In response to the articles that have been posted in recent days regarding Instagram’s claim to sell the rights to their users’ photos (see article here,) And, as with anything you learn via viral flurry, it’s a good idea to check your facts. Here is a good article about the legal ease and the true meaning of Instagram’s new policies.  I decided it would be helpful to share an overview of other mobile apps for fun photo editing; it’s always good to consider other alternatives. Some of them have direct Facebook and Twitter integration, some don’t. Some are paid apps, some are free.

Flickr

• A newly updated iPhone app allows you to edit photos in your current photo library or take new photos inside the app
• There are 16 filters similar to those on Instagram
• Flickr lets you post directly to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr

Camera Awesome

• Complete with an auto-fix “Awesomize” button to enhance your photos with one touch
• 9 photo filters with sliding scale of distortion; you can upgrade from the free version to get more filters
• Easy sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, SmugMug, Picasa, Photobucket and Flickr.

Photshop Express

• A very simplified version of it’s desktop parent
• Crop, rotate, resize images
• Change the exposure, saturation and contrast features of images
• Add simple effects and borders (some for free, some are a paid upgrade)

PowerCam ($.99)

• Adds real time effects to pictures and videos!
• Over 60 filters/effects
• A ginormous amount of editing features, in 5 categories – Panorama, Tilt-shift, Color Splash, FaceTimer and Magic Shot
• Allows for filming video using effects!

ProHDR ($1.99)

• Capture an image exposed for the highlights and another exposed for the shadows
• Takes two images of the same scene, combines them, and adjusts automatically for the perfect image
• Allows you to make HDRs from your current photo library
• Share images on email, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Tumblr

This is just a quick list of apps that you can use to make your photos more eye-catching for your online tribe. I recommend trying a few, finding the one with the interface and effects you like, and using it. If you have others you enjoy, please comment below!

January 2013 Issue