Android version 11 prevents users from choosing a third party camera app (such as Open Camera or Camera MX) as an option when using other apps that take photos such as the HomeGauge Companion. Because of this we've introduced a photo compression feature in the latest version of the HomeGauge Companion for Android that allows you to select from 3 preset photo sizes, or input your own. Follow the steps below to enable, configure or disable this feature.
Note: If you are on Android 11 or later and have the latest version of the Android Companion, this feature is enabled by default. If you are on Android 10 or below, the feature is disabled by default, but can be enabled if desired.
If you do not see the Photo Options menu, you may not be on the latest version of the Companion. To find your current version, tap Menu > About. The version should be 5.4.1.6 or later. You can find the latest version in the Android Play store. You need to be running Android 7.0 or later to install updates.
Photo Size Options
To find the settings for this feature, tap the menu
Tap More
Tap Photo Options
In the Photo Options menu, you can enable or disable the feature by tapping the check box. Once enabled, you can choose between the 3 provided size presets, or tap Other and enter your own value. Note: The default value for Other is half-way between Small and Medium, but can be set to any size you prefer. The size for all presets is measured in pixels as width, e.g. 1024 means the photo will be 1,024 pixels wide in landscape mode or 1,024 pixels tall in portrait mode.
Photos can not be set larger than your device's max size. If you choose a value larger than this, it will reset to the default size for your camera.
Note that when taking photos using the Large preset, or a larger value in Other, you may receive a warning that the photo has a large file size recommending you use a smaller size. This message can be disabled by checking the Do not Show Message Again box, however if you take a large number of photos, we highly recommend you use a lower quality setting.
Selecting Default Camera
1. Open your HomeGauge Companion on your Android device.
2. Select the three dots at the top right-hand corner of the app
3. Select More >
4. Select Photo Options
If you do not see the Photo Options menu, you may not be on the latest version of the Companion. To find your current version, tap Menu > About. The version should be 5.4.1.6 or later. You can find the latest version in the Android Play store. You need to be running Android 7.0 or later to install updates.
5. Uncheck the box next to Use HG Camera instead of Android default camera app