One of the new features in the iPhone 6s is Live Photos, a way to bring photos to life. But is it a gimmick?
Ever since I managed to get my hands on the iPhone 6s, I feel like I haven’t really been given the chance to play with it. To test it out. Even on the day of its arrival back in September, everything just felt kind of rushed. And life has certainly caught up with me this time around, so, even a little over a week later, I’m still left feeling like, for the first time ever, I haven’t actually replaced my iPhone with a new iPhone.
In my first impressions of the device I said that this is probably the biggest “S” update to date, and that’s probably still true. There are a lot of great new features with the new flagship handset(s) from Apple, a ton of stuff to love, but right now I just haven’t had a real shot at using it. Thankfully this weekend has proven a bit easier on my schedule, and I was finally able to use one feature I’ve been looking forward to trying out:
Obviously when Apple was talking about this feature they used plenty of variety in showcasing its usefulness, and, as Apple sees it, its reasoning for being available at all. Live Photos are unique in their own way, bringing together still images and audio in such a way that it isn’t quite video.
The easiest way to compare Live Photos is with Harry Potter, and the moving images that were used in that franchise’s newspapers. Back then, when it was first shown, I couldn’t help but think that was pretty cool. It made sense for the image that was shown, one of the characters in a mugshot and angry, but obviously there would be some images that wouldn’t work so well.
Recently, MG Siegler wrote up a piece about why he believes Live Photos aren’t a gimmick. It’s an essential write-up, I think, because I for one don’t think Live Photos are a gimmick, especially after finally getting a chance to use the feature. He points out that Apple’s implementation of the idea is an amalgamation between a short video and an animated GIF, but then notes that the “innovation” comes from the interaction of Live Photos, and the fact that 3D Touch enables them.
(Interestingly enough, if you have a Live Photo stored in iCloud Photos and you’re using a non-S iPhone, like the iPhone 6, simply touching and holding on the display will activate a Live Photo’s animation. No 3D Touch necessary.)
Siegler’s post about Live Photos spoke to me because I read it before I got a chance to try out Live Photos and I have kids. Siegler says “that people with children immediately realize the value in this feature,” and I can certainly understand where he’s coming from.
“It’s no accident that people with children immediately realize the value in this feature. With each passing day they see their children growing up in front of their eyes in ways that those of us without children can’t quite comprehend. To you and I, time passes slowly and people age slowly. Children morph from day to day. And so having a live look-back at your child even a few days removed is immensely valuable and meaningful.”
He’s probably right. I’ll tell you that while Apple was on stage debuting the feature, the first thing I thought about was all the photos that could be enhanced a great deal through the feature, and that revolved solely around my kids.
I like Live Photos. I don’t think it’s a gimmick. I think the implementation is great, even if I don’t agree that 3D Touch or the feature’s interaction are why it stands out. I think it stands out because it does exactly what we all want photos to do: capture the moment, but with a little more. With Live Photos, though, that actually becomes a reality without needing burst photos, or needing to always be prepared to take a video.
I’ll admit that, typically, I usually know ahead of time whether or not I want to take a photo or record video. In the past I’ve always been happy with that decision, for the most part. It’s strange to have that decision kind of taken out of the equation, though. I usually went with a photo when I knew that it was going to be a quick moment, even as I understood at the same time that I’d probably miss something before and after. I’d probably have to explain something that was happening in the photo, because I could only get that one instance.
A couple photos that stood out to me: The first of my youngest on a swing. The photo I have of her is a perfect capture of her in the middle of the motion, her hair in the air, as she was swinging forward. Thanks to the Live Photo I can see her smile as she climbs higher, and watch her laugh as she goes back the other way. The second is a photo of both my daughters coloring. It’s just like a million other photos I’ve taken of them in similar moments, but this time I also got to see them look at one another and laugh about a joke one of them told the other.
It was perfect. And that’s when I knew Live Photos weren’t a gimmick.
Have you tried Live Photos yet? If so, what do you think of the feature?
