Wish I had a grip on coding… Say bye to proprietary chains. Great hardware, but you either just get along with Sony’s software because you have to. Or you hate it. Now Sony kinda goes the Samsung open source way. Sony is opening up its camera API to anyone that wants to write a remote control smartphone app.

Sony’s on a roll lately. They’re not only releasing the industry’s leading innovative products. Now free development and creativity get unleashed. Imagine the possibilities. The QX lens modules paired with Google Glass plus the implementation of Instagram, Flickr etc.

This is the real deal. By encouraging independent remote app development, Sony announced that developers will be able to take control of eight cameras to begin with, and more will follow:

• HDR-AS30 and HDR-AS15 action cameras
• HDR-MV1 music video recorder
• QX100 and QX10 lens camera modules
• NEX-6, NEX-5R, NEX-5T compatible with PlayMemories Camera Apps

Code is beautiful and the sky’s the limit. Sony says the JSON-based API is easy to learn and use. Imagine the possibilities of allowing third party app control of Wi-Fi-equipped digital cameras from smartphones. And Sony invites you to distribute your application on many platforms. Will make the QX even more poplar.

The Web-based API is platform-agnostic. You’ll be able to port apps between iOS, Android, Windows and other platforms with comparatively few changes. As of now, PlayMemories doesn’t support Windows devices, but that’s only a matter of time.

Find more details on Sony’s Camera Remote Apps Developer Program site, enabling anyone to “develop creative, compelling apps for yourself and others.” However, technical support is only available for U.S. and Japan-based developers.