Saturday, January 22, 2011

[Android] How To Take A Snapshot Of Your Android Phone's Screen (Root Needed)

Update: It seems there is a solution for the un-rooted phones. It is a paid app though. If you're interested, its USD4.99 No Root Screenshot It
On a side note, most phones today have built-in screenshot capabilities as more and more manufacturers hear the feedback from users, you just have to find out by looking on forums or do a google search.


Update 2: I did a search on Android Market and these 2 mentioned apps below are sadly not there anymore. Well here's a search list of "screenshot" on Android Market, hope it helps!
Screenshot Apps on Android Market




Before I begin, know that these two Apps requite Root Access to your Android Phones.
(I'll touch on the topic of Root in a later Post, if you have not root your phone, you'll have to use another method which needs your PC to take snapshots)


ShootMe and Screenshot (by GIKSoft)
ShootMe and Screenshot are two Apps that you can use in different situations, depending on your needs.
ShootMe requires you to interact with the App in order to take a snapshot, with the exception of Continuous Mode (Video Mode).
While Screenshot does not need your interaction when you set a timed delay for a snapshot.



ShootMe
The Main Screen of ShootMe.
(When you launch the App, it will ask for Root Access Permission, just tap Allow/Yes. It will only ask this once.)
Notice the Microphone Icon, when tapped, this will disable the Shout to capture function if it was enabled beforehand.
Main Screen of ShootMe.
Tap on Hide to hide this interface and start using ShootMe. Remember to launch the App again to Quit it, or you would have a snap-happy ShootMe in your pocket later :D
(or long press Home to bring up recently used Apps)
The Preference Menu.
Note: Remember to untick the Shutter Sound if you do not want ShootMe to play a sound when you take a snapshot.
From the Preference Menu, you can select the modes of snapshot method.
There are currently 4 methods of snapshot.
The recently added Continuous method allows you to shoot a video continuously with the maximum frame rate of 10 FPS.
**This function is unique to this App as of now.
Here you can set the Codec used to capture the Continuous mode.
Two formats of snapshot is supported.


Screenshot by GIKSoft
Main menu of Screenshot.
There is no Preference Menu, all the options are here.
There are 2 modes of taking a snapshot, Timed Delay and Shaking the phone.
Note: If you ticked the Shake option, you need to tap Home on your Android Phone to use this function. Tapping Back on your Android will only Close this App. Just remember to launch this App again to untick the Shake option. (or long press Home to bring up recently used Apps)
Tapping on the Delay before shot, you can select how many Seconds delay the App will take a snapshot after you tap on Take Screenshot button. The max delay time is 40 seconds.
**Comes in handy when you're in a crowded room or in public places where you don't want people to think you're nuts when you start shaking your phone, or shout into it like a madman every now and then ;)

Three formats of snapshot available in Screenshot.


Get these 2 Apps in the Android Market, they're free!
Just scan the QR codes below with a barcode/QR scanner (they're available in the Market too)

*I've removed the QR codes as these apps are not available anymore on Android Market.*