Recently Wood Camera, already a pretty full featured app for it’s first release (as you can see from when we first reviewed it here), updated to their 2.0 version, which packed tons of new features, editing options, and functionality improvements, all of which made this already great app into a powerhouse that skyrocketed it into the coveted top spot in the Photo & Video Apps section of the App Store.

Here’s some of the improvements that came with the 2.0 update:

And perhaps the most noticeable addition to Wood Camera in version 2.0 is the addition of 10 new lenses, 11 new textures and 6 new frames to the app’s already excellent libraries, which greatly increase the amount of editing options for users.

To celebrate the release, the developers of Wood Camera, Bright Mango, have dropped the price 50%, so if you don’t already have this app, now’s the perfect time to get it!

Here’s some test images I’ve created with the app:

Instagram users were greeted with both an app update and the pleasant surprise of a new filter and new UI today, which as an avid Instagram user (feel free to follow me: @chelsea_parker_photography, or PixelMike: @pixelmike) I’m still not sure if I’m 100% sold on.

The user interface for the camera underwent quite a change, with the app going from the old standard camera interface, to a sleeker UI.

The interface has a large centralized shutter button, as well as grid controls, flash controls, and the ability to use the front facing camera.

After an image is selected, the filter screen is also different, taking on a similar aesthetic to the Camera interface. In addition, the tilt-shift functionality has been updated so that it has “improved quality”. So far, I haven’t been able to see an incredible amount of difference.

The Willow filter will most likely be the most talked about feature of this release. The filter is a relatively low contrast black and white filter, that also includes a simple white frame.

Here is an example of an image taken using the stock camera, and processed using Willow without a frame:

This update also included several other significant updates, which include infinite scrolling on areas of the app with grid view (such as profile views), and a Forsquare button was added to location pages to take users to the mobile Forsquare page or the Forsquare app for more information about a particular location.

Also, one feature that also came about with this release that I felt was pretty significant was the inclusion of saving filtered images to their own “Instagram” album in the user’s camera roll.

Overall, I think this update is interesting, I do think the Willow filter is a nice addition to the lineup, and the UI will take some getting used to, but I think will be a better fit for the app overall than the old interface.

I woke up this morning to the great news that two popular iphoneography apps, Athentech Imaging’s Perfectly Clear and Trey Ratcliff’s 100 Cameras in 1, had finally been updated to support the full resolution photos from the iPhone 4s! (Better late than never!)

We’ll start with 100 Cameras in 1, an app that has been in the App Store for quite some time, that offers 100 different texture and tonal filters that can be added to your photos. The app also allows users to adjust intensity of the filters, and if they wish, layer the filters to create unique effects.

Although 100 Cameras in 1 is not one of my “go-to Apps”, I think I may start using it more since this update, since it will no longer down res my iPhone 4s images.

Here’s some screencaps from the app:

Here’s my “Before” image – a Straight shot from Camera+, no processing, taken while driving:

Here’s an edit created with 100 Cameras in 1:

Next, we have Athentech’s Perfectly Clear. Now this has definitely been one of my go-to apps for a long time, and I, like many other iPhoneographers, have been eagerly awaiting this update. There were hints that an update would be in the future for Perfectly Clear after the release of Camera Awesome, which utilizes Perfectly Clear’s algorithms for it’s “Awesomizer” feature (which supports iPhone 4s images).

The Perfectly Clear update was definitely more extensive, here’s a list of what’s been updated (from App Store Description):

• Fixed crashing bug from previous version
• Memory optimization to prevent running low on memory
• Optimized preview for faster loading
• Optimized correction speed by 100%
• Updated save size to accommodate 8MP camera (4s)
• Optimized file size for faster workflow
• Made Tint correction more responsive
• Captures and preserves EXIF data when taking photo through Perfectly Clear
• Captures and preserves location data when taking photo through Perfectly Clear
• Preserves EXIF data when importing image
• Identifies Perfectly Clear corrected image in EXIF data
• Fixed image orientation data
• Improved share abilities with Facebook
• Improved share abilities with Twitter
• Improved share abilities with email
• Increased response from correction sliders
• Fixed unusual behavior of slide-out panel

Overall, I’m a huge fan of Perfectly Clear, and I’m glad that it has finally been updated! While testing, I definitely noticed the speed enhancements and the increased slider responsiveness, which I think are excellent enhancements.

Also, there were no major interface changes to either app, which I’m also a fan of.

Here’s some screencaps and a final exported image from Perfectly Clear, using the image I exported from 100 Cameras in 1:

It’s finally happened, Camera + has made another update.  This app is one that is widely used in the iPhoneography world, and even featured by Jack Hollingsworth on his recent creative live seminar.  This new update has some fresh features to offer, as well as a tune up on a few of our favorites.

First is the camera itself.  It now features exposure and focus lock that are independent from each other.  Also there are new workflow settings under the menu option.  This lets you choose to take your photos and have them all go to the lightbox for editing later, or for you to take each photo and edit them individually for sharing.  Also as the update stated, “Volumesnap is a birthright.”  Meaning that the volume button shutter release will be there and stay.

As far as the lightbox goes, there’s a new design for the interface, which is an improvement in my opinion, and they have updated the clarity filter.  The new clarity does still tend to create a lot of noise, but seems to do a much better job.  I’ve included an example below.  (I put the example through perfectly clear to reduce some of the noise.)

All in all I happily welcome the new exposure and focus locks, but would love to see more updates come along so that Camera + stays a relevant photographer’s go-to camera app.

Today Percolator updated to version 2.0!  The app introduces new effects and shorter loading time and is now Universal, so the fun carries on to ipads, ipod touches and iphones. I’m also very amused at the awesome animation when you build your photo. It gives me a little bit of a smile while waiting for things to load up.

Images are saved at 2048×2048 pixels (same as the first version) which is more than enough to keep an image great if printed out.  If had to suggest one update for the next big one, it would be original sized images.

Percolator 2.0!

The app’s developer at Tinrocket had the following to say about the update:

Percolator’s elegant, retro-inspired user interface has been given extra attention, showing several innovations & refinements:

New Grind, Brew, and Serve controls are cleverly hidden away until they’re needed, keeping the unique dial-based user interface as streamlined as possible on both iPhone and iPad screens. These new dials give the user extra control over detail, transparency, color and texture. New filters and effects, like Treble, Superstar, and SteepiaTM, and textures ranging from Paper Cup to Clouds, extend the creative possibilities.

Watching your photos brew just got more animated with new visual effects that reveal the percolated image–as circles bubble and boil up, they transform into the final image with a flourish.

Percolator 2.0 now features in-app sharing through Twitter, Facebook, and email. Each image created by Percolator contains a metadata string with a human-readable description of the recipe. This string is honored by iPhoto and Flickr, so users can remember and share the settings of their favorite percolations.

new options hidden away to keep the interface simple.

awesome stirred feature, randomizing the image a bit.

new treble effect with some new options in effect.

Percolator 2.0 is $1.99 for a limited time in the App Store for a promotional update sale, but keep in mind if you’ve used percolator before, you can update to 2.0 for free!

I noticed that King Camera had a huge update hit the App store today: the self-proclaimed “WE REALLY LOVE TAKING PHOTOS WITH OUR iPHONE” Edition of the app! The developers have a great video about the new features on their website, SayCheezzz.com as well.

Here’s a breakdown of the new features available with the update (from the description in the App Store):

Promatik -

• New Pinch-zoom on Preview images throughout application
• New Colorizer FX module (up to 3 simultaneous Color Filters)
• New Light Leaks FX module (up to 3 simultaneous Light Leaks)
• New Texturizer now supports up to 3 simultaneous textures
• New Intensifier FX module
• Interface: Simple “Marbles Navigation System”, Promatik Main View with sliding menu to accomodate the additional tools
• Tweak: “Save Photo” (saves on top of current edit) and “Save a Copy” (duplicates your edit)
• Speed: Advanced & Optimized Cache system in Promatik, making the module up to 10x Faster when applying effects

Photodesk -

• Copy/Paste looks directly in Photodesk
• Share – added Facebook Page and MMS
• Copy/Paste Photo to other apps (email, MMS, etc.)
• Option to Export all photos contained in stacks
• Interface: Larger thumbnail size + optimized for Retina display
• Speed: Export of Original photo 2x faster

Quickmatik -

• Quickmatik Looks completely revamped and optimized
• Interface: Larger thumbnails

Camera -

• Settings Option to Save to Camera Roll Only
• User’s activated Camera Tools now remembered from session to session
• Double-Tap gesture in Video Mode to show zoomed-out or zoomed-in view
• Double-Tap gesture in Timelapse to show zoomed-out or zoomed-in view
• Interface: Added “Rule of Thirds” grid button in Camera Main menu

More -

• New Quick Help system in all modules (“?” Icon)
• New Settings: “Clean-Up” function to clean up zombie files in user folder
• Fix – Crop Ratio preserved correctly when a Quickmatik Look contains a crop
• Fix – Photo Orientation preserved when importing from camera roll/exporting to camera roll
• Speed: Many additional tweaks to enhance overall app responsiveness
• Interface: Visual overall redesign of the graphic user interface
• iOS 5 ready
• Various additional bug fixes

So all in all, this is a pretty substantial update for King Camera. From playing around with the new updates I can definitely tell that it seems a bit faster and more responsive, and I’m a fan of the new interface as well.

Here’s a few screenshots of the new Photodesk and Promatik interfaces:

And here’s a final image!

Hipstamatic 225is officially live in the App Store folks! Check it out! This update also includes the newest Hipstapack, the “Wicker Park” Pack, which features:

• Lucas AB2 Lens – “Dunked in a fine golden brown glow, the Lucas AB2 produces amazingly rich prints”

• Jolly Rainbo 2X Flash -”Take great shots in even the darkest dankest light with this jovial strobe.”

• Damen Camera Case -”Whip out your Hipsta as you ride the Blue Line. Includes reclaimed wood paneling from the CTA.”

Here’s an example of a shot I took with the new Lucas AB2 Lens and Pistil Film. Overall the lens gives off a great warm tone and provides a mid-red/brown color cast to images. I think the lens is best suited for warmer toned films in the Hipsta-universe (such as Claunch Monochrome, Alfred Infrared, Float, etc.) since if you pair it with some of the cooler-toned films like Blanko and Blanko Noir, the images seem to be a little too yellow.

Here’s a shot I took in a dark room using the Rainbo 2X flash. The flare is from the light bouncing off the metal on the door jambs, but overall I think the flash may be a little much – being that it really brings out the noise in low light shots. But we’ll see.

Taken using Lucas AB2 Lens, Claunch Monochrome Film and Jolly Rainbo 2X Flash

Overall, even though I would’ve rather had a new film stock in this Hipstapack than the camera case, I think the pack is definitely a welcome addition to any Hipstamatic user’s collection!