Gorillacam gets updated. Cool new features!
Gorillacam
Check the App Store for the great new update of Gorillacam by Joby Inc. The update adds a few great new features to this camera replacement app that we recently reviewed in our Best Free iPhone Camera Replacements article. Best of all, the app is still free.
The version 1.1 update adds anti-shake image stabilization, tap-to-focus for 3GS iPhones, selectable image sizes and a very nice full resolution 4X digital zoom. It’s a great update to an already excellent camera replacement app.
If you don’t already have a camera replacement app, Gorillacam is worth a serious look — even more so after this update.
Gorillacam is still free in the App Store. [link]
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About The Author
MartyNearDFW
Marty is a self-employed graphic designer in the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex. He loves travel, beer, coffee, baseball, Macs, photography, scotch and travel.
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GorillaCam has been my default camera app since it was released. Great features, and the anti-shake (while it’s REALLY persnickety) works like a champ. LOVE IT.
Hey Marty,
i checked .ipa’s today with IPA Scanner 0.2. Version 1.1 includes SPYWARE now.
I am very sad and downgraded to version 1.0 which seam to be clean.
Hi, Tomba,
Thank you for looking into this and pointing this out. Personally, I don’t have an issue with Joby’s data collection, but I realize that other users may.
I contacted Joby, the company that created Gorillacam. You are correct in that they have added reporting to the app using Pinch Media. Here’s what they had to say:
“We decided to use Pinch Media in order to gather anonymized data in aggregated form to help make our app better. For example, we can tell that so far in February, people have taken over 250k photos. Pinch Media doesn’t show us information that can be traced back to individual photographers. And it’s a heck of a lot better than trying to get information from iTunes Connect, the interface Apple presents to developers.
“We do essentially the same thing with our website, through Google Analytics, and use that data to try to make our website better too.”
Again, I realize that some users are uncomfortable with Pinch Media data collection in iPhone apps and I’ve reposted Joby’s response here so that users can make an informed decision on whether or not to use Gorillacam.
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Hi Marty,
thanks for your reply and your effort. I really apriciate your work. And also that of Joby’s Gorillacam – so far.
The answer from developers is always the same. They get only anonymized data from Pinch Media and they need this information to make their apps better. Dont get me wrong. I have no problem to tell Joby that i used it nearly every day on a 3GS with 3.1.3 no jailbreak etc. Or that i wish that they could improve saving speed after the very good burst mode. And i have a relationship with them because i am their customer – ok the app is free till now.
BUT i have nothing to do with Pinch Media. And Pinch Media is STEALING personalized data like – as i read:
- your telephone number
- your iPhone’s hardware identifier
- your phone model and OS version
- app name and version
- is your device jailbroken
- length of time app was running
- your location if not disaggreed
- your gender and age if using Facebook Connect
from your phone. Pinch Media could do a lot more as the developers themself with the data. And from all “their” apps!. The only way to avoid this – thats what Pinch Media suggests – is to run the app in “airplane mode”?! No button to switch off!
And why does no developer mention that he is collecting data with his app if it is sooo harmless? In Joby’s case its especially awful. They got the trust of me and a lot of users. Also you recommended it to your readers. And then they update to the backdoor with this spyware. They lost all my trust. Some other may think: Hey, Marty recommended me spyware…
To know how many pics are taken with the app could this really help Joby to improve their app?
The only advantage i could think of is – for paid apps – to know how many apps are paid or broken. For free apps i dont know. I only can think of marketing activities or selling some data or selling advertising in my app…
Its really sad. I liked the app and saved also some money to buy a gorillapod. But now my postive appraisal is gone.
First i deleted the app like i do with all other apps the scanner detected in the past.
Gorillacam was the first photo app that was detected. Second i dont know if i still want to have a gorillapad.
Just my 50 cents
Tomba