So what if Apple is "the competition"? That’s not going to stop Microsoft from creating apps for Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, not when Apple’s iPhone is hugely popular and barely anyone wants to purchase a Windows Phone. Am I right?



Microsoft has lots of iOS apps to offer, but I am not going to focus on all of them. I’m going to focus on a particular category: photo apps. And the 3 iOS photo apps that Microsoft has to offer are...

1. Microsoft Pix

Microsoft describes Pix as an intelligent camera app that will help you "enjoy life’s moments instead of struggling to capture them." You see, the app uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to automatically adjust settings and enhance your photos. You don’t have to struggle with the settings to get a great shot, you can let the app’s AI do all the work for you. Reap the benefits of taking a great pic without having to put any effort into the whole thing!

Microsoft Pix – Main Features

• Smart settings – the AI automatically tweaks the settings so that you always take the best shot.
• Face recognition and enhancement – when faces are detected, Microsoft Pix automatically adjusts settings and after-shot enhancements to make everyone look their best.
• Live Images – when motion is detected, Microsoft Pix creates a short looping video called a Live Image (similar to Apple’s Live Photos).
• Hyperlapse – automatically stabilizes videos for smoother playback; videos can be time-lapsed and saved at many different speeds.
• Auto-sync – seamlessly syncs to your camera roll, so you don't have to import individually or save your photos and videos twice.
• And more.

Microsoft Pix is available for free on Apple’s App Store. The app requires iOS 9.0 or later.


2. Microsoft Selfie

With a name like Microsoft Selfie, I’m sure it will come as no surprise when I tell you that this mobile app is meant to address your selfie addiction. And since no one likes to look bad in a selfie, this app uses computer vision technology and machine learning to make sure you look your best.

Microsoft Selfie analyzes your portrait, taking various factors into consideration, such as age, gender, skin tone, and lighting. Once it’s done, it can automatically enhance your selfie. This means it can reduce noise and remove imperfections such as spots and blemishes.

Microsoft Selfie – Main Features

• Intelligent portrait enhancement – enhances your portrait by intelligently considering age, gender, skin tone and lighting.
• Noise reduction – Denoise mode turns on automatically in low light conditions.
• Auto exposure – automatic exposure correction and photo clarifying, especially for backlit photos.
• Filters – manually add filters to your photos to customize the way they look.
• Social – share your selfies via Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, Mail, Message, or any other iOS app that provides support for sharing.

Microsoft Selfie is available for free on Apple’s App Store. The app requires iOS 8.0 or later.


3. Microsoft Sprinkles

Seeing that Sprinkles was released on April 1, my initial reaction was to write it off as an April Fools' Joke. But then it dawned on me: Microsoft isn’t like Google, who loves to pull pranks on April Fools'! So does that mean Sprinkles is for real? Seeing it covered by Fortune, TechCrunch, Engadget, MacRumors, and many more, I have to say that yes, Sprinkles is for real.

Sprinkles is a "fun camera app" that lets you add funny captions, provides easy access to lots of stickers, and lets you add hats, mustaches and other accessories to your selfies. On top of that, it borrows a couple of features from Microsoft’s How-Old.net and CelebsLike.Me, meaning that it can guess your age and find your celebrity doppelganger.


Microsoft Sprinkles – Main Features

• Captions, mustaches, and more – add fun captions, moustaches, hats, and other items.
• Stickers – find thousands of free stickers from the internet.
• Automatic detection – Sprinkles can automatically detect your age, it can uncover what celebrity you most resemble, and it can automatically input relevant captions.

Microsoft Sprinkles is available for free on Apple’s App Store. The app requires iOS 9.3 or later.

I’m still not convinced that this isn’t an April Fools’ Joke.