Insta-print selfie? Convert your smartphone into Polaroid-style camera
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Version 0 of 1. The rise of smartphones, social networks and photo-sharing apps have killed off the idea of printing photos for many people. Now a startup called Prynt is hoping to tempt some of them back. The US company is taking pre-orders on crowdfunding website Kickstarter for “the first instant camera case for iPhone and Android”, which turns smartphones into Polaroid-style insta-print cameras. A crazy idea in the age of Facebook and Instagram? Not crazy enough to stop more than 1,800 people stumping up their cash in the first 24 hours of its 35-day crowdfunding campaign: with a goal of $50k, Prynt has already taken pledges of more than $226k. The device comes in a choice of pink, blue and white models, with a modular design that its makers say will adapt to different smartphone models, including the various charging ports. The company’s pitch: “It’s ideal for when you’re out with your friends, sightseeing, or capturing a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Gifts and cards become more special when you include an instant photo. Take it with you on the go and never miss the chance to shoot and share some everyday magic.” Prynt is planning to ship the first run of cases in August, before a commercial launch in October. While early backers could pay $49 or $79 for the device, most are paying $99. Given the nature of the technology, Prynt’s business model is as much about selling the sheets of paper required to print photos on: 10 are included with the device, while backers are being promised 50 extra sheets for every $25 they add on to their pledge, which suggests that 10-sheet packs will cost around $5 once it launches. Prynt is also working on a companion app enabling people to choose photos from their social networks for printing, as well as recording a short video of their face when they take new shots, which can then be watched using the app’s augmented reality feature. (If the idea of augmented-reality insta-printable selfies makes you fear for the future of humanity, now would probably be a good time to start building an ark.) “We were inspired by the original Polaroid and wanted to recreate the magical experience of sharing physical photos with our loved ones,” is how Prynt describes the motivation behind its case. It’s just the latest company trying to persuade mobile photographers to start printing their shots again, from Instagram-focused startups like Printstagram, Polargram and Inkifi to the way established services like Photobox and Truprint have added support for these kinds of apps. • Instagram now has 300m users sharing 70m photos and videos a day • Why stars love Polaroid: no risk of embarrassing uploads |