Nothing shakes out an app like real-world use. Hot on the heels of the release of the powerhouse image editing app PhotoForge 2, GhostBird Software have announced the upcoming release of the PhotoForge2 version 2.0.1 update which adds a few new minor features and addresses a lot of issues that users raised from the initial release. The biggest change is that Location services are no longer required to load photos — a welcome change to many users.
Read on for a complete list of changes, additions and fixes. It’s pretty long for an X.X.1 update.
Other cool changes for me in this update are the addition of a High Pass filter. As a user of Adobe Photoshop, I may need it only twice, but I’ll be glad to have this one in my toolkit on my iPhone. Also, DSLR users will appreciate improved RAW support (UPDATE: In iTunes, you can import unprocessed RAW files from many formats). I don’t use my iPhone in tandem with a DSLR, but if you do, let us know how this feature works in the comments below.
No native iPad support yet. That’s planned for a future update.
Here are the changes to PhotoForge2 2.0.1:
- Location services are no longer required to load photos. If location services are rejected the default image picker will be used instead and no GPS metadata will be loaded.
- For those that do allow location services, you now have the ability to strip this information when sharing your photos online. You may now also disable tagging your image with GPS data when using the built in camera.
- Added ability to completely hide editor backgrounds when editing. Added option to set the default opacity of the editor backgrounds as well. This should allow for unobstructed editing when using some of the larger editors like curves, channel mixer, etc.
- Added High Pass Filter
- Added configurable edge blending and zoom to the polar filter. Making mini planets is easier than ever!
- Added camera connection kit RAW support. PhotoForge2 will now always load RAW when available.
- Major speed increase to gaussian blur filter
- Improved Facebook uploader so that uploaded images are now auto-approved. No longer need to manually login and approve each photo uploaded.
- Fixed location services not being disabled when cancelling the image picker. Previously location services could have remained enabled when there was no need.
- Fixed metadata getting stripped when emailing your photo. (This is now configurable in settings).
- Fixed image picker order so camera roll is always at the top of the list.
- Fixed Facebook login problem on devices without multi tasking.
- Many other minor graphical and interface fixes.
- Various optimizations and speed increases.
PhotoForge2 requires at least iOS 4.2. It will run on any device that can install iOS 4.2 or greater. This includes iPhone 3G or newer, iPod Touch 2nd gen or newer, and all iPads. The app is $2.99 in the App Store until the end of May.
More info is on the PhotoForge2 blog.
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