Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, First Look
First Look: Create panoramic photos with Pano for iPhone
Debacle Software has just released Pano (App Store link), an iPhone app that creates panoramic pictures from multiple iPhone photos -- up to four in one panorama.
Making panoramas is quite simple. You begin by launching the app on the iPhone, at which time you're asked to take your first picture. Pano prompts you to use or retake the photo, and if you choose to use it, you're given the opportunity to take the second picture. Pano overlays a transparent version of the rightmost portion of the previous picture over the left hand side of the image (see below), providing a guide for aligning the pictures. (Sorry about the ringer icon -- I bumped the ringer volume button while making the screenshot)
The process is repeated for up to four photos. If you take three shots and don't want to take a fourth, you can cancel, at which time you're given the option to quit, continue taking pictures, or make the panorama (see below). The last step displays a "merging" progress bar, during which time Pano's proprietary process is stitching the photos together.
The final panorama is placed into the iPhone Photos library, where it can be emailed or synced with iPhoto. Pano costs $2.99, well worth the price for what you get.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Josh said 1:27PM on 10-17-2008
So how is this better than the FREE PanoLab in the app store already?
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Akaoka said 1:50PM on 10-17-2008
Auto-alignment, colour-correction, blending, cropping. A lot more behind the scenes.
Patrick said 1:41PM on 10-17-2008
Call me crazy, but that picture looks like Highlands Ranch, CO
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Wildcardd said 1:51PM on 10-17-2008
It is...Steve (the blogger) lives in the area...along with some of us too :)
Leo Libiran said 1:41PM on 10-17-2008
This app is way better than PanoLab. PanoLab is great but this one is 10x better! I deleted PanoLab after I got this app. The semi-transparent guide helps you line up each shot perfectly! Brilliant!
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Harbinger said 3:09PM on 10-17-2008
Brilliant! I have been waiting for this and sensible video recording.
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Jared said 3:50PM on 10-17-2008
Have you considered Cycorder (for Jailbroken iPhones only)?? Is that "sensible"?
dggraphics said 8:43PM on 10-17-2008
WHile I appreciate the author creating this software, it is included already on many modern cell phones, Sony ericsson just to name one. It's too bad that Apple barely gives anything on the iPhone. I have an iPhone, but still miss a lot of the features of my old SE. The iPhone is still playing catch up. Would love it if Apple got off the spoon-feeding of features, yes we are wise to it.
Anyway nice app.
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bob said 2:52PM on 10-17-2008
could be worse, android doesnt even ship with video playback, or a half decent audio player.
Scott Ullrich said 2:21PM on 10-17-2008
Very nice application! Would like to see the maximum image count raised to more than 4 images, however.
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Martijn said 2:29PM on 10-17-2008
The image above is ripped from http://www.ifoneguys.com/panorama/
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yaauie said 3:22PM on 10-17-2008
The image is currently at the bottom of this page and is credited to Steve Sande, the author of this article.
http://www.ifoneguys.com/panorama/gallery.aspx
PS. what is up with AOL/AIM commenting not working? Always returns 'wrong password' even when correct u/p pair is passed
Steven Sande said 3:38PM on 10-17-2008
No, I uploaded my original photo (taken near my home in Highlands Ranch, CO) to that site. There was some confusion yesterday -- the Pano app used to be called "Panorama", and I posted my picture on the wrong site! ;-)
Steve
eyezberg said 2:36PM on 10-17-2008
Looks nice, is there a way to get the resulting panoramas onto my computer (Windoze) later? And what's their resolution?
thx
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eyezberg said 2:47PM on 10-17-2008
PS: that Panorama app linked to by Martijn looks good also, a bit more expensive but seems to not have the 4 images limitation - anyone can compare both?
Adam said 3:52PM on 10-17-2008
Panorama app does allow more photos, *but*, I've had it crash on me when taking many photos, and because they use a lot less of the image, you need about 1.5 times the number of pictures to get the same actual width.
Ethan said 2:35PM on 10-17-2008
Does it lock the exposure?
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Brenden said 2:37PM on 10-17-2008
Panolab is much better and allows you to do more creative panoramas. There are already incredible improvements being tested. And it's free.
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Jared said 2:54PM on 10-17-2008
Where is that picture with the flag pole taken??? In CO??? Where in CO???
Thanks!!!
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Steven Sande said 3:38PM on 10-17-2008
You guessed it, Jared! It's in Highlands Ranch near the Tresana development on University Boulevard.
TUAWSteve