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How a blind man uses Instagram for iPhone
For more examples of camera-centric apps that are usable by the blind or visually impaired, check out our latest 5 Apps post. –Ed. If you're a mobile photography junkie who spends chunks of time browsing page after page of Instagram photos, you might not consider how different the experience would be for someone who is blind. But believe it or not, Instagram can be just as enjoyable for those who can't see, as evidenced by Tommy Edison -- and he even recorded a video to show just how he does it. In the pseudo-tutorial vid, Edison uses the iPhone's voiceover accessibility functionality to navigate the Instagram app. After snapping a photo, he adds a filter using the voice prompts and Siri lends a hand by transcribing his spoken description of the shot. It's an extremely slick process, and Edison's disability clearly doesn't hinder his enjoyment of mobile photography in the slightest. The latest version of iOS makes picture taking even easier for those with visual handicaps by providing an audio cue when faces are detected, ensuring the subject is in the shot without the photographer needing to see the screen itself. All in all, the iPhone offers a fantastic suite of functionality to ensure that photography lovers have no boundaries. [Via: Kottke]
Daily Update for December 26, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Instagram target of class-action lawsuit
Photo-sharing service Instagram received a lump of coal in its stocking this holiday season. After Instagram changed its Terms of Service recently with the alleged intention of selling user photos, there was a loud outcry from the user community and many users deleted their accounts with the intention of moving to Flickr and other services. Now Instagram is on the receiving end of a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract violations and was brought by class-action legal firm Finkelstein & Krinsk on behalf of Lucy Funes and others. This is quite interesting, considering that almost immediately after the uproar over photo ownership began, Instagram reiterated to the public that nothing much had changed in the Terms of Service. Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom thinks that people might have misinterpreted a section of the new Terms of Service that stated that the company may try integrating advertising into the service. Indeed, a veritable Twitter storm erupted, with many users (most of whom probably had not read the legal document) believing that Instagram was going to sell user photos without compensation. The new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for the service don't take effect for another three weeks, so it's certain that this lawsuit and the continued confusion over what exactly Instagram is saying will generate a lot more turmoil.
Instagram rolls its ToS back to the previous version after uproar, will 'take time to complete its plans'
After upsetting users with changes to its Terms of Service, Instagram announced tonight that it's discarding some of them for now, rolling back the advertising section to the ToS in place since 2010. Reiterating his previous statement that Instagram never had any plans to sell user photos, company co-founder Kevin Systrom explained in a blog post that instead of trying to create terms shaped around "possible advertising products it had not yet developed" it would come back with complete plans and explain to users "how we would like our advertising business to work." There are still changes to the ToS and privacy policy coming effective January 19th, 2013, which can be reviewed on its website. Also apologizing for a failure to clearly communicate the company's intentions, Systrom noted that any distribution of user photos has been and still is governed by the separate privacy policy. Instagram's changes came as part of its acquisition by Facebook, and the change-policy-face-backlash-then-apologize dance step is a classic Zuckerberg move. So in light of this backtracking, are you going to watermark all your brunch pics before uploading, jump ship to competing services like Flickr or just keep using / not using the service as usual?
Instagram responds to user concerns, adjusts new Terms of Service to allay fears
Were you among the many put off or freaked out by Instagram's changes to its Terms of Service announced yesterday? You're not alone, as many informed the Facebook photo sharing platform that they weren't pleased by the new language -- they mistook it as a means for their photos to be monetized in unscrupulous ways. Good news is, Instagram heard these complaints and has responded, explaining the changes and pledging to nix parts that caused unnecessary confusion. In a blog post today, co-founder Kevin Systrom made clear that the ToS tweaks were meant to inform Instagrammers that the company wants "to experiment with innovative advertising." What kind of advertising? Say a company wants more folks following its Instagram account. According to Systrom, the changes allow Instagram to see which of the people you follow also follow that business and can use that information to better promote said company. Basically, the changes were made so Instagram can find ways to increase ad revenue without spoiling the UX with banner ads, but the service still retains the rights to use your information in ads -- and yes, even users under 18 are included. Additionally, Systrom made clear that users own their content and Instagram will not be selling user photos to advertisers. And, he has pledged that updated language to that effect is in the works. Still uneasy about using Instagram for your filtered photography needs? Head on over to the source for the full explanation straight from Systrom himself.
Instagram lays framework for monetization, sharing info with Facebook in ToS update
Facebook and Instagram will be able to get a bit cozier under that new shared roof beginning early next year. On January 16th, the photo sharing site's new Terms of Service will go into effect, enabling the network to share information, content and usage stats with "businesses that are legally part of the same group of companies that Instagram is part of, or that become part of the same group." In a blog post, Instagram reps outlined the benefits of the revision, explaining that the site will be able to "fight spam more effectively, detect system and reliability problems more quickly, and build better features for everyone by understanding how Instagram is used." Additionally, in the full ToS, the second item under Rights states "you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you." In short, Instagram has the right to share content that's already public with advertisers in order to generate revenue. If you're an Instagram user and you care about your rights while using the service, you'll be best served by making your way over to our source links below.
Facebook reveals your own 2012 Year in Review
We've already seen Google's search-based turn at nostalgia for 2012. Facebook doesn't want to be left out, but it's swinging the focus to a very different subject than the usual politicians and pop stars: ourselves. Now that the Timeline has had a year to weave into our collective consciousness, Facebook is using it to show all the personal highlights of the past 12 months that it deems worthy, such as job changes, new friends and the many photos that reached our news feeds. Not that Facebook isn't willing to look at the bigger picture. It notes that US trends were dominated by elections, The Hunger Games and -- surprise -- Facebook's new buddy, Instagram. There's even more trends to explore at a special 2012 section of Facebook Stories, so you'll have plenty of options if you're as interested in your own life events as reliving the Olympics.
Daily Update for December 11, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Twitter for iPhone to offer photo filters
Twitter is set to release an update to its iOS and Android apps today that add Instagram-like filters to photos in the app. In a blog post released yesterday titled "Twitter photos: Put a filter on it," the company announced the new feature: Every day, millions of people come to Twitter to connect with the things they care about and find out what's happening around the world. As one of the most compelling forms of self-expression, photos have long been an important part of these experiences. Starting today, you'll be able to edit and refine your photos, right from Twitter. The latest versions of Twitter for iPhone and Twitter for Android introduce a few new ways to enhance the images you tweet. We're grateful to our partner, Aviary, for powering our filters and effects. The update comes just days after Instagram killed photo integration with Twitter. Is this return fire or a long-planned update? Who knows. But here's what users will care about: the new updates allows users to apply an assortment of eight filters to photos, crop them and auto-enhance light balance. As of this writing, the Twitter 5.2 update, which brings the new photo features to the app, is not yet live in the App Store. However, expect it sometime today. In the meantime, check out the video below showing off the new features.
Instagram updated with new filters, camera design
Instagram has updated its wildly popular iOS app with a slew of improvements. Most noticeably the 3.2 update includes three primary enhancements: a camera redesign, a new "Willow" filter and improved tilt-shift. The camera redesign features an Instagram-themed shutter and shutter release button. It also adds the option for displaying a "Rule of Thirds" grid overlay to help users compose shots. Additionally there are numerous enhancements to the Camera Roll, including an improved image selector (iPhone 5 only). Users can now see a preview of their most recent photo in the Camera Roll. The new "Willow" filter is "a monochrome filter with subtle purple tones and a translucent glowing white border" according to the company. Instagram says it works best with portrait, still life and architecture shots. The tilt-shift enhancements include a totally new algorithm that generates the tilt-shift. This new algorithm allows users to get the same blur in their final image that they see in the preview window. Previously the final image was different than the previewed tilt-shift. The new algorithm also gives more realistic depth of field rendering. Other enhancements include a redesigned News Feed, a new welcome screen, infinite scroll on grid views and a new album in the iOS camera roll called "Instagram" that saves Instagram-filtered photos. Instagram 3.2 is a free download.
The social filter war is officially on: Twitter adds free photo filters to Android and iPhone apps
We knew good and well it was coming, and come it has: Twitter has begun its all-out assault on Instagram (and in turn, Facebook) by including its own set of (free) photo filters. As of now, just the Android version has been updated with the new lenses, but we're expecting iOS and the rest to follow suit in short order. Much like Flickr did earlier this year, Twitter has tapped Aviary to power all of the company's filters and effects. As of now, users will find just eight filters -- ranging from "black and white to vintage" -- while the grid view enables you to preview how your image would look if any of the eight were applied. You'll also be able to crop, as well as pinch to zoom in order to focus attention. Moreover, there's an "auto-enhance" feature that'll add a little whiz-bang to whatever you managed to snap, and if you're still struggling to wrap your brain around it, there's an introductory video waiting just after break. (As well as a (NSFW) video that speaks the truth about all of these filters.) %Gallery-173048%
Instagram for iOS gets a newly reworked camera, delves into recent photo history
Instagram knows it can't stay still just because it's under Facebook's wing. Accordingly, a new iOS update has delivered a (quite frankly welcome) remake of the camera and editing interfaces. While snapping photos, there's a more stylized interface with an optional grid to perfect that rule-of-thirds composition, if you like keeping shots neat and tidy. The app makes a greater effort to acknowledge past photos, too: everyone sees the most recent camera roll photo, while iPhone 5 owners' extra screen real estate gives them a new camera roll image picker to sift through their archives. Android users don't get the tweaked layout at this stage, but they do share the same obligatory new image filter, Willow. Check the source links for a fresh coat of paint on a day-to-day app.
Instagram officially kills photo integration within Twitter, leaves no trace behind
If you've taken to Twitter today, it's likely that you noticed all your Instagram photos that were stored as gallery Cards are gone. Unfortunately, this isn't a temporary glitch; as of today, the photo-sharing service has officially killed all photo integration on Twitter. So, although links to your photos will function like normal, there is no way to preview them within Twitter anymore. If you'll recall, it was merely a few days ago that Instagram pulled Card support from Twitter, which made any filtered snapshots display in wonky fashions within the micro-blogging network. While today's move by Instagram isn't totally shocking -- it would rather you view pictures on its new browser-accessible profiles, after all -- it's a shame that the contents of many Twitter galleries have vanished in a flash.
Instagram and Twitter aren't friends anymore
Remember the good old days when Instagram and Twitter (both free apps) were good buddies, playing together nicely and sharing their toys? Well, those days are long past. In an article on AllThingsD, blogger Mike Isaac details the deteriorating relationship between the two companies. Twitter blogged this morning that Instagram has disabled integration with Twitter cards, which is how Twitter displays multimedia inside of tweets. By doing so, Instagram photos are going to appear cropped. Isaac says this is "Instagram giving Twitter the middle finger," and Instagram boss Kevin Systrom concurs. At the LeWeb conference in Paris today, Systrom said "We want to direct users to where the content lives originally. Where do you go to interact with [an Instagram] image? We want that to be instagram.com because that's a better user experience." Instagram, which is now part of Twitter competitor Facebook, is responding to Twitter's move last summer to turn off the "find my Twitter friends" feature on Instagram. Twitter has been reading the writing on the wall, and is working on providing its own set of photo filters to turn perfectly good photos into dark, scratchy and weirdly-tinted images. Does this mean that the two companies won't be exchanging cards this holiday season? Probably.
Instagram pulls Cards support from Twitter, favors its own web experience
Something's amiss with Instagram links on Twitter and it's not just the overabundance of unnecessarily filtered photos. Users have noticed that, upon clicking those links, images are displaying incorrectly and, in some cases, showing up as cropped. There's no need to drag out the fail whale though (apart from amusing lead image purposes), as both companies have acknowledged that the issue lies in the Cards - specifically, Instagram's disabling of them. What that means for end users is that preview thumbnail images will no longer show up from within feeds, reverting the integration to a "pre-cards experience." Speaking at LeWeb conference in Paris today, Instagram's CEO Kevin Systrom insists the change has nothing to do with the outfit's acquisition by Facebook and, instead, is framed as a way of promoting its own web service. As for those "lomo-fi" shots you're all so fond of snapping, have no fear, you'll still be able to tweet those out with same ferocity.
The Daily Roundup for 11.23.2012
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Instaturkey: Instagram hits all-time high, over 10 million pictures shared on #Thanksgiving Day
They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- and boy did Instragram's servers have a colossal amount of words to deal with yesterday. Via its blog, the Facebook-owned picture sharing service announced that, on Thanksgiving Day, more than 10 million holiday-related images were shared on the social network, which saw peak hour come in at around 12:00pm Pacific time with over 200 filter-packed (no filter, in some cases) images per second being Instagrammed. Moreover, Thanksgiving marked one of the app's most active days in its short history, with Instagram saying that yesterday "broke all records as we saw the number of shared photos more than double from the day before, making it our busiest day so far." Now bring on the #leftovers.
Instagram Badges are now available, because your web profile deserves the love
It's a minor move, but the app that never even acknowledged the desktop world until recently is taking its first notable step to promote Web Profiles. Instagram has today launched Badges, which are intended to help users "link to and promote one's Instagram web profile." Sure, designers with the right skill set have been able to do similar for some time, but now it's easy. Just surf over to your web profile, hit your username and select 'Badges' from the drop down menu. And just like that, you'll be on your way to adding yet another little icon to your About.me page -- not like things weren't crowded enough with Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Google+, Tumblr, Formspring and Foursquare already.
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.
Instagram rolling out web profiles, sepia toning the world's browsers one account at a time
Instagram is getting ready to open up its collection of filtered images to the web. The photosharing service announced via blog post that it's going to be rolling out web profiles over the next few days, bringing profile photos, bios and shared images to easily navigable URLs at instagram.com/[username]. If you have photos set to private, you'll still get a profile, but those images won't be shared with the web at large. The site also notes that web uploading isn't currently enabled, seeing as how it's always been focused on mobile devices. If you don't have a page yet, you should be good to go within the week. In the meantime, you can check out other profiles in Instagram at the source link below.
