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Hipstamatic brings its retro filter editing to video with Cinamatic
Hipstamatic was early to the filter-driven photo editing fray, and now it takes aim at Vine with the Cinamatic app. The new offering allows users to long press on the screen to record videos that range up to 15 seconds in length -- just like you've encountered before. Once the footage has been captured, a smattering of retro-inspired presets are available for punching up the vids. Unfortunately, there's no way to delete portions of of the video right now, so you'll have to start fresh when you drop an accidental expletive. Unlike Vine or some other popular apps, there's no built-in feed. Cinamatic means for you to beam clips out to other social avenues for circulation. The price of admission is $1.99 and it comes with five filters to start, with the ability to make those tempting in-app purchases to pad the toolbox.
Instagram reportedly blocking images uploaded through some third-party apps
Hipstamatic Oggl app users might want to rethink those subscriptions. Select Windows Phone 8 imaging apps, such as Instance, may no longer be able to upload images to Instagram's photo sharing service. According to a spokesperson's comment published on The Verge, the site has updated its API, restricting access to third-party apps in an effort to "fight spam to help prevent future attacks and increase security." Images apparently still pop up on the platform, but are deleted seconds later. For now, it appears that the only way to share images on Instagram is to capture them directly within the app, or through a supported service like Hipstamatic Oggl, leaving some WP8 and BlackBerry users out in the cold. Let's hope this unwelcome change means additional OS support is on the way. Update: We spoke to an Instagram representative, who provided the same ambiguous response we've already seen reported. "We recently made an update to the systems that we use to fight spam to help prevent future attacks and increase security. As part of this, applications accessing Instagram against the terms of our API may also be affected. This update does not specifically target any particular app or platform." Unfortunately, it's not clear which apps are affected, including Hipstamatic Oggl, but we're currently testing several third-party offerings and we'll share our results shortly. Update 2: We've managed to test Hipstamatic Oggl, and the app was successfully able to upload an image to Instagram. It appears that this new restriction is limited to apps that aren't accessing the service in line with API requirements.
Hipstamatic Oggl now available for Lumia, lets you post to Instagram from WP8
It's no secret that Windows Phone 8 users miss out on a variety of hit Android and iOS apps, including the ever-popular Instagram. Whether that application will ever make its way to Nokia's lineup is anyone's guess, but one new download will enable you to engage your better-equipped friends, albeit in a limited capacity. Hipstamatic Oggl, which is available free for Nokia's Lumia 928, 925, 920 and 820 today, brings a selection of filters, and, perhaps most notably for some, allows you to share your images on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, in addition to the Oggl network. You can only upload your photos to Instagram, though -- you can't view images there, or add likes and comments. Each download includes five "lenses" and five "films," though you can access the full library of filters with a $3 three-month or $10 one-year subscription. If you're not interested in paying to change colors and add borders, you can still snag 60 days of free access by downloading the app and creating an account before August 9th. Additionally, Lumia 1020 owners will have access to the Hipstamatic Oggl PRO app, which adds exclusive control over settings like white balance, ISO and shuttle speed. Download both at the source links below.
Vine and Flipboard coming soon to Windows Phone 8
Here's another app that's finally made it to Microsoft's mobile OS, Flipboard. We'll admit, we're fans, so it was great to see the news aggregator's icon line up alongside several other apps looking to take advantage of Nokia's new imaging SDK. Vine, however, wasn't mentioned there and was nestled within Nokia's official press release Unfortunately, there was no mention of a release date for either (although Hipstamatic will finally arrive when the Lumia 1020 does), but we'll update you when we hear more. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!
Hipstamatic's photo filter app Oggl now open for everyone
Hipstamatic's subscription-based photo filter app is now publicly available on iTunes, a few weeks after its invite-only launch. Oggl is a free download, and you get five of its parent app's virtual lenses and films that you can mix and match to concoct your own filters from the get-go -- it also lets you edit a photo's effects after you've taken it. But if you find its small selection of lenses and films limiting and you'd prefer to have the whole enchilada (read: all Hipstamatic filters), you've got to part with $2.99 per quarter or $9.99 per year. No word yet on whether an Android version is in the works, but a preview of the app shown at the Nokia Lumia 925 launch event indicates that it's on its way to Windows Phone 8.
Nokia marketing head: Customers' 'biggest complaint' is missing apps
We managed to grab a quick chat with Nokia's Global Head of Smartphone Marketing, Vesa Jutila, following the global launch of the Lumia 925. When asked about the still-notable absence of some mainstream apps within Windows Phone 8, Jutila was surprisingly frank. With reference to the company's Lumia series, he said that "the biggest complaint is that customers are missing the apps they want." Nokia has been on a recent charm offensive towards Instagram, not least with a mini Twitter campaign, but it announced earlier today that a new Hipstamatic Oggl app will be headed to Microsoft's mobile OS, capable of sharing through Twitter, Facebook and, yes, Instagram. However, for users coming from other platforms, they may find some first-party favorites missing -- with things like Google+ and Amazon Cloud Player being just a couple of examples. Jutila acknowledged that there were "some gaps" but said Nokia is "addressing this very strongly" with the help of Microsoft. He added: "[Developer attention] is very much driven by the absolute volume of Windows Phones in the market. That's why we're so pleased when other manufacturers also make Windows Phones." When asked if Nokia has a strategy for a scenario in which it becomes the only manufacturer of Windows Phones, Jutila replied "No, we don't have a strategy for that." Sharif Sakr contributed to this report.
Hipstamatic Oggl app coming to Windows Phone 8, launching with Nokia's Lumia 925
Hipstamatic's Oggl app and sharing service is coming to Windows Phone 8, we learned at Nokia's Lumia 925 launch event. We didn't get to play around in the app -- the WP8 UI we saw on stage was but a preview, as the native app (read: not a port) is still in development. We're assured Oggl will be ready by the time the new Lumia launches, but it won't be a Nokia exclusive, so anyone with a WP8 handset will be able to use the food filter and (over)share their lunch choice on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. We don't know whether the regular dollar-per-month (or $10 per year) service fee will apply, but we're told you'll be able to swap cash for more filters and effects on top of the base selection.
Hipstamatic launches Oggl, an all new photo app with subscription model
The folks at Hipstamatic know better than to mess with success. Their flagship photo filter app will continue to evolve, albeit slowly. More dramatic experiments in business model and UI design will instead show up in Oggl, the company's newest app that doesn't stray too far from the mold. The basic functionality is the same: snap a pic, edit it then post it for others to see. There are some key differences, however, besides the obvious aesthetic ones. Perhaps the most striking is the new business model, where users are charged $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year for full access to the library of Hipstamatic photo effects. There's also a focus on building a photo-sharing community around Oggl, much in the way Instagram has. The app is invite only (and we're still waiting for ours), but when it launches later this week the crowded high-brow photo sharing space will have yet another competitor.
Time Magazine cover image shot with iPhone: interview with Ben Lowy
Ben Lowy is what photography professionals call a "conflict photographer." He goes where the dramatic stories are, and in recent years has been to Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and now to the US states knocked hard by Hurricane Sandy. His equipment of choice? Often it's an iPhone 4S, plus some iOS apps for image editing and getting photos to his editors. Time Magazine likes his work so much that an image he captured with an iPhone recently graced the cover of the publication. Lowy told me by phone yesterday that he has really embraced the iPhone in the last few years. I asked him if it was embarrassing as a pro to be carrying an iPhone when most of his colleagues are into Nikon and Canon gear. "People don't think twice about it," Lowy told me. "It's a fast little camera and I do like that on a tough assignment." At times though, he says, "pros will push me aside" assuming he is a tourist or amateur. He's not a photographer who uses a lot of filters, but he does add some grain for effect, and plays with curves and color balance. The results are terrific, and sometimes people are surprised with the modest gear he uses to produce his iconic images. While in the field, Lowy carries two iPhones (if one fails) and Mophie Juice Packs, since there often is no place to recharge. He also carries a small LED light from Manfrotto. As for software, he often uses Hipstamatic and Snapseed. When working with Time, he uses the magazine's Instagram account to get pictures back while he is on assignment. If he has one complaint about the iPhone it is low-light performance. Lowy likes to do a lot of work at "Golden Hour" near dawn or sunset, and he wishes the iPhone would let him control shutter speed and depth of field. "What you are giving up is some creative control. You can do some things with filters, but the iPhone camera does have limitations." Sometimes the iPhone blows out highlights, and that's another thing he has to be aware of. On the other hand, Lowy loves the ability to get pictures out quickly to share them with an eager audience. I asked him about the iPhone as an artistic tool that competes with expensive camera equipment. Lowy says it is the mind of the photographer that defines the quality of the image, not the equipment. "Everyone has a pen," says Lowy, "but not everyone can draw." That sentiment is proven when you look at Lowy's images. You can see some of his impressive work at his website, and almost any day in the major news outlets.
Synthetic cuts development staff, refocuses business
Even though Synthetic is still actively launching products, the makers of Hipstamatic have cut its core staff as it tries to refocus on the future. The company has dropped to five employees, and those let go received full severance packages, The Next Web reports. It initially reported that Synthetic wasn't making enough money, though the company later contacted TNW to refute that. TNW also posted a tweet by developer Jonathan Wight, one of those let go, who said his team was "totally squandered where we are." Synthetic CEO Lucas Buick said the layoff happened as more of an effort to return the company to its art and creative roots. Hipstamatic is a lifestyle culture brand, he said, and not a typical software company. Synthetic's major release this year is Snap Magazine, a free culture magazine for the iPad that's driven by Hipstamatic photography. Buick said in his blog post that there are more than 100,000 subscribers since its launch a couple months ago. Even though Hipstamatic is well-received, it's currently ranked 11th in paid photo and video apps on the App Store and 93 overall. It's stuck behind powerhouses Camera+ and Instagram, the latter which has garnered plenty of mainstream media attention thanks to its acquisition by Facebook, along with TIME and Sports Illustrated magazines utilizing Instagram images in their print editions.
Hipstamatic's Snap is a beautiful magazine worth having on the iPad
One of the best places to show off sumptuous design and photography is the iPad, and Hipstamatic is taking advantage of that with its new Snap magazine, a digital publication that combines Hipstamatic user pictures with print and other art that's completely free. AllThingsD billed Snap as a photography magazine, but I agree with TechCrunch's assessment that it's more of a culture and lifestyle publication. While Hisptamatic images are the driving force behind the magazine, there is a lot to be said for the content. The first few pages cover some of Hipstamatic's original developers, as well as artists who describe how they utilize the app to create stellar images. Then you learn how to create the perfect mixtape, get those ruby red lips you've always wanted, use Guinness to create the perfect mussels dish and more. The articles are short and smartly written, and the design is just beautiful. There are minimal ads throughout, mostly for Hipstamatic partnerships and the #makebeautiful campaign that Hipstamatic is promoting. There are a couple drawbacks to the app itself. You can bring up a menu at the bottom to swipe to a page later in the magazine, but it doesn't give you the page number until it actually loads. There's no quick way to leap to a certain page. If you exit the issue, you'll be kicked back to the beginning once you re-enter it. You do keep your position, however, if you keep the issue up in the background. Pages are a bit slow to load. These are minor drawbacks and most likely will be resolved in future issues. Snap is a free subscription, and if you're a fan of Hipstamatic, photography or design, it's worth checking out.
Instagram and Hipstamatic to announce photo-sharing partnership
Historically, Instagram has been the definition of closed. It's only available on one platform (iOS), and no third-party services were allowed to port content in via an API. According to Fast Company, that's changing today. It's bruited that Instagram will be opening its doors ever-so-slightly to one Hipstamatic, enabling users of the latter to tag their photos with lenses and filters, and then push them into the Instagram universe. It's being likened to Foursquare users pushing their check-in information to Facebook and Twitter, and it's bound to increase the visibility (and revenue) of Hipstamatic. Hopefully it's just the first deal of many to be cut, but on the real -- we're pretty sure an Android version of Instagram should've taken priority over this. Just sayin'.
Impossible announces PX 680 Color Shade film for Polaroid 600 cameras, shows Instagram how it's really done
Fortunately for photography buffs, Impossible's mission to revive Instant Integral film hasn't proven, well, impossible. And the company's latest film stock, PX 680 Color Shade, reminds us of those Hipstamatic and Instagram shots the kids like so much these days. Except, you know -- the aforementioned apps simulate old school photographic processes and equipment, while the new film achieves the same effect by using time-honored methods that remind us of the new school smartphone apps that ape time-honored photographic processes and equipment. Just thinking about it makes our heads hurt! If you've been waiting your whole life for the perfect Polaroid 600 color film, it's available now for $22. Hit the source link for more info (and some pretty awesome sample shots).
Hands-on: HipstaCase for iPhone
I'm not a big fan of iPhone cases. I got my free bumper because my iPhone showed attenuation when I bought it, and I'm a sucker for free stuff. The Apple bumper worked brilliantly when I dropped my iPhone on the pavement once -- it saved the iPhone from being shattered. But I use cases for specific purposes, like a bumper when I'll be walking around the city or a Mophie when I may be away from power for an extended period. So I bought the HipstaCase when we wrote it up because I wanted a stylish "case" that allowed me to mount my iPhone on a tripod. Following are my thoughts on the case after a few hours of use, plus some pictures of it in action. Materials and Design The case was designed by Agent 18, who do good work. That said, it's a simple thing, really -- just a plastic case with a faux camera molded onto the back. It won't offer the shock absorption you'd get from an Apple bumper, but the slot in what is molded to look like a lens is designed to help mount the iPhone onto a small U-bracket which you can add to any tripod. It comes with a lanyard/wrist strap already installed (but removable). There's an adjustable clasp on the loop, so you can tighten it and really secure the iPhone on your wrist (for whatever reason). In my attempts to shake the iPhone out of the case, I found it was quite securely jammed in; I don't think it should worry anyone to "carry" it in such a way, but I don't know that I'd carry my iPhone on my wrist on a regular basis anyway. After some time with the lanyard, I have to say it's one of the more compelling reasons to use this case. If you wear jeans and find it annoying to fish your iPhone out of your pocket, the strap is useful. Even in the little storage pocket in my car I found it handy to grab the strap. That's a plus, but I'm not sure it makes it worth the price.
HipstaCase iPhone case perfect for Hipstamatic hipsters
The folks behind the Hipstamatic iPhone app are ready to let you take the old-school camera vibe all the way. They've introduced a Hipstamatic iPhone case called (what else?) the HipstaCase, and while it isn't quite as functional as that concept Leica iPhone case we posted the other day (it's purely cosmetic), it will still give your iPhone the feel of an old camera. All right, so it's not quite purely cosmetic -- there is a tripod mount that attaches on the bottom, and there's a nylon wrist lanyard as well. But essentially, it's a piece of plastic that makes the back of your iPhone look like one of those cameras you carried around however many years ago. The Hipstacase is available right now for US $39.95. [via Gizmodo]
Infinicam gives you a boatload of filters for your iPhone images
It's been almost a year and a half since I took a look at CameraBag, an app that allows you to filter your photos, mimicking classic film cameras from days gone by. Now the creators of CameraBag have stepped the game up with Infinicam. The app can generate an almost unlimited amount of filters to apply to images, and also provides 18 border styles to suit your photographic whim. I tried the app on a variety of landscape images, and found the results interesting. You simply press an on-screen button and the app will generate a random filter. If you like it, you can save it to a favorites list. If you don't, just press the button again. The app has some preset styles, which can be accessed by tapping on your image. Once you have what you want, the image can be saved to your camera roll, or emailed. You can save the image at the full resolution of your camera, or you can make it smaller. There is also an easy-to-use cropping tool. I enjoyed using this app. I don't think it's for the semi-pro, because you really don't have control of the image. You're just making random stabs to see what comes up. Sometimes the results are stunning. Sometimes they are pretty weird and not worth saving. There is a history function that lets you retrace your steps. I'd love to see the app add the ability to keep the filter chosen and then modify it slightly with hue or saturation and other parameters. Photographers looking for more control would be wise to look at Filterstorm for a very flexible and powerful app. If you like the look of old cameras and films Hipstamatic is also worth a look. Check the gallery for some examples. Infinicam costs US $1.99, supports the Retina Display on the iPhone, but works on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and requires iOS 2.0 or later. %Gallery-107779%
Pro Australian photogs have a go at the iPhone camera
There's no question that photography with the iPhone is really catching on. Now, with iPhone 4, the camera quality is up, and people seem to be using it more and more for pictures they want to keep instead of casual snaps. A pro group of photographers, the ACMP (Australian Commercial and Media Photographers) ran a competition soliciting photos taken with an iPhone. The requirement was that the entrants use the Hipstamatic app to acquire the images, and that no further image manipulation could be applied. Hipstamatic emulates old styles of analog photography, along with classic lens emulations and different film characteristics. The app is US $1.99. The results are interesting and artistic. I've put a couple of the winners in a gallery, and I've provided a link so that you can see all the entries. The grand prize winner of the competition, Andrew Evans from Sydney, received an iPad. Thanks to Gavin Blue for letting us know about the contest. Gavin was also a winner. %Gallery-101491%
TUAW's Daily App: Hipstamatic
Hipstamatic isn't a new app, but it is worth a look if you've never seen it before. It replicates the look and feel (and functionality) of those old point-and-click and even toy cameras that you might have carried around as a kid (depending on your current age of course). Nowadays, we can capture the world in digital, and soon HD, clarity, but Hipstamatic creates images the old fashioned way: with plenty of misbalanced levels, weird film coloring, and lots of dust and grit. You probably won't see the picture better, but especially if you've got a nostalgic bent, it'll probably make you feel it a lot more. The app is currently US$1.99, and developers Synthetic Corp have added a few different "hipstapaks" for in-app purchase, which will update the various options available for cameras, flashes, and lenses. Give it a shot if you do lots of photography with your iPhone, and appreciate the retro.