Luminance - micro review

As the editor of iPhography.com I have seen & tested hundreds of apps. So after testing this, I fail to see why it has rated so high by everyone including Apple (runner up for app of the year 2011). It’s not my intention to bag this app but merely provide some balance to the rediculous amount of 5star reviews for what I would give a 2 to 3 star rating for.

My guess is the app maker either has a lot of friends (in high places) or people haven’t tried the much better apps that are available

The filters are ok if you don’t want to edit the photo yourself but other than that the only editing feature I like is tone curve. It’s really quite limited. I don’t like the workflow or having to add each new adjustment (as opposed to just using it). There is also many basic adjustments missing, like sharpen, straighten etc

I’ve actually just deleted the app from my phone, I don’t think I’ll use it again unless it has a radical overhaul

You would be much better served by photogene 2, photoforge 2 or snapseed
Or if you like simple to use cute filters try pictureshow

I fail to see why Apple one of the best designed product companies in the world would choose to showcase what their amazing products are capable of by highlighting this under-performing app. It’s average, not great

Suggestions for Path

If you haven’t tried it yet, Path is one of the best of the new breed of sharing / social apps & we highly recommend you put it in your stocking this Christmas

But here are some suggestions we have so far

When I tap a photo to see it bigger. Please please don’t auto rotate it, let me decide if it’s necessary. Also can we pinch to zoom on the image please

In the settings where it asks for photos, can you add a small thumbnail so we can see what our current pics are. Because what is “set picture”? Is it my profile pic or is it a background

Oh just tried it, it’s profile picture. Then why don’t you call it profile picture or picture of me etc

The background photo for the main feed with everyone in it should be different to my own path

When I click on the smiley instead of saying seen by no one, it says seen by 1 friend & has a picture of me. I don’t love myself enough to call myself my own friend also I’m pretty sure I know what I have seen or haven’t, seeing as I put it there

A Japanese social network called mixi uses the term ‘footprints’ (when translated) instead of ‘activity’. Seeing as your app is called path, I think the analogy of seeing mine & my friends footprints would be more appropriate & friendly. “Activity” sounds like something you make up to keep bratty children occupied

With the add icons - the symbolism of a camera is old, especially seeing as its taken on an iPhone & also it could be motion pictures (video). As its about my path in life, the things I see, say, hear, where I am & the people I’m with or meet, then I think the camera should be an eye to represent what I saw, the note icon should be an ear for what I’m listening to (because it might not be music) & the speech bubble should be a mouth, I would then group the eye, mouth, ear together (1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in the pop up) & follow with the where (map) & who icons & keep wake/sleep at bottom (not sure if there is enough space but it should be a sun/moon icon, not just moon)

I can’t find within the app any info on what version I have or any help files or anything about path

Also, what are your policies?? For example if the path of my life includes running around at the beach naked with friends or a sexy picture of my girlfriend waking up, would I be deleted even though this is part of the path of my life. In other words, will you control & censor my life (path) like Facebook & Apple or will you be way more cool & tolerant like tumblr. I’d at least like to be able to find this info within the app & not be deleted for something I’m not aware of. Maybe you could add a NSFW/M tag or button (Not Safe For Work or Minors) which obscures or mosaics the image until it is taped incase I’m on a train/bus or someone is looking over my shoulder. It would be my friends responsibility to tag it, if they continue to not, I can unfollow them or tag their image to ‘obscure/cloak’ on my wall

After all if, I’m sharing my path with my friends, shouldn’t it be between them & me as to what we as a group have deemed acceptable?

We hope you won’t be big brother, but will instead encourage my friends & social network to be self responsible & not remove that decision making process from them. Morals & acceptable beliefs are a moving target, what one group deems acceptable or even nice such as sun baking wearing a cute brazilian bikini bottom & no top, would in another community be perfectly acceptable to arrest or even kill you. These are not decisions for anyone other than the members of that community to decide, not their governing bodies or infrastructure providers or app makers. (although I strongly suggest that killing someone for dressing in what they were born in to be completely illogical, inhumane & unproportional in action & intent - besides, my girlfriend is hot)

If you really wish for us to share our paths or lives, then clearly let us know in a short easy to read policy that you will do so. Don’t give us a bait & switch like many other companies

PS so glad you didn’t use corporate blue for your colours like everyone else. Blue means “don’t trust me, we just want your info or money” in my book

PPS feel free to hire me as your usability expert :P