Lux, the creators of the popular professional photography app Halide and other successful ventures, are now entering the realm of video. The team recently revealed their upcoming app, Kino, set to launch in approximately two months. This new application is designed to empower iPhone users with enhanced capabilities for professional video editing.
This move comes in response to recent advancements in iPhone video capture technology, allowing Apple to film its own press events using an iPhone 15 Pro Max in conjunction with other professional equipment. Notably, recording artist Olivia Rodrigo utilized an iPhone 15 Pro to create the music video for her track “Get Him Back!”
Lux acknowledges that the introduction of Log video support last fall, described by Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky as the video equivalent of RAW for photographers, served as a catalyst for developing this new video-centric app.
Addressing user inquiries dating back to the launch of Halide in 2017, Sandofsky stated, “Since we launched Halide in 2017, one of our top questions from users has been ‘When are you going to add video capture?'” Contrary to expectations, Halide will not incorporate video capture features. Instead, Lux is crafting a separate app, Kino, tailored for professional videography. The decision to create a distinct app is rooted in the divergent use cases for the two products: Halide caters to the pro photography market, while Kino will focus on pro videography, potentially incorporating additional features that might clutter the streamlined experience of the Halide app.
While details about Kino’s features and exact release date remain scarce, Lux aims to ship the app by February, driven by the impending arrival of Sandofsky’s parenthood. The Lux team plans to share the journey of app development with users, offering a transparent look behind the scenes. This departure from traditional secretive development reflects their commitment to involving users in the decision-making process, addressing engineering challenges, and considering design considerations that contribute to the creation of Kino. Given Lux’s reputation for excellence in iPhone photography apps, Kino is expected to be another well-crafted addition to their portfolio.
