About a week ago rumors of an iPhone app that could shoot in RAW format raged across the Internet. The app in question, the 645 PRO by developer Jag.gr, was to be the first camera app for the iPhone to achieve this feat. And although by all accounts the app is a very impressive and useful app, it turns out that shooting in true RAW isn’t among its features.
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It’s been a long time coming, but today the popular photo snapping and sharing app Instagram finally launched for Android phones. While it offers the same filters as its iOS counterpart, the new app has a look and feel that’s geared towards Android’s interface. Some features are absent from the initial release (e.g. tilt shift, blur, live preview), but upcoming updates will bridge the gaps. The app is available as a free download from Google Play.
Instagram [Google Play]
Posing App is a new app that offers a pocket reference for poses — helpful for both photographers and models. The 140 hand-drawn poses come in a variety of flavors — children, couples, weddings, and women, to name a few — and are accompanied by short descriptions that provide additional pointers. The is available from the iTunes App Store for $2, and will be released for Android soon.
Rock Photographer is a new iPhone game that can be described as a mix between “Guitar Hero for photography” and “Pokemon Snap for adults”. Each level in the game presents real footage of “bands” in action, and the player’s job is to use their iPhone as a camera:
Just like a real camera, tilt your phone to look around inside level as the band plays. You can shoot from different positions to get the best angle. When you see something interesting happen, tap the screen to take a photo.
If your timing & frame is right, you’ll get big points! If not, you’re going to waste up all your film before the level is over. Special objectives are hidden throughout the levels waiting to be found. They just have to be taken at the perfect moment. Save up the points you earn to unlock hidden features, and become the World’s Greatest Rock Photographer!
The app was created as a collaboration between photographer Joey L and development duo the All Nighters.
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Can’t wait to use Instagram on your Android smartphone? The company has put up a new “coming soon” page for the impending Android app launch, and submitting your email address will provide you with a notification the moment the app becomes available to the public.
Instagram for Android (via TNW)
Wolfram Alpha has added a new in-app purchase option to its knowledge engine app that brings advanced image analysis and manipulation to iOS devices. The $0.99 add-on allows users to use photos taken on the fly or from their Camera Roll as input. They can then use the app to do things such as analysis, sharpening, edge detection, and apply various effects. You can find a list of available commands here.
(via Wolfram Alpha via Engadget)
If you’ve always wanted to be an astronaut photographer shooting images of Earth from a window of the International Space Station, Stratocam is an app for you. Created by Paul Rademacher, it allows you to snap your own photographs inside Google Maps’ satellite view of our planet. You can also view and rate other people’s photos, and browse the highest rated images from around the world.
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If you’re an Android user patiently waiting for Instagram to arrive on your phone, your wait may soon be over. Instagram founder Kevin Systrom showed off the company’s upcoming Android version at the SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, Texas this past weekend. The app is currently in private beta, and is set to be released soon. TechCrunch’s Kim-Mai Cutler writes,
Systrom also had one more thing up his sleeve — he showed off the company’s upcoming Android app. He waved it around very briefly on-stage, but he didn’t give a full demo. (That’s for later, and the company tells us they aren’t totally ready for a walkthrough yet.)
“In some ways, it’s better than our iOS app. It’s crazy,” he said.
He also states that they chose to stay exclusively on iOS until now to focus on scaling and innovating the app. The service just passed 27 million registered members and is rumored to be raising $40 million on a $500 million valuation.
(via TechCrunch via Gizmodo)
Image credit: The Secrets of Instagram’s Success, Kevin Systrom #FOWD by placenamehere
Photoshop guru Scott Kelby has released a free iPad app that teaches the lighting techniques he used for various photographs in his portfolio.
The newly released Scott Kelby’s Lighting Recipes is a free iPad app that walks you through twenty shots in thirteen different lessons. With an approximately 45 minute runtime, each lesson has a gear guide, and lighting diagrams, as well as production shots, and the final image. And yes, there is Kelby’s commentary as well.
Want to upgrade the camera on your iPhone for free? SmugMug has launched a new iOS camera app called Camera Awesome that puts a number of fancy features at your fingertips, including separate focus and exposure selection tools, a one-touch “Awesomeize” button, fancy guide lines (e.g. horizon, rule of thirds, golden rule), and effects (textures, filters, and frames).
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