New Applications are online!

If I had to choose between getting all these features built into the phone for free, and paying for them as separate apps, I'd obviously choose the former.

But it can also be said that if I had to choose between the option of paying for this added functionality, or not having it at all, I'd choose what Sony is doing now.

For now, the apps are doing things that I didn't know cameras would do out of the box, like time lapse and image stacking. Maybe there are some cameras that do this, I'm new to advanced cameras. I think Sony will always feel competitive pressure to include built-in functions similar to that which other manufacturers provide. If all the sudden recording video is a paid app, there would be outrage and Sony would lose business and customer goodwill.

Maybe a few years from now, time lapse mode will be a standard feature in ILCs and Sony will not be able to justify charging for it as an app. But I think as a means of generating revenue for innovative and interesting features Sony's app model is fine. I also think it's not a bad idea to let the various camera models distinguish themselves in hardware, and to let software bells and whistles be accessible to all NEX models via paid access.

My impression is that most photographers consider automated exposure bracketing to be a standard function, so charging for this seems objectionable. The apps they are offering do seem to be a strange dichotomy of features a professional would use, and "fun" consumer-oriented features. It will be interesting to see where all this goes. I do agree that the way this added functionality is in it's own "app" world is not optimal, and feels a bit gimmicky.

I also think Sony is not doing itself any favors by hyping touch interfaces, WiFi, and apps, and delivering something that is plainly inferior to what consumers are accustomed to on their smartphones.