You might wonder why bother using an Android device to control your digital camera. Well, there sure are a lot of benefits:

1. Combination of Android software/hardware with your camera's hardware capabilities to create a super machine:

The built-in camera is lousy and the digital camera doesn't have GPS nor Internet connection. By mixing the two in one system, you can use Open CV to edit the camera view, do some advanced image processing, face recognition, instantly share your pictures using social networks like Facebook and blogs...etc.

2. One set of hardware with multiple/custom user interfaces to flexibly satisfy different end-users:

If your grandma is uncomfortable with those complicated buttons and configurations on the camera itself, why not download an application called "Canon DSLR for Dummies". Your grandma will just take a tablet or a phone along with the camera, touch 3 huge buttons to take pictures and videos. And cool, she will be using the most complicated camera in her daily life! You can also make the user interface super scientific in the Android application, to fine-tune, save, share, download and upload different configurations for your camera.

3. It turns your camera into dual-screen camera. 

The best thing about having the dual screen on your digital camera is that you can take really good self portrait pictures and so no-one has to be missing from the pictures any more. You can position the camera and see as you stand how the picture will look and so this makes taking these types of pictures much easier. The dual screen also offers other advantages though and can be used to display a range of information. One of the coolest features is the way they can display a nice smiling image just before the camera takes the photo and so the subjects can tell when to smile and know when to smile for the photo. This is brilliant if you are taking photos of children as they can display something that they will like such as a clown and so they know to smile when they see this image.

4. Remote control capability. 

Your phone is perfect for working with those IP surveillance cameras. You can easily get live video streaming anywhere, and change the camera angle by touching your phone screen. 

How to control using an Android device?

1. Direct control solutions from Android to Camera:

Usually this approach is wired. Sometimes you need to have custom ROM on your Android device. For example, the DSLR Controller is an EOS utility app for use with Canon DSLR cameras:

Or this on-going project with nice features:

http://www.camera-control.com/p/feature-list.html

2. Indirect control solutions using a microcontroller (e.g.: from Android to Arduino to Camera):

As far as I know, there are many non-standard hacks that already used the Arduino board to control or trigger camera, for example:

http://www.circuitsathome.com/camera-control/digital-camera-control-using-arduino-usb-host-shield-part-1-basics

To add Android control, you only need to add connection between Android and Arduino (using bluetooth or USB cable), which is easily done here (I made a list of solutions):

http://www.diyphonegadgets.com/2011/10/diyers-lets-make-complete-list-of.html

3. Using WiFi to control Cameras with WiFi or Ethernet features (e.g.: an IP surveillance camera or a camera with a smartphone OS):

This is an example using Android to control the Samsung SH100 using the "Remote Viewfinder": 

Here are some connectivity modes between Android and another WiFi device:

http://www.diyphonegadgets.com/2011/10/3-possible-ways-for-android-to-control.html

I am sure there are more cool solutions to connect Android to your camera. DIYers and manufacturers, let us know what your choice is!

We have just made this  "1-Click WiFi Tether No Root" application, which allows you to transform your Android phone into a wireless hotspot. 


1. It easily and quickly enables WiFi Tethering hotspot AP in 1-Click.


2. It does NOT require root access.


3. It works on MOST devices with Android 2.3 or above, with MOST operators. 


4. If Wi-Fi tethering is not yet possibile with your device because of some device or carrier restrictions, we have prepared USB or bluetooth tethering as your alternative choices.


The app has been downloaded 300,000 times. You can get it for free in Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.diyphonegadgets.wifihotspot

Use it to get Internet connection on Windows, Mac, another phone or tablet, Ubuntu, Wii, PS3 and a lot more, everywhere. One of our users use it in the woods and dance with xBox live! What a wonderful portable party!


Perhaps the world's lightest, cleanest and fastest app for launching WiFi hotspot. We have reduced the app size to almost nothing.


If you want a secured connection with password protection, or be able to customize your hotspot AP name, please download the pro version here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.diyphonegadgets.wifihotspot.pro

Or search "1-Click WiFi Tether Pro" in the store.


Important: If this works on your unrooted device, please don't accept system updates, otherwise this application will be banned and will not be compatible with your new system any more. The only solution then should be to root your beloved phone.



Its purpose is to avoid and replace the standard manual configuration, which requires at least 5 clicks everytime you need to start WiFi tethering, which might also ask you to enter some text to configure the WiFi hotspot.

If you use this application, you only need 1 click without entering anything.

We have tested it mainly with European carriers. It works on most devices with Android 2.2 or higher.
Whether it works is really carrier or device specific. Please do not give it a bad rating. Thanks:)

Possible reasons if it doesn't work :

1. Your operator doesn't support WiFi tethering and blocks it on purpose.
2. Your phone's 3G connection is too weak.
3. Your system ROM had been modified by the manufacturer
4. You don't have a data plan on your SIM card

Here are some user reviews:

★★★★★ ScottyB Apr 9 Galaxy Nexus
5 stars for first try! So simple, literally 1-click.

★★★★★ Patti Feb 29 Galaxy S
Great for those who don't want to root

★★★★★ Dana Jun 9 LG Ally
Love this app! I get internet access anywhere on any device.

★★★★★ Pauline Jul 1 ZTE Score
This is the only wifi hotspot i found that works, runs smoothly no problem :)

★★★★★ Jacob Apr 23 LG Ally
Best! Perfect! Really glad it's so small too!

★★★★★ David Dec 10 LG Ally
Wow! Just minutes after I downloaded this, I was able to tether my phone to my Xbox & connect to Xbox Live while in a cabin in the middle of the woods!

★★★★★ Alex Jan 22 Moto Atrix
Have been trying to find a tether app for non rooted devices. Finally found one that works great. I have a Motorola with Gingerbread 2.3.4 with Vodafone carrier in Spain. Worked perfect on first try.

★★★★★ Massimo Jan 22 Galaxy Nexus
Fantastiko. Asks only wifi permission and don't have to give away my contacts, my identity, my wife, the colour of my undies etc

★★★★★ Justin Dec 8 Moto Droid X2
Used it to link 2 phones to play games using wifi and it works great

★★★★★ Shelby Jan 25 Huawei U8800-51
Perfect and works flawlessly with my iPad!

★★★★★ Achint Jun 24 Galaxy S2
Simple! I am not the types who rate an app but this is really worth it.

★★★★★ Wayne Mar 10 Huawei Att Impulse
I've tried several ways of tether and have failed each and every time with this wonderful app I've been able to tether my laptop wii and xbox360 successfuly great job

★★★★★ prashant Mar 9 LG Pecan
works with my psp and ps3 no problem at all especially easy to use. i tried every app in the market none worked but this one worked pretty awesome love it

★★★★★ Daniel Jun 16, 2012 Moto Photon 4G
Tried this wifi app on my Non-Rooted phone, had my PS Vita Hooked up using my Sprint 4g service. Deff worth it

★★★★★ YaqaKallah Jun 13, 2012 Huawei Ascend II
This has been a lifesaver in our home. It successfully connected our Laptops, Notebook & e-Book every single time instantly! Thanx DIY!

★★★★★ joe May 22, 2012 Moto Triumph
:)This app works the best out of any tether i have tried. It connects me the fastest and gives great speed. 6 stars, lol

Free download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.diyphonegadgets.wifihotspot

In our last post about the Top 10 Android Hardware Interface Tools, we have already been concentrating too much on the low-speed high-delay Bluetooth connectivity; we have also been hacking too hard (the ROM or the Android Debug Bridge) to ask the little micro USB port to give us serial Rx/Tx and prepared some Android libraries to avoid programming the microcontrollers; we have even been dying to get some low rate serial characters or PWM signals through the poor 3.5mm audio jack on the phone.

What haven't we tried? Due to the seemingly high-price issue, we haven't tried much those WiFi modules or dongles. But finally we ask: why not! WiFi means easier configuration (UDP/TCP/WiFi direct), secured connection, NO annoying cables, high speed data transmission (video streaming possible), smoother control (less delay), and the Internet of things.

What are the possible WiFi connection modes with an Android phone? The DIY Phone Gadgets community has drawn such a conclusion so far:

1.    Classic mode: WiFi router+Android+external WiFi device:

Thanks to the router, the Android device has full Internet connection, and can control multiple external WiFi devices within this local network. The inconvenience is that the LAN is not mobile (limited by the router's WiFi range).

Sample application or ideas:

Well, we haven’t seen something using WiFi and Android but we would love to test those good-looking arduino-compatible WiFi boards and shields very soon.

DomoticHome uses Android, Arduino and an Ethernet shield to provide simple home automation protocol. Based on that, it is hyper-easy to use WiFi shields to quickly realize the same thing. To port the project using a WiFi shield, we don’t even have to change anything on the Android side. Here is how it works:

2.    Ad Hoc P2P mode: Android+WiFi device, without WiFi router, where there are two types :

a) P2P Android Client mode:

The external device is the AP. The Android device is the client.

Sample application or ideas:

The AR Drone from Parrot. The AR Drone mother board is a WiFi AP.

b) P2P Android AP mode:

The Android device is the AP and the external WiFi device is the client.

Sample application or ideas:

There is no mature application of this type now in the market. But we do see pretty much potential. Unlike the P2P type A that is limited to be connected to one AP, the Android AP can control multiple external WiFi client devices. Shown in the Open World Forum 2011 in Paris, Yan’s “Chicken Haha Telepresence Robot” is the first prototype based on P2P WiFi Android AP solution. Multiple android devices can control multiple robots and get live video feedback, without needing a router.

FAQs: 

In P2P Ad Hoc mode, do we still have Internet access?

Nowadays, each Android device has only one WiFi module. Once configured to work in Ad Hoc P2P Android client mode, the phone will no longer have internet access unless the external AP can provide an Internet content (which is difficult). In P2P Android AP mode, more luckily, the Android device will have Internet access if it has a 3G connection.

How to enable Android WiFi tethering hotspot AP?

You don’t have to root the phone. The WiFi tethering hotspot (AP) is natively supported on Android 2.2 Froyo or above. One interesting thing that we noticed is that on all Android devices we have tested so far, the IP address of the Android AP is always 192.168.43.1. That makes it so easy to develop client applications without considering the server's IP address. What's more, we can even programmatically enable tethering mode and define the AP name in the Android code. It needs some hack because one of the pains to develop P2P Adhoc applications is that Android SDK doesn't provide explicit APIs to configure the network). In our next post, we will give you a tutorial to enable and configure P2P AP mode, both manually and programmatically.