Use your Android tablet’s LED flash as a flashlight with Flashlight Widget
Having a LED “flash” (just a light, really) for your tablet’s camera is nice, but I’ve found that I much prefer using it as a flashlight than for actually taking photos. There are dozens of apps and widgets out there that lets you do this, and I tried quite a few of them in the search for a good one. Some of them were so ugly that I didn’t want their icon nor widget on my homescreen, others didn’t work with my Galaxy tab 7.0 Plus, while yet others turned the light on….and then left it there. Reboot time! Some also had such peculiar requirements for access that I skipped the: camera control (LED is part of the camera) and sleep prevention I get, but not SMS and call access.
After a lot of trial and error, I found Flashlight Widget. That’s Flashlight Widget with capital letters and flashlight in one word, not Flashlight widget or Flash Light Widget. I mention this because those naming variations actually exist. Flashlight Widget gave me the two things I wanted; a simple on/off widget that looks good, and compatibility with my device. Now I have a simply bulb-shaped Android mascot icon on my home screen that activates the LED on the back of the tablet when pressed. Very useful in situations where you just need a quick beam of light to find something in the dark.
Just because Flashlight Widget is great on my device doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for yours however. There seems to be quite a lot of compatibility issues with this type of hardware control, so you might have to try multiple apps and reboot your tablet to turn the light off a few times before you find the one that works for you. Bryan’s Widgetsoid recommendation is also worth checking out if you want flashlight capability as part of a bigger package. Not all tablets have LED lights on the back either, in which case you’re basically left with apps that make your screen bright and white.
[Android Market (Free)]
