Lytro might open source its light-field photo sharing platform

mxx:

The Lytros were "mirrorless" in the way a Canon G2 or Sony RX100V are "mirrorless".

Also very different digital imaging tech this Lytro system.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

mxx

Forgive me, I was just kidding. ;-)

Dec 12, 2017permalink

mxx:

Sorry, I did wonder if you were being sarcastic.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

its digital photography itself.... I'm sort of ready to take the plunge ... but is it really here to stay ?

Dec 13, 2017permalink

Scottelly

Open-sourcing it would be the best idea, in my opinion. They should let someone make a free plug-in for Wordpress at least.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

WillWeaverRVA

I think the biggest news here is that Lytro has enough customers to actually consider doing this in the first place.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

SandySandy

"Last week, light-field photography pioneer Lytro announced that it would discontinue the pictures.lytro.com platform, which allowed Lytro users to share their refocusable 'living' light-field images with others online and through Facebook.

The move, which is a direct result of 'Lytro changing its focus from consumer products to the professional market', was not received well by existing owners of the original Lytro and the Lytro ILLUM cameras. "

The Article should have read Instead as:
".. is a direct result of Lytro changing its Focus from SWINDLING Consumers and NOW Targetting Swindling Enterprises instead".

R.I.P. poor consumers who were Conned into wasting their hard earned money in over-hyped rubbish.

Companies like Lytri have been Eroding Faith in Crowd funding and newer technologies. It's Almost as bad as that Lily Drone.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

its very simple .... when passionate voices are heard and the message is a proper one deserving respect

someone who purchases an expensive Lytro body deserves to be able to use it for more than 2 years ... ultimately corporations have to be shamed dragged into treating their customers with respect

like the 20 year battle to get fluorescent orange dye removed from a kid-centric food like kraft mac and cheese ... ultimately all krafts lies were exposed
upon comparing the non-toxic UK version [ less expensive ] with krafts claim that a recipe \ ingredient change would be too costly for USA consumers

lytro does not need bad press now... no one wants a 40000 dollar
hexagonal panel camera with dead software in 2 years... do they ...

Dec 12, 2017*permalink

SpencerSL

First of all: Some people like to try out new technologies or interesting technologies, and have the money to spend. Secondly: To shame people for what they do freely with their own money is pretty pathetic. Lastly: That kind of attitude is why it's so hard to break the mold and introduce a new concept/product into the market.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

spencer those are good points .... its why i support a net neutrality position that does not empower isp providers to control how your use you access to the internet .... all sites are equal in a sense ... not some are more equal than others
which could lead to big gorillas splintering speeds which will always hurt the small guy

i love and support new technology and have followed t` Lytro saga with interest since their first consumer camera ...but Lytro needs to balance their interest in moving in a new direction of cinema special purpose cameras and protecting their intellectual property, with the interests of those photographers who bought a camera from them their customers .. especially the 1700 dollar [pretax] one and allow living image picture to be displayed as intended

i dont think its unfair to Lytro to urge them [ in a manner that works] to allow the ilium camera to share live images on the internet for at least a few years more

Dec 12, 2017*permalink

Zdman

Its not like they had a con product they knew wouldn't work (snake oil) or they thought wouldn't sell. They wanted it to suceed and millions were poured into it. The market just wasnt there and they made huge losses. They managed to survive by changing directions and getting more funds from inverstors and now you're saying the somehow they conned you. The investors who lost much more have a case for that but the customer who has been able to use his or her camera for years and can still use their camera is the one who has benefited most. The fact that a loss making company kept the site up for as long as it did is impressive to begin with.

Dec 13, 2017permalink

it does not matter at this point .... their plain disregard for customers who spent near 2000 dollars for a camera whose main appeal is now dead and is just another low res camera is plain for the world to see ... and the backlask and anger it has caused is real

which is exactly the reason they are back peddling on the issue .... Lytro ... in their arrogance, has done more harm in building a brand, than any pittance they may save by shuttering a working website so quickly

its foolish anti-consumer nature is exactly plain ...if i were considering a 40000 dollar lytro cinema camera i would seriously ask myself :

"if it isnt a runaway hit will lytro kill the software necessary to get use of the device in ....hmmm say 2 years?"

Dec 13, 2017*permalink

Hope these asses fail all together if they don't find someway to continue supporting these 2k hunks of otherwise uselessness.

Dec 11, 2017permalink

You can still manipulate the files on your computer with the Lytro software.

Dec 11, 2017permalink

Are you saying their sales pitch didn't include anything about a sharing platform? (asking an honest question.) Just a guess that it was a fairly major draw to the purchase for some buyers. I could be entirely wrong.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

damian:

The sales pitch is the thing?

No, only speaking for myself, I paid no attention to what the website offered.

Expecting X to maintain a website is silly. Posted ironically on a website.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

FLruckas

It's over...
Just go...
Move on....

Dec 12, 2017permalink

FLruckas:

"You can still manipulate the files on your computer with the Lytro software."

and still being a stalker I see.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

Scottelly

Damian5000 "Are you saying their sales pitch didn't include anything about a sharing platform? (asking an honest question.) Just a guess that it was a fairly major draw to the purchase for some buyers. I could be entirely wrong."

The main attraction to the last Lytro camera was the fact that they made printable photos possible from lightfield cameras at an affordable price. I'm actually surprised the company discontinued them. If a company like Sony or Sigma were to pick them up, the cameras would be produce and improved for many years to come, I'm sure. Too bad Lytro couldn't continue with it. I'm glad they are at least considering the idea of open-sourcing the sharing platform.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

Of course it's "the thing". If I'm selling you something and say the benefits are x, x, and y...and I take x away after you buy it...you got screwed.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

damian5000:

That only works if you exclusively bought and used the camera for X feature.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

Umm...no. The value of something is the sum of its benefits. If you're touted a sum, but given less than what's been promised, you got screwed.

It only DOESN'T apply if you care absolutely nothing for the benefit which was taken away.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

damian5000:

"Umm...no. The value of something is the sum of its benefits. If you're touted a sum, but given less than what's been promised, you got screwed."

Not if you don't use the feature and have no intention of using said feature in the future.

"It only DOESN'T apply if you care absolutely nothing for the benefit which was taken away."

Duh, and there are many no web-based reasons to use a camera like the Illum, or some future development of it.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

FLruckas

dam.....
Be careful...
You're dealing with la la la land...
Logic here....
:=)

Dec 12, 2017permalink

I'm starting to see that. He's either very high on something excellent, or English isn't his native language.

Dec 12, 2017*permalink

FLruckas:

You do know that a tool (say a Leatherman) designed to do 12 things still works if one of the tools fails for some reasons?

I'm sure if you think about it, you can come up with other examples, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Dec 12, 2017*permalink

damian5000:

And yet provided a charged battery, the Illum still works as a camera and you can still manipulate the images on your desktop, all sans anything to do with the website.

Dec 12, 2017permalink

You do know that a tool that loses one of its functions isn't worth as much as if it had all of its functions, yes? If you can't understand that simple concept, I suggest you start all over again at step 1 (preschool).

Dec 13, 2017*permalink