Missing in action, Film Lab and RetroCamera

A few of you have commented on the disappearance of Film Lab and RetroCamera from the US, Canadian and UK App Stores. Whilst there has been no official word from developer regarding these disappearances, further investigation has revealed that these apps are now gone from all the App Stores, and not just the three named above. Whilst not confirmed, I suspect the legal eagles at Apple have spotted not just one, but several copyright infringements in these two apps, as the developer has chosen to name the filter effects by their film brands and stock names, like Kodak T-MAX and Ilford XP-2, etc. If the app has been removed for these copyright infringements, then it may be some time before we see it back, as the developer will have come up with a lot of alternative names for these film brand/effect names.

Update on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 8:15PM by Glyn Evans

Good news, I just got word that these missing apps will be back in the App Store real soon, and their removal has nothing to do the use of film brand names and stock types, but a slight embarrassment on the developers side, he forgot to renew his developers contract with Apple - Whoops.

The iPhoneography blog welcomes Star Rush, our first Interview and Showcase Editor

Recently the iPhoneography blog posted a position for an "Interview and Showcase Editor". The process has been slow [on my part], but I am pleased to introduce the first of our new editors, Star Rush.

For those who know Star, then you will be well aware of her presence in the iPhoneography community, but for those who don't, then I will leave Star to introduce herself.

About Me

My name is Star Rush and I live and work in Seattle.

Click to read more ...

App Update: RetroCamera

Updated on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:57PM by Glyn Evans

After what has seemed like an eternity, the developer behind FILM LAB has finally released an updated for RetroCamera.

This update takes the stunning film stocks from FILM LAB, adds all the best bits from the original RetroCamera, and forms RetroCamera 2.0.

Below is RetroCamera 2.0 decription from the App Store.

Click to read more ...

App Update: FILM LAB

FILM LAB which I reviewed here has just had a major update.  The update includes bug fixes and full-res support on the iPhone 4, and now has a total of 351 films/filter effects.

The app now contains some new film brands like Calotype, FORTE, GAF and Rollei, which sit alongside the existing films from Kodak, Agfa, Ilford etc., but the best bit is, they are now grouped, making it much easier to find your preferred film type or filter effect by either film brand or effect style.

The last update to this app was pretty impressive, making it a must have app, but now these updates have made it a MUST have app, so if you don't already own FILM LAB, then what are you waiting for, go grab a copy now!!

AppStore Link: FILM LAB - Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79

App Review: Film Lab, the film simulator in your pocket

Film Lab from the developer of RetroCamera is billed as "a film simulation application program", but just what can it do that other apps can't?

The App

When you first launch the app you are presented with a pop-up menu that tells you exactly what each of the menu icons across the bottom of the screen do.

After you have loaded a photo, tapping the Toolbox icon reveals the options available to you, and just like any other photo editing app you can adjust...

• brightness and contrast
• color
• hue and chroma
• sharpness
• blur

...but unlike any other app currently in the AppStore it has a 'Film Simulation' button.

Film Simulation

Tap this and you enter the world of 'Film Lab', where you have the choice of 79, yes that's 79 different film stocks and effects. Each of these can be accessed by scrolling the film simulation icons across the bottom of the screen from right to left and back again. As you touch each effect you will briefly see across the top of the screen the manufacturers name and film type, and these range from Kodak to Agfa, from Fuji to Ilford. Not only does this app have the widest range of colour film stock effects, but also the widest range of mono ones as well (outside of the Tiffen fx range), so if you are a fan of old school black and white photography like me, then you will almost certainly find your favourite film stock here.

What do I think of Film Lab?

OK, this app is not without its bugs, with the orientation bug raising its head in this app (work on a landscape photo and it save as portrait), but it does support full-res which is something missing from many of todays apps, and just like Live FX, I would like to see labels on the effects before selecting them.

Despite these 2 niggles, this app is worthy of space on anyones iPhone, and whilst it has features found in many other apps, it is the 'Film Simulation' mode that makes this app stand out from the others.

So ratings; whilst this app does not fall in to the must have category, for me it comes close, very close, and so scores a firm 4 stars.

AppStore Link: Film Lab - Price £0.59/$0.99

Hot on the heels of SwankoLab, FILM LAB has hit the AppStore

"FilmLab" is a film simulation application program that transforms iPhone to the film camera. The variation of the film effect reaches as many as 79 kinds including a popular film such as Agfa, Ilford, Kodak, EES, and Fuji. The selection and the preview can quickly do these by excellent UI. Therefore, it is possible to try to one's heart's content. And, these effects can be done in the multiple. It is possible to return it to the previous state by undo at any time even if failing. Besides this, Calotype and Daguerreotype, Development technique such as "Split tone",Film effect such as Selenium and Polysulphide developers that reaches variously,"Color operation" and "Hue and chroma" adjustments that adjust the color balance and "Sharpness", "Blur", and "Brightness and contrast" adjustment functions are installed.

The main function:

• Resolution: 352x480 - 2348x3200 output
• The film simulation: 79 kinds
• The color operation: 18 kinds
• Hue and chroma adjustment
• Brightness and contrast adjustment
• Sharpness
• Blur
• Undo
• Redo

AppStore Link: FILM LAB - Price £0.59/$0.99

Editors comments: Whilst Europe was asleep FILM LAB from the developer of RetroCamera hit the AppStore. This is a nice app, not too dissimilar to RetroCamera (but with full res support), that for me has a slightly cleaner interface. The key thing for me about this app, is it real film effects that cover the full spectrum of real films from manufacturers like Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and it even has black and white film effects from the likes of Kodak and Ilford.

This app has more than enough to keep anyone happy, and even before reviewing I have no hesitation in saying "go get, you won't regret it", and it's only £0.59/$0.99, BARGAIN!!

Coming soon: Film Lab

I've just been given the heads up on another new app coming to the AppStore soon, and that is Film Lab from developer CLBITZ Ubiquitous Communications Inc. the same developer behind RetroCamera.

I have just been sent a beta copy of the app, which on first impressions does have some similarities to RetroCamera, however unlike RetroCamera this new app supports full-res.

Below is the developers description and preview video.

Developers description: "FILM LAB" is a film simulation application program that transforms iPhone to the film camera. The variation of the film effect reaches as many as 79 kinds including a popular film such as Agfa, Ilford, Kodak, EES, and Fuji. The selection and the preview can quickly do these by excellent UI. Therefore, it is possible to try to one's heart's content. And, these effects can be done in the multiple. It is possible to return it to the previous state by undo at any time even if failing. Besides this, Calotype and Daguerreotype, Development technique such as "Split tone",Film effect such as Selenium and Polysulphide developers that reaches variously,"Color operation" and "Hue and chroma" adjustments that adjust the color balance and "Sharpness", "Blur", and "Brightness and contrast" adjustment functions are installed.

The main function:

• Resolution: 352x480 - 2348x3200 output
• The film simulation: 79 kinds
• The color operation: 18 kinds
• Hue and chroma adjustment
• Brightness and contrast adjustment
• Sharpness
• Blur
• Undo
• Redo