Product: HappyCo Property Management Application (HPMA)
Available in HPMA Release 2.17.0 onward
Overview
The Happy Property Maintenance app has a brand new camera package which supports native camera functions and has smoother pinch-to-zoom, multi-lens support, and video capture capabilities. The new camera UI is designed to as closely as possible resemble your native operating system's camera, so the controls feel familiar right away.
How to enable it
Native camera for HPMA is released via Release Updates. To turn it on for your account:
- In HappyCo Manage, go to Admin Centre > Release Updates.
- Search for Native camera for HPMA.
- Switch it on.
Once enabled, Native camera for HPMA will be available on your next HPMA refresh.
How to disable it
Return to Admin Centre > Release Updates, find Native camera for HPMA, and switch it off.
Where you can use it
Once enabled, the new camera appears anywhere you would take a photo in HPMA.
The camera UI
The new camera UI is designed to as closely as possible resemble your phone's native camera, so the gestures and controls feel familiar straight away.
- Centre — the capture photo button.
- Left of centre — cycles through the different zoom levels and lenses your device supports.
- Far left — the photo gallery — tap to review what you've already captured.
- Right — flash settings.
- Far right — front/back camera toggle.
Pinch anywhere in the preview to zoom in or out — pinch-to-zoom is now a fast, smoother experience, with multi-lens support on devices that have multiple lenses.
Recording videos
Where video capture is available, the video UI also closely resembles your native operating system's video camera. Toggle to video, tap the shutter to start recording, and tap again to stop. Pinch-to-zoom and tap-to-focus continue to work while recording.
While recording, you can tap the capture photo button on the right-hand side of the video UI to take stills without stopping the recording.
If you background the app or run out of disk space during a recording, the partial video is saved automatically.
Settings that stick
The new camera remembers your preferences between sessions:
- Flash mode — auto, on, off, or torch.
- Camera position — front or back.
Photo and video modes each keep their own settings, so the camera opens the way you left it each time.
Switching between the new and old camera
While Native camera for HPMA is in Early Access, account admins can switch back and forth from Admin Centre > Release Updates. Your existing inspections, photos, and reports are not affected by switching cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't I see ultrawide or telephoto lens buttons?
Lens buttons reflect what your device physically supports. A single-lens phone or tablet won't show ultrawide or telephoto options.
Does the new camera work offline?
Yes. Capture works fully offline, and your photos and videos sync when you reconnect.
My zoom feels different on Android vs iOS — is that expected?
The controls behave the same on both platforms. Available zoom range and lens switch-over points are determined by the device's camera hardware, which can differ between phones.
Do my old photos stay where they are?
Yes. Existing photos and inspections are unchanged. The new camera only changes how new photos are captured.
Where do I report a problem?
Reach out to your CSM or HappyCo Support. Please include your device model, OS version, and a short description of what happened.