New ShakeItPhoto update coming this week. Old processing returns.

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New ShakeItPhoto update coming this week. Old processing returns.

Submitted by Marty Yawnick on December 5, 2010 – 4:25 pm 7 Comments

Image processed with ShakeItPhoto 1.2 classic processing

ShakeItPhoto 1.3 was released this week. Among the new features were full-resolution support and redesigned processing. The new processing is more faded, less contrasty and less saturated than the previous versions of ShakeItPhoto. The new processing is now a pretty accurate rendition of what old instant prints actually look like — much different than the old high contrast, high color saturation, almost dreamy look of the older versions.

All week, there had been much chatter on Twitter, boards, and the blogosphere about this update. Many iPhoneographers either loved it or didn’t, with many hoping to be able to have both options as a preference. Today on the Banana Camera Co. blog, developer Nick Campbell announced that a new update for ShakeItPhoto has already been submitted to Apple. The big new feature? The return of the classic ShakeItPhoto processing.

The new update should street this week and will feature full resolution and the return of ShakeItPhoto’s classic image processing and look. The change was made by this responsive developer as a result of the feedback from the iPhoneography community and ShakeItPhoto users.

The new update is classic processing only and WILL NOT feature an option to switch back to the new, more authentic-looking processing. If you like the new processing, I recommend that you stay at version 1.3 for now and don’t upgrade when the new version becomes available in about a week. If you accidentally install the upgrade and would like to revert back to the previous version, check out our post on downgrading to a previous version of an app.

“What we try to do with our applications is try to keep ‘em as simple as we can,” says Nick Campbell in the video update. “What we like to do is remove as many options and features and really make the most simple iPhone apps that do one thing really well.”

He goes on to say “If you did like the new look, maybe in a new app down the road… we’ll reintroduce that look.”

In the meantime, if you like the new look of ShakeitPhoto, hold on to version 1.3.

ShakeItPhoto 1.3 still runs on any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 3.1.3 or newer. Itâ€™s $0.99 in the App Store.

=M=

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Big thanks to Kyle Sacks / @mredpopo on Twitter for the heads up on this one.

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Marty Yawnick

Marty is a self-employed graphic designer in the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex. He is an avid Rangers baseball, Chicago Cubs, Packers and Highbury Arsenal fan. In addition to capturing random moments with whatever camera is close by (usually his iPhone), his other interests include coffee, film, music, and traveling in seats 5E and 5F with his fiancé.

http://www.marcolacivita.com Marco

This is good news! Thanks Marty.
Thomas

Translation: We're too lazy to code a preference setting for both appearances, but we might offer the new look in a separate app for an additional cost later.
http://photoappinion.posterous.com Darrel

Uh…yea, what Thomas said. This is silly…why not make it an option?

I like the authenticity of the new version and I appreciate accommodating the current users who are loudly missing the old style…but flip flopping back seems to just be opening up a whole new group of folks being upset.
http://bananacameraco.com Alexia

@Thomas and @Darrel:

We got an overwhelming amount of feedback regarding the new look and made a difficult decision to change it back to the original ShakeItPhoto look- the look that's been around for years. The simplicity of the app is something that we strive for with ShakeItPhoto and so the option for two different filters is not something that we chose to do.

Thanks so much for your feedback.
Digital Artist

Both directions have there pluses and minuses…

It can't be that hard to have a simple slider in the navi or pref's area for circa so and so and circa so and so version… How hard could that be and STILL keep the app simply.

Give the users a "best of both worlds instead of releasing a future app with the effects that 1.3 produces.

The developer came forward and stated what he did, he liked the new version and now because many users did NOT like it he is going back to the old version. Give the users the option and make EVERYONE happy.

Simple solution to the issue of "like and not like".
http://photoappinion.posterous.com Darrel

Simplicity isn't a synonym for 'lack of features', though. As Digital Artist states, sticking it in the preferences somewhere doesn't complicate the use of the app.

Again, I can appreciate the loud uproar that happened due to the change. I'd just be a mini-uproar given that I bought it because of the new look. Point being a big change was made, upsetting many folks. Now another big change is being made, which could upset many folks.
Thomas

"Keep the app simple" is corporate-speak for "we don't want to put anything more into it"

As an app gains users, and it becomes apparent the way the user base likes to work, most companies look into adding additional options and settings to further assist their customers/users in doing work the way they want. I have seen this on many apps I have bought. It is welcome, and if done right does not affect the "simplicity" or usability of the app at all.

There are many areas where the UI of BananaCamera's apps could be improved with a few unobtrusive user prefs: how about allowing a setting if the apps should start with the camera or not? Some of us might never use the camera in the app. How about to diable sound FX? Not to mention "rendering style" or whatever. Of course there's the oft-requested "crop lines." I realize a lot of coding goes behind these items, but it might be worth it to show the app is growing more sophisticated — while the basic usage is still "simple."

I can see where the pricing model in the app store might not be conducive to adding incremental updates to an inexpensive app, since essentially you already HAVE the sale, so why bother? However, apps — and app companies — that build fierce user loyalty and word-of-mouth are the ones who add, innovate, and adapt. If, to make it worthwhile, I'd even pay .99 for an in-app purchase to enable "classic polaroid mode."