Appatic

PolarFox is in every way what I would qualify as a Neo-Retro Desktop App. It serves a specialized function that now is for a small minority. But it does so by emulating the modern way of doing it via the integration of a Mobile OS and a stock mobile app but still as a desktop app.  All while sporting this minimalistic but modern design.

PolarFox 1.0.3 in brief is an Adobe  AIR based Photo Blogging Desktop App you can use to share photos to multiple social messaging networks and photo hosting providers in one go. And it is very good for it.

^ Load Up Photo

You start by loading up a photo into the app by clicking the ¨^¨ symbol and after you do, you can do some minor editing and you can also apply some filters to it if you want. This last part, the filters being pretty much the only thing in the app I found completely useless. This because, the ¨filters¨ are more like flare filters. So bad only J.J Abrams would like them and would dare to use them.

That is not to say the editing controls and options are not also mediocre and just downright superfluous. They are. But compared to the flaring filters they are forgivable. Because of that I recommend you to not use the editing in PolarFox at all and instead always go directly on to share your photo. Once you have set up the accounts you want the photo be able to upload to of course.

Sharing Editor

Once you are in the share section of the app, the bad taste of the photo editor vanishes almost immediately.  This, because you realize it is very well done once you have everything set up. It is simple and easy to use.  With the first things to notice being that you are of course allowed to choose a title and write a blurb for each photo. You can also even tag your photos by adding a # before your desired tag word . The two first things best suited only for when your are sharing to Blogger and Flickr. But that don`t get in the way of you sharing to every target supported because things are filtered out for you accordingly.

Once you have shared the Photo along with a post or not. You can also save the photo in multiple sizes in case you had edited it or you just would like to resize the photo . It is a nice feature you don`t see often out of Flickr and I am glad it is there within the app.

Settings

The settings are truly great. They are so well done it is surprising. They are focused and clear as they should. But also thoughtful.  They are divided in 3 sections: Upload Email Settings,  Language Settings and Background Settings. 

In the Upload Email Settings you just write in the email posting address for each service and save. Once you save an approving mark will show to let you know that service is indeed set up. No thrills no frills. Simple and right.

Then there is the Language Settings. The actual reason why I called the settings thoughtful. As it will display you what language and what text order the app is set up for and because it does ensure that there are no snags if you are posting in a right to left and non latin based language.

At last you have the cake frosting for the app that is the background settings. Letting you choose from 10 different backgrounds. With the only problem about it being you end wishing there were either a lot more backgrounds to choose or that the app would let you select and set whatever image you wanted as background.

* Extras

As well done the core function and the settings of Polarfox are. I am quite impressed with the extras section. It has everything you would want every current desktop app to have with the exception of a in-app feedback form. About lays you out everything about who and where the app is made.  In this case being Andre Weier from Germany. how to contact, a way to manually update the app. who sponsors the app, Tips & FAQ in case you need info how to use the app and even a way to support the developer and share  that you used the app to every place possible. While it may seem weird I am highlighting all of this little things as noteworthy. I do so because they are. I see tons and tons of desktop apps. Most never have their settings and about sections well done. Much less as well done.

Conclusion

Polarfox 1.0.3 is a very good Photo Blogging app on almost every measure. I liked it a lot from the way it works to the striking and distinctive minimal design it sports. I tested it with all my dummy accounts. It worked great for me and I think it is worthwhile.

The only real criticism I must give it is that the Photo editor is unfortunately mediocre and the filtering is horrible.  But fortunately that is not consequential to using the app at all and it is just an update away for it to be fixed. It still can be enjoyed very much so as it is. Two nit pick i would also add is that I wish it would had an in-app feedback form on the extras section and that it would either had more backgrounds or would let you choose your own background photo.

Normally I would had skipped writing about it because of the glaring fault in it. But I reached out to the developer and he promised to update the app soon. So, I decided to post the review of this version as it is and look forward to do a revised one with the all the bad done away.

Polarfox 1.0.3 supports Windows from XP to 8 and also OS X and Linux. Photos can be shared to Flickr (with support for Title, blurb and tags), Facebook, Evernote, Blogger (Post with Photo), Picasa (with description), Box and TwitPic.

Linkage

PolarFox.com

PolarFox 1.0.3     <—Direct Download Link

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