Techniques to selectively capture visual media using a single interface element

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at an application, a report of a haptic engagement signal from an operating system under which the application runs;

sending, from the application to the operating system, a first instruction to configure a visual media capture controller in a photo capture mode in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal;

receiving, at the application, a captured photograph from the operating system;

sending, from the application to the operating system, a second instruction to configure the visual media capture controller in a video capture mode in response to receiving the captured photograph from the operating system;

starting a threshold length timer in response to initiation of video capture, the threshold length timer configured to expire after a first preset duration corresponding to an upper threshold video length compatible with a visual media sharing service;

enforcing the threshold length timer pertaining to the visual media sharing service at the application;

determining that the threshold length timer has expired or that a report of a haptic disengagement signal has been received before expiration of the threshold length timer;

instructing the operating system to complete capture of the video in response to the determining; and

uploading the captured video to a network server.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

starting a first timer in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a press threshold duration;

receiving a report of a haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer; and

discarding the captured video in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

starting a first timer in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a preset duration;

receiving a report of a haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

instructing the operating system to complete capture of the video in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

starting a video duration timer in response to initiation of video capture, the video duration timer configured to expire after a minimum video duration;

receiving a report of a haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the video duration timer; and

sending an instruction to the operating system to cancel capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the video duration timer.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

displaying the captured photo;

receiving a user command to transmit the captured photo; and

uploading the captured photo to a network server in response to the received user command.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

displaying the captured video;

receiving a user command to transmit the captured video; and

uploading the captured video to a network server in response to the received user command.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor circuit on a device;

a touch controller operative to receive a haptic engagement signal;

a visual media capture controller operative to be configured in a photo capture mode, capture a photograph using the photo capture mode, be configured in a video capture mode after capturing the photograph, and capture a video using the video capture mode;

a storage device operative to store the photograph; and

an application running under an operating system on the electronic device to receive a first report of the haptic contact engagement from the operating system, to send a first instruction to the operating system to engage the visual media capture controller in the photo capture mode in response to receiving the first report of the haptic contact engagement, to receive the captured photograph from the operating system, to send to the operating system a second instruction to configure the visual media capture controller in the video capture mode in response to receiving the captured photograph from the operating system, to start a threshold length timer in response to initiation of video capture, the threshold length timer configured to expire after a first preset duration corresponding to an upper threshold video length compatible with a visual media sharing service, to enforce the threshold length timer pertaining to the visual media sharing service at the application, to determine that the threshold length timer has expired or that a report of a haptic disengagement signal has been received before expiration of the threshold length timer, to instruct the operating system to complete capture of the video in response to the determining, and to upload the captured video to a network server.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

the touch controller operative to receive a haptic disengagement signal before expiration of a first timer, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset press threshold duration; and

the visual media capture controller operative to discard the captured video in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

the touch controller operative to receive the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of a first timer, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration;

the visual media capture controller operative to complete capture of the video in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

the storage device operative to store the video.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

the touch controller operative to receive a haptic disengagement signal before expiration of a video duration timer, the third timer started in response to initiation of video capture, the video duration timer configured to expire after a minimum video duration;

the visual media capture controller operative to cancel capture of the video in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the video duration timer.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

a display operative to display the captured photo;

the touch controller operative to receive a user command to transmit the captured photo; and

the storage device operative to upload the captured photo to a network server in response to the received user command.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

a display operative to display the captured video;

the touch controller operative to receive a user command to transmit the captured video; and

the storage device operative to upload the captured video to a network server in response to the received user command.

13. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive, at an application, a report of a haptic engagement signal from an operating system under which the application runs;

send, from the application to the operating system, a first instruction to configure a visual media capture controller in a photo capture mode in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal;

receive, at the application, a captured photograph from the operating system;

send, from the application to the operating system, a second instruction to configure the visual media capture controller in a video capture mode in response to receiving the captured photograph from the operating system;

start a threshold length timer in response to initiation of video capture, the threshold length timer configured to expire after a first preset duration corresponding to an upper threshold video length compatible with a visual media sharing service;

enforce the threshold length timer pertaining to the visual media sharing service at the application;

determine that the threshold length timer has expired or that a report of a haptic disengagement signal has been received before expiration of the threshold length timer;

instruct the operating system to complete capture of the video in response to the determining; and

upload the captured video to a network server.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

start a first timer in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a press threshold duration;

receive a report of a haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer; and

instruct the operating system to discard the captured video in response to receiving the report of the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

start a first timer in response to receiving the report of the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a preset duration;

receive a report of a haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer;

instruct the operating system to complete capture of the video in response to receiving the report of the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

store the captured video.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

start a video duration timer in response to initiation of video capture, the third timer configured to expire after a minimum video duration;

receive a report of the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the video duration timer; and

instruct the operating system to cancel capture of the visual media in response to receiving the report of the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the video duration timer.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

display the captured photo;

receive a user command to transmit the captured photo; and

upload the captured photo to a network server in response to the received user command.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

display the captured video;

receive a user command to transmit the captured video; and

upload the captured video to a network server in response to the received user command.