Using The Camera Flash/LED as a Flashlight

[pacifichero]

This is a basic tip.
That little LED/Flash on the back of your newer BlackBerry can easily be used as a flashlight if you just know how to pull it off. You need OS 4.3+ as far as I remember since it requires the video recording application for the option. This trick just involves enabling the flash option in the video recorder. This gives you a bright light (much brighter than simply illuminating the screen). You don’t need to do any actual recording, just launch the app when you need the light.

Instructions:

1. Open the BlackBerry Video Camera application
2. Hit the menu button and select Options
3. The first option should be Video Light
4. Highlight that option and hit the spacebar to change it to On
5. You will get a warning saying that this will drain your battery but select yes

Now every time you fire up the Video Camera application the LED/Flash will automatically turn on. You do not need to record anything for it to work. For even simpler access just set the Video Camera to open using one of your side convenience keys.

Enjoy

[AZBBFAN]

You are awsome!! How cool!!! another reason I love crackberry!!!!

[ncsttsccr]

if you have quicklaunch you can set video cam in there and just name it as flash light so that when you turn it on it works as one

also you could set it to one of your conv keys if you don't use third party apps to make a shortcut for it

[mattmext]

Originally Posted by cjjeffers

You are awsome!! How cool!!! another reason I love crackberry!!!!

Yes this site is the best!

[DTL]

i'd like a proper application to do this, when u move the phone from portrait to landscape the light cuts out for a few seconds very annoying when ur trying to look inside a pc case,

and.. you guys never thought of doing this b4? lol

[noaim]

I have done this but I wonder if the developers have access to the API to trigger that light it would be slick to have a 1 button push to turn it on...

[stav]

I've been doing this for a while now but I agree its irritating when you switch from landscape to portrait. Does anyone know of a dedicated flashlight app that uses this instead of just activating the screen?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Craterz]

Originally Posted by stav

I've been doing this for a while now but I agree its irritating when you switch from landscape to portrait. Does anyone know of a dedicated flashlight app that uses this instead of just activating the screen?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

I believe there's a few, know of at least 2, look in the Storm 3rd Party apps sub-forum.

Originally Posted by DTL

i'd like a proper application to do this, when u move the phone from portrait to landscape the light cuts out for a few seconds very annoying when ur trying to look inside a pc case,

and.. you guys never thought of doing this b4? lol

Originally Posted by stav

I've been doing this for a while now but I agree its irritating when you switch from landscape to portrait. Does anyone know of a dedicated flashlight app that uses this instead of just activating the screen?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Disable autorotation and it will not switch.

[MakinMeFamous22]

I really dont think that there are any 3rd party apps. that use the camera led. I do however know for sure that there are many upon many 3rd parties that have apps that use the indication led or brighten the screen and they call that a flashlight.

[NasaRacer]

I used the Flash LED as a Flashlight last weekend for a camping trip and it was amazing. Friends on the trip commented that the little light was brighter than a full size maglight. The trick is used to stop the light from turning on an off during rotation was actually to start video "Record" then the light stays on. But you do have stupid videos to erase. A dedicated one button Flashlight would be a very very nice addition.

[The_Fuzz22]

If you've got auto-dim switched on and you're not recording, the screen will dim unless you're constantly touching it (not clicking) with your finger.
The flashlight goes with it I'm afraid :\

[pkcable]

You made the big time! I moved the thread to How To.

[letsgohalos]

this is a cool tip. although it does get annoying sometimes when it switches back a fourth from portrait to landscape.

[ClericSoftware]

The flash really does make a great light.