First iPhone 4 app review: LED Torch

LED Torch

Even if a little overdue one of the great new hardware features on the iPhone 4 is the LED camera flash. Not only have Apple shown us the light so to speak they have also granted developers API access to the LED flash light. This will no doubt see an onslaught of apps taking advantage of this but one of the first out of the blocks is local NZ developers and friends of the site Smudge Apps.

Hit the read more to find out how they are using the LED in their new app.

iPhone 4 is here and gone are the days when a so called torch app was just a bright white blank screen which looked more like your iPhone had just had a meltdown than a flashlight, Smudge apps are here taking advantage of the camera flash LED API’s with their new LED Torch app.

The app is reasonably priced at $1.29 now FREE from the app store, and will be for the foreseeable future. Once downloaded launch the app and your off.

You know that when an app does not even have a settings page that it is going to be super easy to use. The app launches and you simply tap the on/off button on the torch to switch the LED light on and off.

Opening Screen (click to expand)

3 choices of Torch are available with humorous descriptions of each, swipe the screen left or right to get to these.

The Rock Torch
Fresh of the shelf from the app store. This is the most reliable torch. Just make sure you don’t run out of batteries or you could be out in the dark.

Rock (click to expand)

The Test Lab Torch
Conjured in the laboratory of mad scientist Dr Toby. This torch has been known to shake uncontrollably and emit shrieks that should never be heard by man.

Test Lab (click to expand)

The shafted Torch
Formed during the gold rush, this torch has been a saviour to miners. Due to it’s age and origins it is not the most reliable torch. You never know when it might go out.

Shafted (click to expand)

So exactly how bright is the light ?? Very! As you would expect from an LED it lights up the room very well indeed and is a true substitute for a flashlight, as you can see in the picture below (taken with an iPhone 4).

Light in Pitch Black Room

The app quits as normal when closed and does not run in the background in any way, and probably rightly so as it would be easy to quit the app, place your iPhone down and leave the light on resulting in a flat battery. Battery life would obviously decrease with heavy use of the LED light and the app description reminds you off this when purchasing from iTunes

All in all a great utility app and the first “real” flash light app I have seen.

Sick of the so called torch white screen on your current iPhone? Can’t wait to get this on your iPhone 4 when it arrives? Let us know in the comments.

– LED Torch