addLib – Review
App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: wow.inc
Version #: 1.0.0
Date Released: 2010-02-01
Developer:
Price: 2.99
User Rating:
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There are plenty of photo manipulation apps in the app store. Most of these apps either let you adjust color, brightness, etc while others let you create silly images by adding cats or morphing a person’s face. Addlib fall between these distinctions and sits in a place its developer refer to as application art. This app is part of a art project by Japanese Art studio WOW. The idea of Addlib is to explore applications as a medium for art.
In graphic design there are several established rules for creating beautiful designs. The "golden ratio" and the "grid system" are examples of these conventions. What Addlib does is utilize these conventions along with a certain amount of randominity, to create great looking pieces of art from photos you take on the iPhone. Each time you press the button, addlib generates a new image with different color, typography, and layout.
When you first open the application you choose to either take a photo or to select one from your library. Addlib then generates three designs for you. if you don’t like a design you can refresh any of them to get a new one. Addlib also has a customize button that lets you control text and where the focal point of the image is. When you are satisfied with your creation, you can save the image to your library, send it to twitter, or email the photo.
The controls in Addlib are clean and get out of the way to let you view your creation. The images the app generates are pleasing, and high quality, though after a dozen or so refreshes you begin to see a bit of a limit to the app’s diversity. The immediate pleasure of jazzing up your photos can get old after you have exhausted the variations that the app offers. At nearly three dollars, this app may not be for everyone. Addlib is a niche app that does one thing very well, but is limited by its purpose. I am interested to see what WOW has in store for its next application art project.
Quick Take
Value:Medium.
Would I Buy Again:Not at the current price.
Learning Curve:Easy.
Who Is It For:Those interested in generated art.
What I Like:Simple controls, Great looking results almost every time.
What I Don't Like:Price, limited usefulness .
Final Statement:Great idea, just needs a price cut.
Screenshots
Article By Nathan Kline
Nathan has been an avid Apple user and advocate since the days of the Apple ][. He has always sought to find new ways to make use of technology to assist his daily life. As a paramedic in southern California Nathan brings his familiarity with technology to the field, and at whatsoniphone.com he brings his critical thinking to he analysis of apps and news. You has also written app reviews for the mobile app site Smokinapps.com.
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