Lux Ventures into Video with Kino, a New App for Professional iPhone Users
A New Era for Video Capture on the iPhone
Lux, the startup behind the popular pro photography app Halide and others, is expanding its horizons by venturing into video. The team has announced plans to debut a new app called Kino in roughly two months’ time, which will enable iPhone users to work with video in a more professional capacity.
The Decision to Diversify
This move follows significant advancements in iPhone video capture capabilities, allowing Apple to film its own press events using an iPhone 15 Pro Max alongside other professional equipment. Even recording artist Olivia Rodrigo has released a music video for her track ‘Get Him Back!’ using an iPhone 15 Pro. Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky attributes the inspiration for Kino to last fall’s launch of Log video support, calling it "video makers as RAW is to photographers." This innovation sparked the team’s interest in creating a dedicated app for professional videography.
The Birth of Kino
As revealed by Sandofsky in an announcement video, Halide will not be expanding its capabilities to include video capture. Instead, Lux is developing Kino as a separate app, which will cater specifically to the needs of professional videographers. The decision to create a new app rather than integrating video features into Halide stems from the distinct use cases and requirements for both photography and videography.
Kino’s Features and Release Timeline
While details about Kino’s features are still scarce, it is likely that the app will include numerous tools and functionalities tailored to professional videographers. The team at Lux has set a deadline of February to ship the app, with Sandofsky joking that they want to take users along on this "insane journey." This means that instead of developing in secret followed by a grand launch, the Lux team will be sharing their progress behind the scenes, covering engineering problems and design considerations as they work to bring Kino to life.
A New Standard for iPhone Videography
Given Lux’s track record with Halide, it is reasonable to expect that Kino will also be an exceptional app. Professional videographers can look forward to a well-crafted tool designed specifically for their needs. As the release date approaches, we will have more information about what Kino has in store for users.
A Brief History of Lux and Halide
Lux, founded by Ben Sandofsky, made a name for itself with the popular pro photography app Halide, which was released in 2017. The app’s innovative use of RAW image processing won an Apple Design Award and garnered widespread acclaim among photographers. Since then, the company has continued to innovate, releasing other apps that cater to professionals.
The Rise of Professional Video Capture on the iPhone
The recent advancements in iPhone video capture have paved the way for Lux to enter the video market. With the introduction of Kino, professional videographers will now have a dedicated app designed specifically for their needs. This move is a testament to the ongoing evolution of mobile technology and its increasing capabilities.
Lux’s Future Plans
With Kino on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how Lux continues to innovate in the realm of video capture. As the company expands its offerings, we can expect to see more exciting developments from this talented team.
About the Author
Sarah Perez is a Consumer News Editor at TechCrunch. With over 10 years of experience as a reporter and editor, she has covered various topics related to technology and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining TechCrunch, Sarah worked in I.T. across multiple industries and developed a keen understanding of the intersection between technology and business.
Related Topics
- Apps
- Photography
- Startups
- Video
