Lumia ReFocus app updated to remove online sharing feature

By John Callaham
published

Microsoft has already removed the Lumia ReFocus photo app from the Windows Phone Store, but the people that still have the app installed on their Windows Phone device can get an update for the app right now. The bad news is that the update actually removes the ability to upload images to the ReFocus website.

Just a reminder: the Lumia ReFocus app, which first launched as the Nokia ReFocus app, allows users to take a picture and then manipulate the focus point of the photograph. However, today's update will make it hard to share those images with others.

Microsoft previously announced that the Lumia ReFocus app would be one of many image-related Windows Phone apps that would no longer be updated or supported after October 30th.

Via: WMPU

John Callaham
John Callaham
55 Comments
  • Damn
  • MICROSOFT SUCKS. Removes features without first providing alternatives. Even when they do provide alternative, the new app is half baked and sub par (eg. Lumia creative moments 5.0 update). Microsoft is so slow to provide even the most basic smartphone features. People have to wait for them for years. (E.g. Ability to attach other than photos in the email and many other features). When I bought WP8, I was shocked that it won't save a PDF received via Bluetooth, something my old feature phone Sony Ericsson W200 could do. This is the truth. Unfortunately, fanboys are too blind for this and will jump to the defense of Microsoft..
  • I agree with you
  • Pdf's actually do get saved. Even I was under the impression that it got lost, but I just had to install pdf reader and the file could be opened via it.
  • But you cant share it nor attach to an email directly. Besides, Adobe reader doesn't let you do anything else but read.
  • Yeah. The email attachment disability is very annoying. And I cant forward emails directly from the phone! That's beyond sanity
  • Does anyone know if they plan on producing Refocus and Panorama as a W10 app later? This was the killer app for me. I can't believe they would abandon it totally. Using my L920 with the focus setting to "All in focus" allowed me to go without having to use a DSLR for shooting miniatures.
  • Why did they stop the support?
  • Because they can. :/ I hope they will integrate it to new Camera app.
  • They're probably just ReFocusing their efforts to make it a module.
  • I see what you did there!
  • Holy.. Why did I update :'(
  • The Refocus website will probably be shut down after October 30th, there is no point in allowing more uploads, I think.
  • Why would they do this kind of stuff? Everyone else is furthering the photography and camera department, and it seems like they are trying to kill ot. Can Microsoft ever move forward in one aspect without destroying everything else?
  • Who knows?
    I guess ms have good tecnicians, but terrible managers
  • MS is the king to update their apps to remove features! They even update their OSes to do that.
  • Yadda yadda. Microsoft has already said that they will streamline their offerings by integrating most of the removed features into existing apps through updates.
  • They shouldn't remove it unless they already have that streamlined. It is like removing the car breaks for sometime and then wait for a month to buy a new and better one
  • Agree, with this behaviour get frustrated users
    I'd Like to see who is the idiot manager that takes such kind of decisions
  • http://mscorpnews.blob.core.windows.net/ncmedia/2014/09/satya.jpg
  • This! The irritating behavior of Microsoft is discontinuing their product/service without any replacement ready. They just promise and leave users in the perpetual waiting game. If they're going to integrate it then they have just leave the Refocus app and its service until the integrated one is ready. This is also similar to OneDrive Placeholders where they removed it and just leave us a statement that they want consistent heck engine, while no one knows if that functionality will ever come back or maybe its stuck on 6th dimension.
  • MICROSOFT SUCKS. Removes features without first providing alternatives. Even when they do provide alternative, the new app is half baked and sub par (eg. Lumia creative moments 5.0 update). Microsoft is so slow to provide even the most basic smartphone features. People have to wait for them for years. (E.g. Ability to attach other than photos in the email and many other features). When I bought WP8, I was shocked that it won't save a PDF received via Bluetooth, something my old feature phone Sony Ericsson W200 could do. This is the truth. Unfortunately, fanboys are too blind for this and will jump to the defense of Microsoft.
  • MICROSOFT SUCKS. Removes features without first providing alternatives. Even when they do provide alternative, the new app is half baked and sub par (eg. Lumia creative moments 5.0 update). Microsoft is so slow to provide even the most basic smartphone features. People have to wait for them for years. (E.g. Ability to attach other than photos in the email and many other features). When I bought WP8, I was shocked that it won't save a PDF received via Bluetooth, something my old feature phone Sony Ericsson W200 could do. This is the truth. Unfortunately, fanboys are too blind for this and will jump to the defense of Microsoft
  • Another one bites the dust. Well done MSFT!
  • It is sad to see that Microsoft is shifting its focus from photography. They haven't made a 1020 successor. These guys are really fickle minded. I want some stability for heaven's sake.
  • I'm quite frustrated abou all of those reloading and resuming of lumia camera 5.x
    I've also contacted directly Juha, but got no answers as you can guess
    I really hope that 950XL have a fast camera with no more resuming and reloading... issues Ms i know you are reading, yes too much even crashes of lumia camera...
    Fix that asap
    Thanks
  • "Resuming" is a MS engineering term for "doesn't work right now".
  • Why are you expecting a 1020 successor? It was a niche device...
  • While the 950 and 950 XL are "only" 20 megapixel, they have better camera optics and flashes, and may actually have as good or better overall cameras than the 1020.
  • I'm personally not bothered by removal of the upload sharing, just don't get rid of the app.. Seriously, why get rid of it? I love the photos I get with this app, and the animations on the win 10 photos app. Give me something to love, then take it away.. Grr.
  • Ms Like to have frustrated users LOL
    Anyway i strongly hope issues will cease with new models and wm10
  • They want its users to pissed off and switch platform maybe.
  • *ding ding* that is the correct answer.
  • The Microsoft story. Enjoy the functionality you have today, it may very well be gone tomorrow.
  • I repeat this often, years ago we had I.BM. Idiotes Become Managers
    History repeating with theese big companies
  • In that video where the lead photography engineer demoed the 950XL, he showed off a way to adjust the flash exposure after the picture was taken. Looked like refocus except for lighting. Maybe they will roll the refocus feature into the Win 10 camera app as well.
  • That's what I thought about the streamlined feature... but... was it introduced on the live event? I haven't seen that part though.
  • I didn't see the event but that sounds like Rich Capture. If you have the flash on it'll give you the ability to adjust later. But you have to navigate to the photo through the camera app. Not through the photos app.
  • Ok, 1 down! So what's next to remove?? Just make sure Microsoft to bring it back integrated and make sure its better.
  • MICROSOFT SUCKS. Removes features without first providing alternatives. Even when they do provide alternative, the new app is half baked and sub par (eg. Lumia creative moments 5.0 update). Microsoft is so slow to provide even the most basic smartphone features. People have to wait for them for years. (E.g. Ability to attach other than photos in the email and many other features). When I bought WP8, I was shocked that it won't save a PDF received via Bluetooth, something my old feature phone Sony Ericsson W200 could do. This is the truth. Unfortunately, fanboys are too blind for this and will jump to the defense of Microsoft.
  • Yeah and when has a good feature later of killed like happened with Windows 8 Facebook hub and the ability of get and chat with Facebook contacts from the message app also, windows 7,8 camera extras which got their features in there instead of add it as standard in the windows 8 , features like metering mode, anti flicker, etc and the modes of scene, even aren't in windows phone 8-8.1 would loved have the metering mode for the models with the pureview lenses and Carl Zeiss ones at least but all the functions weren't added Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I could never get a good result out of this the few times I tried anyway
  • How could install refocus if now can't install it? Is funny they abandon the app later is updated but already can't download it Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Hello microsoft this is for you please please stop removing amazing apps like refocus, panorama, story teller, and many more without giving us a new app. When you guys decide to remove refocus, I was nooo why.is working fine. This is what makes a difference between ios and android those really unique exquisite app for fotography. Please don't move away from photography because I personally bought a wp gor this unique features and how you can customize your phone. But now that I am currently running wp 10 I miss refocus, and story teller, and panorama, blink, and many more....
  • Why remove a wonderful app?? To me ReFocus is an excellent app for doing forced-perspective photography. This is so sad!
  • Not cool at all
  • Why don't Microsoft remove Bing,its more useless honestly than what they remove -_-||
  • Best comment ever! :D
  • They can toss Cortana overboard, too. She is ceaselessly intrusive - someone please hack an app that disables that damned search button - and from what I can tell is useful only to those who, one, don't know how to use the internet (that would be a lot of executives), and, two, those who think no one minds hearing them talking loudly to (not on) their phone.
  • Why do Microsoft do this I used to enjoy the refocus app If they can't be arsed to maintain the online side fair enough! But to kill off the app before a suitable alternative is available borders on the moronic.
    Mind you they did the same with rooms an underused unadvertised gem. Ditto with the amazing panoramic gallery in Windows 8. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • It's a case of "the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing". It would've made sense if the teams were still siloed off but now?
    Not really, then again "Microsoft" and "logic" can be rarely used in the same sentence.
  • Ah Microsoft... things were going so well... guess they couldn't resist making another bone headed decision. Why not push out the update when it's become part of the camera and pics upload to OneDrive? Or better still.. leave the service running and amalgamate it with OneDrive slowly via a phased update?
  • I remember when those apps took place at nokia's conference
    . Like it s mean.. features that make u buy a lumia... it s shit Microsoft , do u her thaaaat !!!! ??? Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Microsoft better get the idea that not every user is a corporate honcho. 'Normal guys' need phones for productivity and entertainment. Don't screw up that part of the functionality. Hope they integrate all of these camera features with the newer Win 10 mobile Camera app (G-d, that was a mouthful!).
    I also hope the FB universal app does one heck of a job coz the present one in WP 8.1 isn't praise worthy
  • Removing existing features? Scoop! Steve Jobs is alive and working in Microsoft App Development!