An app called AstroPad is looking to make photographers strain their eyes while editing on the super small screen on their iPhone instead of an iPad turn your iPhone into a functioning graphics tablet. The app was already available for the iPad (and is 30% off today) but today they’re porting it to the phone. AstroPad was developed by ex-Apple engineers–which means that they really know how Apple products work on a deeper level. That’s why they cite that they’re using a technology called LIQUID that is designed specifically to run on WiFi.
The engineers state that the technology is color corrected and true to the source material. Additionally, it is GPU accelerated, so the Mac stays fast. Using LIQUID, the app connects to your Mac and lets you edit images in the same way you would with something like a Wacom tablet. Using Lightroom or Photoshop, you can retouch with a bit more ease if you’re using a tablet and pen. If you own an Apple watch, you can use the watch to do customizable shortcuts. They also claim that LIQUID is 2x faster than Airplay.
As far as ergonomics go, this may be better on the iPhone 6 Plus since it’s pretty much a phablet. But on smaller screens I’d see myself not only struggling a bit, but also killing the battery life of my phone let alone making it overheat. Granted, I have yet to test it–but I do some very intensive editing and I imagine that the photographers using this may do even more.
You can check out more at AstroPad’s website and the launch price for Astropad Mini is $4.99 while it will go for $9.99 otherwise. Even more details are below.
