on a post impersonating me https://linux.slashdot.org/com... & altering /.er's words.

    c6gunner tried to mock me 1st https://linux.slashdot.org/com...

    So I challenge c6gunner to show he did better work than mine & he CAN'T!

    YOU DEMAND PROOF of others here?

    "I've yet to see you provide any evidence of that." by c6gunner on Monday March 15, 2010 @10:02PM (#31490942) ?

    So now I DEMAND IT OF YOU & YOU FAIL!

    c6gunner = "Run, Forrest: RUN!!!

    * c6gunner's LYING saying I did a MacOS X one - I haven't yet & c6gunner's LYING impersonating me saying hosts work vs. Intel CPU issues (spectre/meltdown).

    APK

    P.S.=> You say hosts = shit here https://slashdot.org/comments.... ?

    FACTS: /.ers & security pros + RESULTS say DIFFERENT:

    1st: /.ers https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments....

    2nd: SECURITY PROS https://slashdot.org/comments....

    3rd: REAL RESULTS w/ hosts vs. threats https://slashdot.org/comments....

    EAT YOUR WORDS!

  16. Mr. Impersonator of me: Still sore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mr. Impersonator of me: Still buttsore from an ASS-KICKING I gave you here https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... & https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... + https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... on hosts files?

    YES, obviously - lol, your "effete revenge" was DOWNMODS I ran you DRY of as always!

    After you tried VAINLY to "downmod" HIDE all of that here & UNDENIABLE https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... LITERALLY (I just reposted to NULLIFY your 'wannabe weapon' NEUTRALIZING it & EXPOSING YOU LOSING to me, lol!).

    APK

    P.S.=> I love it - especially seeing u REDUCED to TRYING to LIE about me (or LIBEL me) as you IMPERSONATE me (proving you WISH you were me, but you're INFERIOR imitation (& just plain INFERIOR on ALL levels))... apk

  17. Re:Mr. Impersonator of me: Still sore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can confirm that this is not the real APK. The real APK is a much bigger sore loser

    Sad! because everyone on Slashdot loves to mock APK. He's our most infamous coward.

    ZIP - So much winning...

    P.S. => I was recently informed that APK Hosts Engine is malware. And I have to agree with the conclusion.

  18. There are still Nexus 5X users? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Would've thought the bootloop took care of them years ago. I guess there are a few people who bought it just before it got discontinued...

  19. Time to DESTROY you point by point w/ proof... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As far as SOROS LOSERS like u? U LOSE BAD https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... there (for starters).

    ZIP (w/ "registered 'luser'" account YET HIDES FROM ME stalking me by UNIDENTIFIABLE ac https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... )?

    DUSTED BAD (like you in 1st link above) https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    APK

    P.S.=> TomHudson /.'s "TrAnStEsTiCuLaR MoNsTrOsiTy", lol)? DESTROYED (by his OWN addled BRAIN):

    "His only "legend in his own mind" was that he claimed that "his" hosts file could completely secure a windows computer. " - by tomhudson (43916) on Saturday February 12, @11:19AM (#35186644)

    "I never claimed a HOSTS file can secure you completely... show me where I have?" was MY REPLY.

    I DO say hosts do more for less for more speed/security/reliability & anonymity vs. other 'solutions' that are SLOW & SECURITY ISSUE riddled (DNS/AntiVirus) & less complexity for exploit & NATIVELY (no STUPID "ILLOGIC-logic" dumb "Bolt-on-'MoAr'" BUGGY SLOW BULLSHIT)... apk

  20. Re:Time to DESTROY you point by point w/ proof... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Go back to sucking dicks behind the Sizzler.

  21. Re:Time to DESTROY you point by point w/ proof... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're already there doing it. Why do you invite competition to your life's work behind Sizzler? Post before yours crushed you, Stick to sucking dick.