New Motion Camera App 'Polaroid Swing' Seeks to Redefine Photo Sharing - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

New Motion Camera App 'Polaroid Swing' Seeks to Redefine Photo Sharing

by

Ailing consumer electronics brand Polaroid has leant its name to a new motion photo sharing platform called Polaroid Swing which saw its release on the App Store yesterday.

Similar to Live Photos in iOS, the app lets users capture a one-second moment with their device's camera, which can then be shared over social media or in the new platform's Instagram-like social feed.

Polaroid Swing
While its premise is nothing new, the quality of the motion captures is a step above that offered by typical GIF-creation apps, and records moments in 60 frames per second for smooth, crisp playback.

What's also unique to Polaroid Swing is the way users interact with the shots. Tilting the device left rewinds the moment, while angling it right advances the capture relative to the speed of the user's motion.

Floating the mouse cursor over a capture when viewed on a desktop, or sliding a finger over the shot on an iOS device, produces the same effect. Users can also embed Polaroid Swing moments as another way of sharing their experiences.


The app is the result of a partnership between the Polaroid brand and a Silicon Valley tech startup chaired by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.

The developer team is comprised of former Apple engineers as well as the creator of Instagram's original filters and logo, Cole Rise.


"Polaroid Swing has the potential to change the way we think about images, just like Twitter's 140 characters changed how we think about words," said Biz Stone in a press release. "People will start seeing the world in one second moments. It's a genre-defining medium."

Polaroid Swing is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

Telos101 Avatar
128 months ago
It would have been better if they just concentrated on the app instead of trying to do another social platform. Too many already.

Otherwise, quality looks decent.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
128 months ago
Interesting concept based on the samples in the article, but I'm not sure twitter has changed how we feel about words.
Sure it has. It made everyone feel more offended by words.
[doublepost=1468450308][/doublepost]Am I blind, or is there no camera in this app?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
128 months ago
What a solid RUMOR!
Secret is out!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vooke Avatar
128 months ago
Another social media app. One too many have had modest to fantastic successes so, why not Polaroid?

Looking at the deal, it is quite likely that they incurred a few bucks so even if it fails, they won't feel it
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kaibelf Avatar
128 months ago
Interesting concept based on the samples in the article, but I'm not sure twitter has changed how we feel about words.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

Why You Might Want to Wait to Buy a MacBook Pro

Friday May 1, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by
Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max models in March 2026, but depending on your needs and interests, you might want to skip this generation because there's something better in the works. The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models have faster chips, but the same design that Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and faster ...
Related Apple News: Check Who Using Iphone Hotspot Data | Culture | Iphone 18 Pro | Macos | Wwdc 2016