Even though I can see, I still often have trouble distinguishing similar colors like navy blue from black, gray or brown. If you're like me, the app Color ID Free might be helpful. Simply point the camera at the color you want to know, tap the screen and it will tell you--even without VoiceOver activated. It has a white arrow pointing to the exact spot it's looking at right then and a circle displaying a larger sample of that color. The color name, Hex number and a sample of the last color remain on the screen until it is tapped again for the next color. Pretty nifty, eh?
Tapping on the top left of the screen (the box where the last read color is displayed) will switch the app from it's "exotic" color names to simple color names ("Rhino" to "Moderate Purplish Blue"). There are buttons across the bottom to pause (or unpause) the image, automatic sampling and reading of colors (every 3 seconds) and more options. More options gives you the option to save to Photos, email, send to Facebook, use exotic colors, switch from front to back camera and toggle the torch.
There are a few things I'd like to see before I use this app on a daily basis, though. First, I'd like the opportunity to change the sample size. The app is almost too accurate for it's own good--after all, most people don't identify the color of a blouse by a single point. This is expecially true with denim or clothes with a course fabric. The option to read the current color name as both exotic and simple would be helpful--currently you have to settle on one or the other. The option to re-read the last color would be nice. Also, a memory or save function and the ability to compare two colors on screen would be awesome!
The app has the potential to be something extremely useful and I'd certainly be willing to drop $2-3 for something like this that would do what I need. For now, though, the price is right at free. There is a paid version, Color Identifier, for $1.99 with no ads, but until they make some improvements, I'll stick with the free one.
-- Stephanie Bargenquast
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
BigMagnify: Minimalist Magnification
The first app I searched for when I got my iPhone was a magnifying app. It's physical counterparts are between $100 and $2000. I was shocked to find loads of them in the app store; some were free, some were paid, and some came in both varieties. I decided to try as many free ones as I could before spending any money.
Since there are so many magnifying apps, I decided to come up with some major criteria for the "perfect" app and evaluate each one accordingly. I've found all of these features in some form throughout the apps I tried. My criteria include:
It has a bar with tabs for 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x along the bottom and small icons to switch cameras, turn on the LED and pause the image arranged vertically in the lower right. On the lower left is an icon that will swap the location of the icons from the right to the left. The icons don't obstruct the view but are far enough apart for most fingers to hit them without a problem. Voiceover compatibility is OK--the switch camera button reads as "flash", Simple but effective. I'd like to see a faster load time and no splash screen. I also just found a bug. Magnification, camera and icon position are saved on app switch and a complete exit. Flash on/off, however, is not. But more than that, if you launch the app with the front facing camera (which does not have an LED), the flash icon will not return when you switch back to the rear camera. D'oh.
A good app that is, at the moment, # 4 in my top 5 magnifier apps thus far. I will keep testing and report on those worthy of your attention.
-- Stephanie Bargenquast
Since there are so many magnifying apps, I decided to come up with some major criteria for the "perfect" app and evaluate each one accordingly. I've found all of these features in some form throughout the apps I tried. My criteria include:
- Cost
- Ads
- Full Screen Mode
- LED Light / Flash
- Max Magnification
- Tap to Focus
- Freeze / Still
- Enhance Image
- Zoom Controls
- Flip Image Vertically
- Flip Image Horizontally
- Rotate Image
- Switch Camera
- Portrait / Lanscape
- Launch Speed
- Splash Screen
- Save Settings On Exit
It has a bar with tabs for 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x along the bottom and small icons to switch cameras, turn on the LED and pause the image arranged vertically in the lower right. On the lower left is an icon that will swap the location of the icons from the right to the left. The icons don't obstruct the view but are far enough apart for most fingers to hit them without a problem. Voiceover compatibility is OK--the switch camera button reads as "flash", Simple but effective. I'd like to see a faster load time and no splash screen. I also just found a bug. Magnification, camera and icon position are saved on app switch and a complete exit. Flash on/off, however, is not. But more than that, if you launch the app with the front facing camera (which does not have an LED), the flash icon will not return when you switch back to the rear camera. D'oh.
A good app that is, at the moment, # 4 in my top 5 magnifier apps thus far. I will keep testing and report on those worthy of your attention.
-- Stephanie Bargenquast
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