This past Thursday, Apple applied for another patent. This time it was for the technology to use a mobile device’s orientation sensors to help correct photo problems.To fix problems such as tilt, the patent uses gyroscopes, compasses, or accelerometers to determine the device’s orientation. The photo could then be corrected on the fly, as it is being taken or after.

This is the next step in hardware fixes for common photography problems. Topping Flickr’s camera usage charts, the iPhone 4, is highly regarded as phone cameras go, with its backside-illumination sensor that’s more sensitive than conventional models.

Looks like Apple is just setting a new standard for cameras. We will soon be seeing this feature on digital cameras along with the sensors to counteract camera shake, over/under exposure and mis-focused pictures.