The iPhone’s prominent camera has come a long way, transitioning from the 2-megapixel that shipped with Apple’s very first iPhone, to the exquisite 12-megapixel on the contemporary iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models. The camera may be the most influential feature on the iPhone and as a result, has introduced us to some of the most popular and widely used apps we have today.
With its perfectly formatted filters and sharing feature combined into a single tool, Instagram is the iPhone’s flagship photo app. The simplicity and ease of sharing filtered creations is what made Instagram go viral so quickly. When Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion, it was generating $0 in revenue and many questioned the move. Today, Instagram counts more than 400 million users and its influence has introduced sponsored content. While the design still has yet to feature a zoom-in option, it has still become a significant app around the world.
Hipstamatic
Instagram may not be what it is today without Hipstamatic’s previous camera filters, which were launched around the same time. Hipstamatic was Apple’s pay-to-play app of the year, while Instagram was the free upstart brought by Facebook that was not worried about making money. Now, Instagram is bigger than ever and uses ads to generate revenue, while Hipstamatic had a slower growth and at one point even laid off all but six employees. Nevertheless, in 2010, Hipstamatic was the photo app to use if you wanted unique filters, and ended up influencing the formation of other camera and photo apps.
Google Photos
Google Photos offers unlimited storage for every picture and video you capture that can be accessed on the web at photos.google.com and is a perfect cloud backup to free up space on your phone. What stands out most about the app is the utterly machine-learning algorithm that organizes our photos by face, event, and object. With better scrolling and selection tools, Google gives the iPhone’s native Photos app a run for its money.
Camera+
While Apple’s default iPhone apps are designed to get the job done, if you’re looking for more features, you’ll want to download Camera+ for $2.99. The app from Tap Tap Tap has over 14 million users and lets you set exposure separately from focus and has the ability to zoom up to six times with advanced digital processing. The app’s most notable aspect is its clarity feature that analyzes photos and makes several adjustments.
Hyperlapse
Hyperlapse is Instagram’s second app that creates a simple time-lapse and can speed up or slow down recorded video footage anywhere from 1x to 12x the normal speed. Its built-in software image-stabilization makes it most valuable. Typically, to get a smooth, stabilized video, you need a Steadicam or some other type of hardware stabilizer, but with Hyperlapse, it’s algorithm-based and uses data from the iPhone’s gyroscope to measure and remove frames that are shaky. The end result is a cinematic-like video that’s smooth.
Pic Stitch
Pic Stitch is an app used to create popular collages on the iPhone and features dozens of layout options, custom borders, filters, and effects. It may have helped pave the way for Instagram’s built-in collage feature as it was the first app to take photos and sharing to a new level.
VSCO
Launched in 2012 as VSCO Cam, VSCO stood out with its “presets” and editing controls that were meant to make iPhone photos look like they were shot in film. While the concept wasn’t new when it was unveiled, VSCO was highly praised by professional photographers for its ability to add richness and depth to photos. The app’s design is simple, but its controls aren’t very innate for the casual user. Nonetheless, with over 70 million #VSCO tags on Instagram, the tool is one of the iPhone’s most influential photo apps.
Source: Mashable
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