Looking for Polarize, LOFI, Format126, and EffectsLab? They really aren’t there any more.
Within the past few days, many iPhoneographers have noticed that the four popular iPhone photo apps have gone missing from the App Store. They still show up in a search, but any attempt to download (or redownload) the apps ends up with a “no longer available” message.
All four apps are indeed gone and no longer available by normal means, most likely forever.
The apps were developed by Chris Comair. According to an email I received from him today, he confirmed what most had already suspected — that he is no longer working on personal iPhone apps anymore.
“A bit more than a year ago, I began working [career working] on projects that allow me to not only push forward myself, but also heavily push forward the entire industry as a whole,” Chris writes.
Apple has applied a new App Store rule where if an application has not been updated for a certain period of time, it is no longer available for download. With the lacking of iOS4.x support, Chris was actually planning to remove them anyway for other, personal reasons.
Glyn Evans, who co-developed Format126 with Chris, may try to continue development of the app with another coder. So far, work has not progressed on any updates of Format126.
Chris is a great guy — really interesting. The email he sent back contained a lot of his insights about life, technology, creativity and the connections we have with them, as well as touching upon some of the projects he has going now. He was also very grateful for the success his apps had and the opportunities that success opened for him.
The iPhone apps he created will be missed by the community, but I wish Chris continued success in his new ventures.
=M=
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