Red Pop Brings Real Shutter Release Button to iPhone

[Wiley John Wright]

The iPhone takes great pictures for a smartphone, but you can hardly compare it to a regular point-and-shoot camera. You can pick up just about any camera in the world, even the most sophisticated DSLRs, and know right away where the shutter release button is located. This is not the case with the iPhone, however. It may be a marvel of engineering, but when it comes to taking pictures, it’s hardly the most intuitive camera. That’s not to say it’s difficult to take pictures with, but it could be better. That’s where Red Pop comes in.

Red Pop is an iPhone 4 accessory that connects to the 30-pin dock connector and gives you a real button to take pictures with. It works in conjunction with a free app and photos are saved directly to the photo album. The device is made of aluminum and plastic and the developers have gone to great lengths to ensure that the camera button has the right feel to it. “Red Pop also allows you to shoot away like you would with a camera, with less downtime between shots.”



The developers of Red Pop have a great love of photography in general. They state, “let's bring the button back! To us, buttons are beautiful, an invitation that screams out ‘c’mon press me’. Red Pop's design is rooted in the now but with a subtle and respectful nod to the beautiful and iconic cameras of the past.” Having a real button to take pictures with will be a welcomed change of pace. I’m sure it will lead to a slew of photo’s that would have otherwise been missed.

Beep Industries is an English company that is funding the project through Kickstarter. The developers hope to have Red Pop in stores by September. If you want to be the first kid on your block to own one, then you’ll have to pony up $75 or more. Hopefully, the price will be somewhat lower when Red Pop comes out this fall.



Source: Gizmodo

[manickbarry]

I'm thinking about backing this but what happens to my $65 if they don't reach the target

[Consigliere]

Yea, no thanks. I can see a much better use for $65 or $75 then a button thats already there. I can see if this thing could double as additional battery or something of sort but not just a button and really no other benefit.

[jigme]

yeah... or Apple could stop being jackasses and allow the volume buttons to be used as shutter release buttons for camera apps. they are plain wrong when they say it'd cause "customer confusion"; any customer who'd be confused by a multi-purpose button is gonna be confused by a smartphone anyway.

i still haven't updated Camera+ after Apple made them remove this hidden feature – i value it way too much.

[EddieLeonard]

Yea, no thanks. I can see a much better use for $65 or $75 then a button thats already there. I can see if this thing could double as additional battery or something of sort but not just a button and really no other benefit.

i completely agree with you, there is enough room in there for a battery, or a microphone, or both...

[steve-z17]

Yikes....

[Consigliere]

i completely agree with you, there is enough room in there for a battery, or a microphone, or both...

Now this iShuttr - The ultimate camera accessory for the iPhone 4 by Robert Haleluk — Kickstarter looks like a MUCH more useful spending of $70 or so. On the other hand, the Iphone 4 is near the end of the design cycle and may be refreshed soon. Many accesories may need to be adjuested to accomidate Iphone5 (or 4gs or whatever you wanna call it).

[RandyTG]

I'm thinking about backing this but what happens to my $65 if they don't reach the target

Your choice of payment does not get charged until their target funding is met on the date specified in kickstarter.

yeah... or Apple could stop being jackasses and allow the volume buttons to be used as shutter release buttons for camera apps. they are plain wrong when they say it'd cause "customer confusion"; any customer who'd be confused by a multi-purpose button is gonna be confused by a smartphone anyway.

i still haven't updated Camera+ after Apple made them remove this hidden feature – i value it way too much.

There is a tweak in Cydia that will let you do this as well, so you can upgrade.

[exNavy]

For the idiot who has everything....

[bootleg]

what i've always wondered is why no one has designed a similar add-on for the 3GS that incorporates a flash? it seems it would work on the same principle...plugging into the connector...a little late now perhaps with a new phone around the corner but there are still quite a few 3 series phones that would benefit from an add-on flash

[Consigliere]

what i've always wondered is why no one has designed a similar add-on for the 3GS that incorporates a flash? it seems it would work on the same principle...plugging into the connector...a little late now perhaps with a new phone around the corner but there are still quite a few 3 series phones that would benefit from an add-on flash

Totally! If anything, 4 already has a flash, something the original and 3 series lacked all together.

[kid_ant]

hey mmi.. your photos are out of the margin.. we can't see the whole picture on your post..

[unclebnz]

Your choice of payment does not get charged until their target funding is met on the date specified in kickstarter.



There is a tweak in Cydia that will let you do this as well, so you can upgrade.

What is the name of that tweak?

[unknown_soldier]

What is the name of that tweak?

SnapTap

[EskimoRuler]

this is a great idea but too much for. i like taking pictures but i wold rather invest into something else for my actual camera rather than my smartphones camera

this is a great idea but too much for. i like taking pictures but i wold rather invest into something else for my actual camera rather than my smartphones camera

[one_crazy_dude]

That is mad ugly. I also really dont wanna carry around more crap in my pockets.

[javiert30]

I can use my finger for less than .5 cents

[DeathOfLife]

Ok This Would Have Been Cool If You Could Take Pictures With It Then Take The Piece To A Walmart Or Walgreens And Print The Pictures Easily

[coolguy742]

that's awesome! too bad I don't have $65 to help em' out lol

[Quaddy]

battery OGTFO!