# Premature Photo-Snapping Apps The BLINK Microsoft App Takes Photos Before a User is Ready By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-01-08 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-app References: [gotowebsites.info](http://www.gotowebsites.info/2013/06/microsoft-own-blink-photo-app-adds-animation-sharing-and-web-gallery/) & [windowsphone](http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/blink/3e185ac7-2d21-4a74-9cad-3d4729509446) [BLINK](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blink-eye) is a truly interesting [Microsoft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-lumia-action-cam) app for the Windows Phone 8. Essentially, it’s an app that takes pictures, but what makes it unique is that it captures images before you’ve even pressed the button and instructed it to, as well as afterwards. This may seem like a strange way to take photos, but the spontaneous photo-capturing gives users more options when choosing the perfect photo, in addition for users to create animated GIFs from the sequence of photos. The app includes simple settings for photo-taking, such as specifications for the scene mode, exposure and white balance. The still BLINK images and GIFs have a certain candid quality to them, which makes for charming creations to share in the BLINK web gallery or across social media. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.4/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Spontaneous Photo-capturing:** Opportunity for apps to capture photos before the user is ready, providing more options and creative possibilities. - **Animated GIF Creation:** Opportunity to develop apps that allow users to create animated GIFs from a sequence of photos captured. - **Candid Quality Photography:** Opportunity to create apps that capture photos with a candid quality, appealing to users looking for more charming and authentic images. ### Where This Applies - **Mobile Imaging Apps:** Opportunity for developers to create innovative mobile imaging apps with spontaneous photo-capturing and animated GIF creation features. - **Social Media Sharing Platforms:** Opportunity for social media platforms to integrate features that allow users to easily share spontaneous and candid photos and GIFs. - **Photography Accessories:** Opportunity for manufacturers to develop photography accessories that enhance the candid quality of photos and improve the capture of spontaneous moments. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI Note Captures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blinko.md) - [Anticipating Camera Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recordback-precatch-camera.md) - [Time-Lapse Content Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timelapse-content.md) - [Blockish Multipurpose Action Cams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-lumia-action-cam.md) - [Image-Sharing Social Applications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lapse-1.md) - [Visual Timelapse Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfiestory.md) - [Power-Unlocking Camera Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/photon-camera-app.md) - [External Photo-Taking Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-9.md) - [Trailer-Making Life Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moments.md)