Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.

Abstract: Implementations relate to blurring an image while preserving details in the image. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an input image and creating a blurred image from the input image by averaging pixel intensities of a plurality of pixels in the input image. The method creates a transparency mask from the input image, where the transparency mask indicates transparency values for pixel positions of the input image based on edges detected in the input image. The pixel intensities of the input image and pixel intensities of the blurred image are composited based on the transparency values of the transparency mask to create an output image having greater blur than the input image in areas outside the detected edges.