Lytro, the company behind the light-field camera system by the same name, has launched an iPhone and iPod touch application. The app connects to the Lytro Camera via a WiFi connection to allow Lytro camera users to easily sync photos from the camera to the iOS device.
Using the technologies in an iOS device, users, via the app, can then share their photos via social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Because iOS devices have built-in text messaging and email capabilities, Lytro photos can be shared instantly via those mediums as well.
Specific to Lytro, the free app also allows users to upload photos to Lytro’s own sharing site while on the move. Notably, the new Lytro iPhone app makes the first use of the camera’s secret WiFi chip. A software update specific to Lytro camera is required to officially unlock the hardware.
In addition to sharing your own photos, the Lytro app can allow users to view the photos of other Lytro camera owners.
A neat new bonus feature is the ability to create animated GIFs.
Steve Jobs met with Lytro executives about integrated the light-field technologies into a future version of the iPhone.
The free Lytro iPhone app is available on the App Store.
Press release:
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jun 19, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Lytro, Inc., creator of the world’s first consumer light field camera, today introduced Lytro Mobile App. This new iOS app lets people use their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch device to experience and share light field pictures taken with Lytro cameras. The app communicates with Lytro cameras, whose wireless capabilities can be activated with a free software update, letting camera owners preview and upload pictures to Lytro.com directly from their iOS device while on the go, using either a cellular or Wi-Fi network. The Lytro Mobile App will be available internationally as a free download, starting today.
“Lytro Mobile makes it even easier to share light field pictures and lets people experience the benefits of light field technology with a device that never leaves their side,” said Jason Rosenthal, CEO, Lytro. “As the first to bring light field photography to consumers, we believe there is vast potential to this technology, and Lytro Mobile is the next step in building this category.”
Camera owners and non-camera owners alike can download the app to experience living pictures on their iOS device, including refocusing pictures and experiencing Perspective Shift, with no special software required.
“Mobile sharing of photos is universal and Lytro Mobile now offers the kind of desktop-free convenience people are accustomed to having,” said Ren Ng, Founder, Lytro. “We have taken a complex technology and made it accessible through an app that is easy to use for both sharing and viewing light field pictures.”
Lytro Mobile allows people to:
— Share a picture directly from an iPhone to Lytro.com, Facebook, Twitter or via email or SMS;
— View popular and recent living pictures that everyone has shared to Lytro.com;
— Save a living picture as an animated GIF to their iOS camera roll;
— Access a series of “Learn” tips, educational content that will expand over time.
