As the last active space shuttle orbiter in NASA’s fleet, the Atlantis launched today from Florida’s John F. Kennedy Space Center for its final voyage into space. The STS-135 mission will span 12 days in space, at which point it will return to Earth and retire.
In 1985 the Atlantis shuttle embarked on its maiden voyage, and has since logged over 120 million space miles and 32 missions. Its final voyage will visit the International Space Station, a poignant and appropriate finale for the beloved spacecraft.
Flight engineer Rex Walheim told NPR, “That is the most graceful, beautiful vehicle we’ve had to fly in space, ever, and it’s going to be a long time until you see a vehicle roll out to the pad that looks as beautiful as that.”
We’ve gathered some photos to celebrate that beauty and take you through the Atlantis launch process.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Shuttle Atlantis moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
The sun rises over the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Sunset over Launch Pad 39A before the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module (MPLM) is delivered.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Another sun rises over the Shuttle Atlantis.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
The STS-135 crew wave American flags in honor of Independence Day. From left: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
The STS-135 team departs for the Astronaut Crew Quarters in Kennedy’s Operations and Checkout Building.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
In Firing Room 4, NASA team members prepare for launch.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Atlantis was “hard down” at its seaside launch pad by 3:29 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
The Atlantis flag flutters below the American flag.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
A view of the launch pad from across the water.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
News crews prepare their equipment at tents near the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Two-tier media tents provide better views of the Atlantis.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Ryan Matzner, lead strategist at Fueled, a mobile app development firm, stands in front of the countdown-to-launch clock.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Media stakes out their turf with tripods aimed at the shuttle launch.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Media and spectators alike participate in the lunch Tweetup.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
The van will lead the procession of astronauts to the shuttle.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
The astronauts en route to the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Precious cargo on the way to the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
An impressive spectacle in itself, the Vehicle Assembly Building has been used to assemble NASA vehicles since 1968. It is the largest single-story building in the world.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
A view of the vehicle assembly building.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
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We recently brought you an in-depth tutorial on how to use the iPhone’s built-in HDR functionality. Now we’re taking a look at an iPhone app that helps create high dynamic range images.
Pictional’s TrueHDR goes beyond the iPhone’s built-in HDR abilities. It can help you capture better images and even improve images you take on your compact camera. Pictional’s co-founders Michael Parker and Yuanzhen Li explain how the app came about.
“Everybody has had the experience of taking photos that are either over or under-exposed and don’t look anything like what your eyes saw when you took the shots.”
They realized that the iPhone’s tap-to-focus also adjusted exposure. They could then meld two images with different exposures to come up with a result that preserved details in bright and dark areas.
Parker and Li have chosen 10 images created with TrueHDR that they feel showcase the app’s capabilities. Take a look through the photo gallery to see them, along with Parker and Li’s comments, and link us to any of your HDR creations in the comments below.
“Almost postcard-like in its perfection, this photograph beautifully shows off the capability of TrueHDR to capture a potentially … challenging range of light: Sunlight, mid-tones and shadows.”
“We were captivated by the sense of depth, along with the range of light and contrast, from the hill in the foreground to the distant meadows. The sky and the shadows from the clouds lend nice contrast to the image, contributing to a subtle landscape painting feel.”
“This photograph struck us as having an almost surreal quality. We especially like how the photographer used TrueHDR to capture the range of brightness in the scene, from the two lights on the left to the portions of the actors’ faces that are in shadow.”
“This photo captures the gorgeous lighting on the coast of Molokai. It has great composition and depth and was made from four iPhone photos — two sets of over-exposed and under-exposed pairs were merged in TrueHDR into two HDR photos, which were then stitched together into a panorama.”
“The photographer has used TrueHDR to beautifully capture the lights, snow, blue and purple layers of the sky and the foreground bush.”
“The lighting and viewpoint of this photo give us a sense of being there — standing on a dark, cobble-stoned street … with the soft light reflecting off the stones guiding the eye to some unknown adventure awaiting through the archway ahead. The use of TrueHDR helps the photographer capture the contrast and tonal range between the dark street and the bright archway.”
“The barren, abbreviated trees create some questions and a sense of curiosity for the viewer; the trees’ tops direct your attention to the details in the clouds and the green draws your eye back to the lower portion of the photograph. This is another example where the HDR aspect is essential but doesn’t overwhelm, letting the viewer consider the subject material rather than the technique.”
“This TrueHDR photo gives the feel of a Dutch masters painting, with a nice range of tones and contrasts.”
“There is a nice sense of depth to this photo, with the sheep dotting the peninsula lending a sense of scale. The use of TrueHDR helps the photographer naturally capture the range of contrasts between sky, clouds, ocean, grassy peninsula and sheep.”
“The futuristic buildings give this photograph an otherworldly feel, as if you landed on another planet. The photo captures both the sky and the materials and [the] play of light on the structures. It would have been hard to do justice to the huge range of brightness without TrueHDR. Here we also show the “before” pictures on the left — the over-exposed and under-exposed photo pair before they were merged with TrueHDR.”
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If you’re always on the lookout for exciting iPhotography apps, then ShakeItPhoto is well-worth a peek.
It emulates Polaroid cameras of years gone by with realistic sound effects and fun shake-to-process functionality. To give you an idea of the app’s creative capabilities, we’ve teamed up with the Banana Camera Co. (the company behind the app) to offer you a showcase of snaps.
“We are constantly taken aback by photos we’ve found that are shot with ShakeItPhoto. What’s amazing is that professional photographers, amateur photographers, and people who’ve never picked up a ‘real’ camera can create incredibly beautiful images, and we love being a part of that,” Nick Campbell creator of ShakeItPhoto, told Mashable. “We create apps that we love to use, and we are so grateful that so many people love to use them just as much as we do.”
Campbell and brand manager Alexia Brown have hand-picked their favorite images created with the ShakeItPhoto app. Take a look through the photo gallery below for their selections, and comment below to let us know what you think of these fabulous fauxlaroids.
“Reitsma called the subject of his photo ‘A veritable feast for the camera,’ and he captured it so beautifully. The texture is remarkable, the colors are so vibrant and nicely enhanced and framed by ShakeItPhoto.”
“The brick wall makes a great background and the man’s face shows such emotion — both strength and sadness. The colors of ShakeItPhoto really enhance such an already brilliant shot.”
“We love how Dallas captured the sadness in this beat up car. It almost looks like a face, and the trees in the background make it a great scene.”
“This is an interesting scene with so much going on. This man on the floor with his shoes off, looking tired or perturbed, the posters, and the worn-ness of everything mixed with the bright blues and greens made this shot stand out for us.”
“The dog in this photo seems so afraid of the water, yet the woman is calmed by it. It is such an interesting moment, so well captured.”
“An intense and graphic image. Love the shadows.”
“The blood is such an intense bright red, especially against the color of the sink, that the beauty of it outweighs the gross factor. “
“Angry and scary, yet somewhat serene. At first glance, this looks like a painting.”
“Great action in this photo, superbly captured and well-framed.”
“Jenny always takes such clean, retro shots. This photo is typical of her style (as well as of the ShakeItPhoto brand): simple, classic, retro and fun.”
“The color in this shot is outstanding. The blue pops so perfectly. “
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Photogram, an iPhone application for sending up to four photos in one artsy digital postcard, is proving to be an early hit with mobile photo sharers. The application saw more than 100,000 downloads during its first week post release.
The figure was shared exclusively with Mashable by Photogram maker Timelines. The application’s early success is comparable to red hot social camera application Instagram, which also attracted 100,000 users in its first week.
“It fulfills a need that was previously unsatisfied,” explains Timelines CEO Bob Armour. “You can tell a story using multiple photos that are wrapped in a beautiful and memorable context and deliver it easily to people that are important to you.”
Photogram [iTunes link] has been downloaded in 152 countries, and 75% of its users are sending Photograms with three or four photos, the startup reports.
The app also appears to be especially popular with women — the startup estimates that 70% of users are female — and that’s by design.
“We targeted the app for young parents, and specifically young moms, because we felt that their needs weren’t being met,” Armour says. “It seems that these needs are more universal than we expected.”
Timelines promises that a Photogram application for Android is in the works, but does not have a release date yet.
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Photogram, an iPhone application for sending up to four photos in one artsy digital postcard, is proving to be an early hit with mobile photo sharers. The application saw more than 100,000 downloads during its first week post release.
The figure was shared exclusively with Mashable by Photogram maker Timelines. The application’s early success is comparable to red hot social camera application Instagram, which also attracted 100,000 users in its first week.
“It fulfills a need that was previously unsatisfied,” explains Timelines CEO Bob Armour. “You can tell a story using multiple photos that are wrapped in a beautiful and memorable context and deliver it easily to people that are important to you.”
Photogram [iTunes link] has been downloaded in 152 countries, and 75% of its users are sending Photograms with three or four photos, the startup reports.
The app also appears to be especially popular with women — the startup estimates that 70% of users are female — and that’s by design.
“We targeted the app for young parents, and specifically young moms, because we felt that their needs weren’t being met,” Armour says. “It seems that these needs are more universal than we expected.”
Timelines promises that a Photogram application for Android is in the works, but does not have a release date yet.
More About: mobile photos, photo sharing apps, Photogram, Photos, startup, timelines
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If you love Facebook so much that you’d like to see your content on your coffee table, then we’ve got seven superb solutions for getting your Facebook profile and photos made into real-life books.
Whether you want your current profile preserved as a unique memento, a way to view your Facebook pics offline or a record of your last year in social media, there’s a solution here to suit.
Take a look through the photo gallery, which highlights your seven options and let us know if you “like” the idea of publishing a real-life version of your Facebook profile.
JotJournal takes your most recent posts and photos and fills a 32-page glossy soft-cover 8-inch square book. The automatic process takes around three minutes to generate a preview of your personalized publication after which you can delete items you don’t want to appear in your book. JotJournal will then refresh the design with new content until you are happy with the final result.
Cost: $15
EgoBook is created from your status updates, posted and tagged photos, wall posts, links and comments as well as content from friends you select. Nice design touches include a personalized cover with your profile pic and “about me” bio over a photo mosiac of all your friends.
To create your EgoBook, simply grant it permission to plumb your info and you’re set. A ton of five-star reviews suggest that those who have tried the service have been pleased with the results.
Cost: From $29.95
Social Memories consists of 28 glossy pages of infographics all about you. It will show you social trends and highlights such as with whom you’re most tagged, your most active Facebook friends and even a pie chart of their star signs. With its clean, modern design, we’re expecting to start seeing Social Memories creations on a fair few coffee tables.
Cost: 19 Euros (approx $27)
Mashable’s special project partner Social Print Shop offers a variety of services for getting your Facebook friends and photos off the screen and into the physical world. Here, we’re highlighting the “Mini Photo Book.” If you’re simply looking to create a print version of some favorite FB albums and/or pics, this an easy way to do it, and the Facebook App makes ordering an absolute cinch.
Cost: $16 for two small, spiral-bound books
Yearbound, a “yearbook of your Facebook,” offers five different book designs in both hard and soft-backed styles. The Facebook app is easy to use and lets you select a year, as in 2009, 2010, or a 12-month time-span and a design. You can then choose exactly what you’d like to appear on your printed pages such as your wall photos, mobile uploads, tagged photos, status updates, notes, friends, etc. Currently all orders get a free PDF version as well, so if you’re interested in the Yearbound service, now’s the time to give it a try.
Cost: From $25
The Book of Fame is a little different than the other products we’ve highlighted since it’s a blank notebook with a Facebook-flavored twist. Available either as a 200-page hard-cover or a 320-page soft-cover book, it features a status update and thumbnail pic from your Facebook buddies on the bottom of every page. Using the Book of Fame Facebook app is simple and you can choose your cover design from patterns or even a photo wall of your friends.
Cost: From 14 Euros (approx $20)
This coming-soon service has been taking reservations and plans to start shipping the product as early as this month. Yearly Leaf is described as “a coffee table book meets a Moleskine for the Facebook set” and will consist of content from your Facebook stream published in the style of everyone’s favorite notebook.
Cost: From $25
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As U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the nation regarding the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, we turn our attention to the men and women whose military service has taken them to that country.
Currently, around 100,000 troops occupy Afghanistan. Around half of that number were deployed by President Obama in 2009.
However, as the occupation of Afghanistan becomes increasingly unpopular with citizens across the political spectrum, increasing pressure is on the President and his advisors to bring the troops home.
Here are some images posted to Flickr by the National Guard, the U.S. Army, and servicemen and women themselves. We hope all serving now in Afghanistan are able to make a safe and speedy return to their loved ones at home.
Army Sgt. 1st. Class Veronica Ashe scans the Afghanistan countryside during a recent mission.
Photo by Capt. Thomas Cieslak courtesy of Flickr, isafmedia
President Barack Obama waves to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, March 28, 2010.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
First Sgt. Dennis M. Bradley, non-kinetic fire support chief for 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, touches the identification tags of Lance Cpl. Michael E. Geary, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2/9, Dec. 17, during a memorial service at Camp Hanson in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Geary made the ultimate sacrifice while conducting combat operations in northern Marjah, Dec. 8. Regimental Combat Team 1.
Image courtesy of Flickr, dvids
Coalition Forces walk by a waterfall in Jalrez Valley while traveling to the village of Sequala to conduct Key Leader Engagement.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt Russell Gilchrest courtesy of Flickr, isafmedia
Abdul Jabar Naeemi, Khost Province governor, listens to U.S. Navy Cmdr. Willie Billingslea, from Atlanta, Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team commander, during a meeting to discuss the concerns, current events and the future of the Khost PRT, May 13.
Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, courtesy of Flickr, isafmedia
Capt. Nathan Springer, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop Commander, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), looks up the mountain on July 19 while on patrol during Operation Saray Has. During Operation Saray Has, two rocket positions were found that had been previously used to attack Forward Operating Base Naray.
Image courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
Greenwich, Ohio native, Army Pfc. Sarah Becker a medic with the 173rd ABCT Special Troops Battalion, treats her patient, Waqas Hayat, a garment worker in Kabul after an automobile accident near Camp Torkham on Aug. 21.
Image courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Denery, a Cherokee, Iowa, resident and fire support specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, on a mission with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, uses binoculars to scan his sector of fire during a dismounted patrol in the Khoe-Safi District, Dec. 9. Denery provides overwatch security for fellow service members patrolling Dandarh Village. Bravo Troop visited the village to conduct a patrol and to establish a relationship with the village malik and elders.
Image courtesy of Flickr, dvids
U.S. Army Pfc. Branden Hazuka, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, searches a qallat, or an Afghan home, for explosives and weapons during an air assault mission in Khost province, Afghanistan during Operation Champion Sword, Aug. 2. Afghan national security forces and International Security Assistance Forces teamed up for the joint operation, targeting specific militants in eastern Afghanistan.
Image courtesy of Flickr, dvids
A Soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), watches cattle run for their lives while a CH-47 helicopter prepares to land on Landing Zone Shetland during Operation Saray Has July 19 near Forward Operating Base Naray, Afghanistan.
Image courtesy of Flickr, familymwr
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Kahler, left, supervises and provides security for Pfcs. Jonathan Ayers and Adam Hamby while they emplace an M240 machine gun as part of a fighting position in the mountains of Afghanistan’s Kunar Province on Oct. 23, 2007. The soldiers are all from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.
DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Holley, U.S. Army, courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
Spc. Gareth Warner drops a 120mm mortar round into the tube while Spc. Ricky Olivo keeps the gun on target during a fire mission on Combat Outpost Zurok in Paktika province, Afghanistan, July 13. The Soldiers are deployed with the 3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Image courtesy of Flickr, dvids
A special forces team medic assigned to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan applies medical treatment to another Soldier who received shrapnel wounds from an RPG explosion while battling Taliban fighters in the Sangin District area of Helmand Province April 10. The soldier was able to continue fighting minutes later.
U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Daniel Love courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
U.S. Army Soldiers help injured Afghan villagers onto a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during an operation to transport patients in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas T. Loyd courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
An Afghanistan national police officer helps U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Jonathon Reabe, of the Provincial Reconstruction Team from Forward Operating Base Kalagush, out of a pool he fell into while crossing a stream during a patrol of Balik in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan June 14, 2007.
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Bracken courtesy of Flickr, soldiersmediacenter
Amber Caskey hugs her boyfriend, Staff Sgt. David E. Holeman, during a welcome home ceremony held May 1, 2011, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., for members of the Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team II. Comprised of about 60 Army and Air National Guardsmen, KYADT II just returned from a 12-month deployment Afghanistan, where they worked to make Afghani farmers become agriculturally self-sufficient, fostered business opportunities through a women’s-empowerment initiative and provided force protection.
U.S. Air Force Photo by Maj. Dale Greer courtesy of Flickr, thenationalguard
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Amateur and professional iPhotographers have a little-known tool in their mobile belt. The iPhone 4 offers “HDR” functionality that can help you get the most out of the phone’s built-in camera.
Here we take an in-depth look at the feature and offer advice for when it’s best to use it and — just as importantly — when it’s not.
Have a look through these tips and let us know in the comments how you put your photography talents to use.
“High Dynamic Range” (HDR) Imaging is the practice of using “exposure bracketing” to create an image with a better representation of light and dark areas than the camera could capture on standard settings.
Used correctly it will create an image that’s more akin to what your eye — which more efficiently processes extremes of light — would see, rather than what the camera’s sensor can photograph.
Typically this is done by capturing three images — a standard exposure, a shot that is one exposure stop too light and a shot that’s one exposure stop too dark — and then combining all three.
In its HDR mode, the iPhone 4 automatically recreates this process by taking three photos at different exposure levels, then layering the shots together to create one image with (theoretically) the best elements of each.
You can turn on the HDR functionality of your iPhone when in the camera by tapping the HDR icon at the top of the screen.
With HDR set to “on,” your iPhone will capture the original image and an HDR version, both of which you’ll find saved in your Camera Roll. You can change your iPhone’s settings to discard the original image but we find it useful for comparisons.
If it’s not obvious to you which is the HDR image, look for the HDR icon at the top of the screen above the photo.
Here are three scenarios for when hitting up that HDR button would be a good idea.
In the non-HDR image above you can see very little detail in the shadow as the camera has not coped well with the bright light coming from the doorway. The HDR pic has much more even lighting overall and shows significantly more detail. This will also be the case if you’re photographing a light object against a dark background.
Here you can see the HDR functionality has handled the contrasts of sunlight and shadow much better than the non-HDR image above. The foreground is severely bleached out in the original image and the areas of shadow much darker. The HDR setting has fixed these issues. You will also find that HDR adds detail to the sky where the standard camera would struggle with the contrast between the sky and the land.
Strong sunlight is not great for portraits as it can create harsh shadows and unflattering glare. In this self-portrait you can see that the skin tone has been evened out, the glare on the cheeks improved and the shadow cast by the hat made softer.
There are some situations in which HDR is actually a hindrance rather than a help. Here are three to be aware of.
Because the iPhone snaps three pics consecutively, if anything in the frame moves (or if you’re not holding the iPhone steady enough) you’re likely to end up with a blur or ghosting in your image. In our example images you can see that even though the three HDR images are taken milliseconds apart, just a slight breeze moving the buttercups was enough to spoil the shot.
HDR takes extremes of light and creates a middle ground. This can be great in many scenarios but not if you want to capture striking contrasts. Here we wanted to capture the vibrant green leaves against the lighter foliage in the background and the brightness of the sky. The non-HDR image (above) has achieved this much better than the HDR snap below, in which the light has been toned down and the background detail filled in for an overall muddier final shot.
The iPhone’s camera generally deals well with color, giving nicely saturated results. Add in HDR however, and the colors you see in the final image aren’t likely to be true-to-life, or particularly vivid. In these images you can see the non-HDR photo above has bolder colors while the HDR shot below has darkened some tones and dulled the effect.
The iPhone 4′s HDR functionality is a handy tool to have on board. It can be useful in certain situations but the key is to know when — and why — to activate it. We hope this article has helped, but with almost all photography the best way to get familar with the tech is to shoot as much as you can — so grab your iPhone, get out there and get snapping!
More About: apple, hdr, how to, iphone, iphone 4, iphonography, iphotography, Mobile 2.0, photography, Photos, trending
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The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Name: Lightbox
Quick Pitch: Lightbox Photos for Android wirelessly syncs your photos across all of your Android devices, and downloads photos shared by friends on social networks for an offline browsing experience.
Genius Idea: Browse your friends’ Facebook and Twitter photos without a wireless connection.
Just as the rise of desktop computing gave us distinct PC and Mac cultures, the smartphone boom is creating to two distinct schools of thought: iPhone and Android.
Thai Tran, the CEO of Lightbox, is aligning himself and his startup with the latter group, hoping to serve an ever-expanding audience with a photo application experience and user interface that rivals what mobile users will find on iPhone.
The startup’s first release, Lightbox Photos for Android, is a social camera application with a focus on photo taking, effects, sharing, syncing and consuming. It’s not completely dissimilar from the popular mobile photo sharing applications on iPhone, expect it has some important and unique twists.
As a camera application, you can use Lightbox to snap, shot, share and style photos. The application includes ten different filters, and supports sharing to Facebook, Tumblr and Foursquare.
Lightbox shines most in its unseen details. The application has been optimized to work with or without a network connection, so if you want to capture and share photos from a signal-free subway car, Lightbox won’t disappoint. The next time you have a network connection, the application will automatically upload and share your photos.
Lightbox is also working away in the background to sync photos from your Lightbox library to your Honeycomb-powered Android tablet (if you have the Lightbox app installed) and your online photo collection. The process is similar to Apple’s soon-to-be-released iCloud photo features, except Lightbox syncs over WiFi and 3G and treats the cloud, not the PC, as the master.
As a social application, Lightbox is like nothing we’ve seen before. Connect your Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Tumblr accounts, and Lightbox will use background processing to constantly look for photos shared by your friends. The application will download the 200 most recent photos shared by your social network friends and present you with a photo stream that is accessible whether you have a network connection or not.
You can socially engage with friends’ photos offline as well. If you’re offline, you can still retweet a photo from a Twitter friend and then choose to comment on or “like” a photo from a Facebook friend, and Lightbox will queue up the actions and perform them on your behalf the next time your Android phone is connected to the web via WiFi or 3G.
Lightbox Photos is the first of Lightbox’s planned Android releases. The startup is taking a very aggressive Android-first stance because it believes the platform will become ubiquitous in the next few years.
“Android is going to take the market position of where Nokia is today,” Tran predicts. “Android phones will, within two years, be just as cheap as the non-smartphones you buy today.”
Tran also believes that Android users, when compared to iPhone owners, are often presented with inferior or subpar applications. He sees Lightbox as countering the norm by giving Android owners a best-in-class application.
Lightbox is a five-person team based in London. The startup has raised $1.1 million in seed funding.
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
More About: Android apps, bizspark, honeycomb, Lightbox, mobile photo sharing, photo sharing, Photos, spark-of-genius
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Photogram is remixing the mobile-photos-meets-postcard genre of iPhone apps with an application for sending up to four photos, packaged together atop an artistic background, to friends via email, Facebook or Twitter.
The free photo application for iPhone, released Wednesday on the App Store, offers users a simple way to create and share bunches of photos in a digital postcard-like fashion.
Photogram [iTunes link], developed by startup Timelines, was created with simplicity, design and artistry in mind. Sending a Photogram is an easy matter of capturing or choosing four photos, picking a theme and then selecting recipients. You can also connect to Facebook and Twitter and post your Photograms to those sites.
“The iPhone has dramatically increased the number of everyday photographers documenting moments in their lives,” Timelines CEO Bob Armour says. “We saw a need for a simple app to share those photos, and we wanted to improve and enhance their delivery.”
Timelines has collaborated with independent artists to feature their artwork in its Theme Gallery. Themes are the photo backdrops you can choose from to add personality to your Photogram. You’ll have access to a number of free themes or you can choose to purchase additional themes at $0.99 a piece, with artists receiving a portion of sales. Purchased themes are included in your Theme Library and usable on all future Photograms.
Photogram stands out amid an ever-growing crop of iPhone camera and postcard applications for its ease of us and design.
More About: iphone app, mobile photo sharing, Photos, Postagram, trending
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