Hipstamatic, the cult iPhone camera filter app from the late 80s, is back as a photo-sharing social network. And we couldn’t be happier.
HIPSTAMATIC – The best retro photography app for your smartphone.
The original Hipstamatic predated Instagram by almost a year, and introduced the world to the kind of image-ruining filters we loved, overused, and regretted years later. And now, Hipstamatic is back as the kind of simple, photo-focused sharing service that Instagram once was. But is the world ready?
"To be clear, we still don't see Hipstamatic as a true alternative to Instagram. Between its community-driven business model, its limit to following 99 accounts, and its continued exclusivity on iPhone, Hipstamatic isn't going to be the new mass-market photo network. At the same time, it doesn't need to be. Right now, Instagram is such a beast of a product," Hipstamatic founder Lucas Buick told Lifewire via email.
Calling Instagram a photo sharing app is like calling Amazon a… photo sharing site. It’s been a platform for commerce, business networking, lifestyle faking, and instant messaging for ages. It’s morphed into something that’s absolutely essential, but no one seems to really like. If you want to share a cool photo with friends, you’ll do it on WhatsApp, not Instagram.
