By Graham K. Rogers

Some apps are right from the moment they are released, while others need a little time and some tweaking, perhaps following early user comments. Olli by Tinrocket had a brave start and I liked it immediately with a single reservation. That has been addressed with an update, but we are told there is more to come.

A few days ago I had a look at a new app from the developers of Waterlogue, that was named Olli by Tinrocket. They have developed a number of apps that produce unusual filter effects on images and photographs. Olli had some new ideas. I enjoyed my first look at this that I downloaded the in-app purchases of extra filters (35 baht each pack). The one lack, for me, was the inability to access photographs already in the Photos album. This is how I prefer to use an app, rather than taking a photo that cannot be further edited.

Images from my Photos Library Edited in Olli by Tinrocket

Tinrocket have updated the app now (v. 1.1.2) and that point has been addressed. I just spent a fair amount of time selecting images and trying them out with the filters I was already familiar with. A real plus here is that now the app will also work with panorama shots.

View from Ivinghoe Beacon Edited in Olli by Tinrocket

Like any filter selection, some work better with certain images, so it is worth playing with the filters when an image is to be used. As well as taking photographs with the app, there was also a nice feature that allowed a 10-second video to be taken, simply by holding the shutter button.

Canal in Nottingham Edited in Olli by Tinrocket

While videos from the library are not yet accessible, the update rubric teases the idea that this might be on the way. I saw Olli, in a way, as overlapping with Apple's Clips (also updated in the last day or so) and this would expand its possibilities significantly. I look forward to this coming feature.

View from my Condo Edited in Olli by Tinrocket

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)