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Justin Bieber funds “Shots of Me” app that only lets you take selfies

18 November 2013 4:37 AM
The new selfies-only photo app promises to combat cyber-bullying and create a new and positive experience for its users.

The new selfies-only photo app promises to combat cyber-bullying. Find me: Jordan Couzens / JordanBTH

Partially funded by Justin Bieber and created by RockLive, Shots of Me is a new app for iPhone users that allows you to take and share photos of yourself.

Shots of Me’s profile on iTunes says that it’s “time for something new” – implying that it’s offering something different in comparison to its well-established competitors such as Instagram, SnapChat, and even Twitter.

At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be that different. The features listed by Shots of Me boast being able to “double-tap [a] selfie that you like” and “share a selfie” and “browse the real-time feed” which doesn’t appear to differentiate itself from Instagram in the slightest.

However, Shots of Me is different as it does exactly what it says on the tin: it’s meant be exclusively for selfies. The app only allows you to use your front-facing camera, discouraging shots of people’s food and pets. Plus, there aren’t any filters to magic away bad lighting or to make your face appear more “arty”.
Shots of Me allows users to tag their friends in photos, add hashtags, a caption, and even your location. You can choose to tweet your photo, and there’s currently an Instagram icon with a “coming soon” badge over it, so it appears that you’ll soon be able to push your Shots of Me selfies to your Instagram feed.

Another feature of Shots of Me that sets it apart is that its founders insist the app is meant to be a positive experience for all its users:

“Shots of Me is designed to be a positive experience for everyone. Unlike other social networks, Shots of Me does not have features that create negativity and bullying. Users also have the option of making their accounts private.”

It appears the main way Shots of Me plans to tackle cyber-bullying is to restrict comments, as you can’t leave a public comment on another person’s selfie. You can only “comment” on a photo by sending someone you follow a private message.

Justin Bieber has brought a $1.1 million investment to the app and brings the additional influence of his millions of followers on Twitter – however, at the time of writing, Bieber has still yet to post a selfie.

Find me: Jordan Couzens / JordanBTH

Snapchats of App (iOS 6)

Find me: Jordan Couzens / JordanBTH

Source: buzzfeed

DailyBooth to close down

12 November 2012 10:13 AM

With the coming of Instagram, it seems like no other photo sharing service has a chance any more. Which seems to hold true with the recent announcement by DailyBooththat it will be closing up shop on November 14th, allowing users to download their photos until December 31st.

After being part of the 2009 Y Combinator class, DailyBooth went on to raise $7 million, creating a way for users to share photos of themselves. Recently, in July, DailyBooth was snapped up by Airbnb.

Dailybooth users recently received a farewell notice from the service, announcing its shutdown.

The email, as transcribed by Internaut, explained that, “Keeping the website running is no longer feasible.”

The shutdown process was also outlined in the email, that stated:

“On Wednesday, November 14th, the website will no longer allow you to add new content.

“Shortly thereafter, the website will be changed allowing you to only be able to download your photos.

You’ll be able to download your photos until December 31st, 2012.

After this date all content will be permanently deleted.”

Here’s an excerpt from the email sent out to all users:

Dear *|USERNAME|*,

A picture a day, every day. DailyBooth was launched based on that simple idea. We never could have imagined what it would become more than three years later.

The community each one of you helped create is truly one of a kind. There have been many unforgettable memories created amongst us and none of this would have been possible without you. For that, we’re truly grateful for what you’ve helped DailyBooth become.

Regrettably, this email comes with unfortunate news. DailyBooth is shutting down. Keeping the website running is no longer feasible.

On Wednesday, November 14th, the website will no longer allow you to add new content. Shortly thereafter, the website will be changed allowing you to only be able to download your photos. You’ll be able to download your photos until December 31st, 2012. After this date all content will be permanently deleted.

We can’t thank you enough for everything.

To download your photos, follow the steps below:
1. Visit http://dailybooth.com/export from your computer.
2. Log into your account.
3. Click the “Create Archive” button.
4. Once your archive has finished being created, click the “download” link.

Sincerely,
The DailyBooth Team.

Do you still use DailyBooth or have you moved over to Instagram or another photo sharing service? let us know in the comments below! and of course we had to put an offer in to buy DailyBooth.

Instagram web profiles begin to roll out

6 November 2012 8:15 PM

Instagram is to start rolling out a web version of its photo-sharing service, for those who want to share pictures they’ve taken beyond their mobile phone.

In a move that will surprise many that it didn’t already exist, Instagram, now owned by Facebook, will be rolling out Instagram profiles on the web.

“Your web profile features a selection of your recently shared photographs just above your profile photo and bio, giving others a snapshot of the photos you share on Instagram,” says the company, explaining the new feature.

“In addition, you can follow users, comment & like photos and edit your profile easily and directly from the web. It’s a beautiful new way to share your Instagram photos!”

Users can check out other people’s profiles by adding a username after instagram.com – here’s mine.

The company warns that not all users will get the new feature straight away.

“If you don’t see your profile yet, be assured that you’ll see it in the next few days. We’re rolling out profiles to everyone on Instagram over the course of this week.”

Users will be able to share their own profile with anyone they want to see their Instagram photos, while anyone will be able to comment and like photos you’ve shot.

Users worried that the sudden move will mean all their secrets will be shared by everyone shouldn’t be.

“If your photos are set to public, anyone will be able to see your profile by visiting instagram.com/username on the web,” says instagram. “You do not have to be an Instagram user to view a public user’s profile on the web…”

“If your photos are set to private, your photos will be visible only to logged-in Instagram users you’ve allowed to follow you.”

Follow me on Instagram @JordanTBH

Via, pocket-lint

Facebook Wanted to Buy Instagram, Will Release Photo Filters Instead

25 August 2011 3:36 AM

Following a failed attempt to acquire Instagram, Facebook will roll out up to a dozen photo filters in a mobile application release, according to a report from The New York Times Bits Blog.

Several Instagram-like photo filters are ready for release, two unnamed Facebook engineers cited in the report say, but the release date is unknown at this time.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pushing engineers and artists “to create more filters before releasing the new product” Bits reports. “Facebook will also try to introduce new styles of filters with the hopes of drawing users away from other photo apps.”

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Facebook photo filters. TechCrunch reported in June that Facebook was working on a spin-off photo-sharing application for iPhone. Screenshots obtained by the blog indicated the app would have “location elements, likes and comments, multi-picture mode, filters, multi-user albums, face-tagging, and more…”

more to come… follow this post for updates (Mashable)