Thanks to an e-mail from Mike Lee, (whom I previously listed in my "Individual/Group Moblogs" on the left side of the page as having a great moblog) I learned about a new moblog hosting company, HIPalbum.com, that offers photo enhancement software that automatically enhances camera phone photos (see below).
The site doesn't discuss the features of the "Auto Enhanced Photo Processing Scheme," except to say it will "make your photos look it's [sic] best even when taken in dim light." Does that mean the only enhancement is increasing the brightness or are there other improvements (white balance, sharpening, etc.)?
HIPalbum.com is designed for users of Danger Research's Sidekick (also called hiptop) camera phone (external snap-on camera)/PDA that featues a keyboard and swivel screen. The hiptop has generated a large following of users who love the feature-rich but somewhat quirky device.
Another "ecosystem" feature
In any case, this is a great feature. Indeed, HIPalbum.com should issue a press release because it might be the only (I think) moblog company doing this. I believe some carrier-class camera phone software, such as from LightSurf (providing software to Sprint PCS, among others), incorporates photo enhancement capabilities at the server.
As I've written, I believe one of the opportunities for making money in the camera phone environment will be providing software, on the handset or the server, that improves the quality of photos and/or adds fun features (stretching the photo, twisting it, etc.). I don't know whether Hipalbum.com created the photo enhancement feature or is using a third party's.
Regardless of what company developed it, I'm glad to see the feature is offered. Features like this will serve as competitive differentiators in an increasingly crowded moblog hosting marketplace and spark other moblog companies to try to leapfrog competitors by providing better (paid or unpaid) moblog enhancements.
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http://www.yaodownload.com/video-design/media-management/mobile-photo-enhancer/
Posted by: apple | Wednesday, April 05, 2006 at 11:06 PM