iCamWait, but does IT MakeSense

I recently posted news on the release of self-timer app iCamWait. and commented "Yet another self-timer app!!", which prompted the following reply from the developers.

"Hi Editor, iCamWait here.

Thanks for the post. I know what you mean by your comments, but when you consider the price, the stability and our charity commitment, we feel its the choice to make if an iPhone user needs a camera timer."

Intrigued by the comment "our charity commitment" I decided to check out the website of IT MakeSense, the developer of iCamWait and was pleasantly surprised to find the following statement.

"We don't just want to make your lives with your iPhone better! We want to try and give help & hope to thousands of others. Support us, and we'll support these global charities so that we can all help ease some pain, and have a cool time doing it. We will donate 10% of pre-tax profits to these International charities.

• World Cancer Research Fund International
• SOS Children's Villages
• Alzheimer's Society
• Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation"

After reading this statement I decided to buy the app and have them contribute my 10% towards these charities and at the same time give me the chance to review the app.

Description from the AppStore

Ever tried to take a photo with your iPhone with an outstretched arm, because you wanted to be in the shot? How did that work out? All fuzzy we guess, plus you pulled a muscle in your arm, didn’t you?

Never fear, your remedy is here! iCamWait is a simple and easy to use tool to help you take those memorable and perfect photos every time.

Simply position the phone in a place where you’ll get the perfect shot, select how many seconds you want to wait and get into position. iCamWait will count down with beeps in the last few seconds and you can also set the camera to keep taking photos so that you can select the perfect one.

You’re able to auto save your photos to your camera roll, or review them before saving.

Features:

• Select countdown intervals in seconds
• Select to have countdown sound on or off
• Repeat photos
• Auto save photos or review before save

The App

Launch the app and the first thing you see is the app splash screen, quickly followed by a an app registration screen, which is something not very often seen in a photo app. You can choose to Register, or Not Now, however this is where the first of a couple of very annoying things, as until you do register, this screen will keep popping every time you launch the app.

Setting up the app to take photos could not be easier, simply touch the spanner icon in the bottom left hand corner os the screen and set the settings you require, like enable audible countdown, repeat/multiple capture and auto save, then from the home screen select the countdown from 5 to 40 seconds, and that's it, all that remains is for you to tap the camera icon.

The app it self is very simple to use with its very basic self-timer features which I like, as for me all I want in a self-timer app has an audible notification that a photo is about to be taken, the ability to take multiple shots and to have those shots saved automatically for you. On all three counts this app does what I want, however the save times can be slow, there is no audible sound between each shot and the timings between each shot are also inaccurate.  For example if you set the app to take 4 photos at 30 second intervals, then the 1st shot is taken after 30 seconds with an audible sound for the last 5 seconds, but then after the 1st shot is saved the 2nd shot is taken well before the next 30 seconds and there is no audible count down.

So what do I think of iCamWait?

Whilst this app ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a self-timer app, sadly it is let down by its execution, and despite the developer donating some of its proceeds to charities I find it very difficult at this stage to recommend.

The good news is, that if the developer sorts out these issues, then this will be a nice little self-timer app, sadly, the bad news for the developer is that by the time these issues are resolved this app will have been lost amongst the crowd of self-timer apps.

AppStore Link: iCamWait - Price £0.59/$0.99

Comments

[ITMakeSense]

Hi Glyn, iCamWait team here again.

Many thanks for your review and constructive comments.

Most of the items you have pointed out as glitches are already in our development pot which are almost ready for submission to Apple. These include;
* Adding sound to countdown on repeat captures
* Waiting until all captures have been completed until save. This speeds up the repeat captures.
* The registration shouldn't keep prompting you, we agree, so this will be removed immediately. We ask for registration so that we can keep our supporters updated on new releases, new apps and news on our charity links and donations. It’s a purely opt-in registration NO SPAM and hope people see it in this way.

We'll let you know when the new version is available so that you can refresh your comments again and hopefully give us full thumbs up.

Until then, thanks again for your support and comments.

[Glyn Evans]

@ITMakeSense. Thanks for the feedback, and I look forward to the updates.

[ITMakeSense]

Hi Glyn

Yay, I'm glad to let you know that Apple have now released version 1.1 of iCamWait. You'll never believe that we submitted it to them a day after you posted your article above. Its taken them this long to approve.

Anyway, it addresses all of your concerns and we look forward to your comments.