Successful – but why ?: iPhone users love Microsoft selfies

So what is that? Microsoft released a seemingly completely superfluous selfie app for the iPhone and, contrary to expectations, it was successful. What does she have that others don't?

When Microsoft released a selfie app for iPhones at the turn of the year, many thought it was a crazy idea. Who the hell needs a self-portrait application when there are an infinite number of them in the App Store? Lo and behold, the app developed by the company's Chinese department has already been downloaded more than half a million times within two weeks, according to the Microsoft blog. The reviews in the App Store are mostly very positive, Microsoft can look forward to many 5-star ratings. Why is it, what makes Microsoft Selfie different from other selfie apps?

In principle nothing. You take a selfie, which the app automatically beautifies. You can also add 14 filters to your portrait and the whole thing also works with saved photos. All effects can also be adjusted manually. This is neither new nor particularly original. But Microsoft uses a technology for the automatic improvement of selfies that all other providers of selfie apps probably cannot.

Microsoft recognizes a lot in faces

The company has developed special face recognition algorithms in its laboratories. Among other things, they are used in Project Oxford, which provides app developers with interfaces for image, text and speech recognition that they can use in their programs. Among other things, Microsoft's algorithms can use photos to recognize the age of people and read emotions from faces.

Microsoft does not describe how exactly the selfie app detects and processes age, gender, skin tones, lighting and other variables. It is clear that no cloud technology is used, because the app also works offline. Regardless, the results are impressive. As promised, wrinkles, dark circles or bags under the eyes are concealed without softening hair, beard or other details too much. Image noise is also effectively reduced.

The project manager says her app delivers professional results compared to the improvements made by other selfie applications. Everyone can find out for themselves whether this is actually the case, Microsoft Selfie is free.