Snapbridge Software
Data federation solutions that improve the workflow among writers, editors, and production groups.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
$3.6m | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
SnapBridge is a software service developed by Nikon Corporation, designed to create a seamless connection between its digital cameras and smart devices like phones and tablets. Announced in January 2016 at CES, SnapBridge was positioned as a key software innovation to integrate Nikon's cameras into the broader ecosystem of personal devices. It became a standard feature in most Nikon cameras starting from 2016. The lead designer for the app was Akiya Maekawa, a Nikon employee who studied design science at Chiba University.
The service operates through a dedicated mobile application available for iOS and Android, which utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to maintain a constant, low-power link between a camera and a paired smart device. This "always-on" connection facilitates the automatic transfer of 2-megapixel, web-ready versions of photos from the camera to the smart device as they are taken, even when the camera is turned off. Users can also manually transfer full-resolution JPEGs and videos, with the app automatically switching to a Wi-Fi connection for these larger files. The primary clients are Nikon camera owners, ranging from professional photographers to hobbyists, who want to bridge the gap between high-quality camera images and the instant sharing capabilities of smartphones.
The SnapBridge application offers several key features. It allows for remote photography, enabling users to control their camera's shutter and adjust settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO directly from their smart device's live view screen. The app can also sync time and GPS location data from the smart device to the camera, automatically embedding correct information into the image metadata. Furthermore, SnapBridge provides automatic firmware update notifications and wireless installation. For storage, the service integrates with the NIKON IMAGE SPACE, offering registered users unlimited cloud storage for the 2-megapixel images and 20 GB for original files. The service is provided free of charge to Nikon customers, functioning as a value-added feature to enhance the camera ownership experience and drive hardware sales.
Keywords: Nikon SnapBridge, camera connectivity, wireless image transfer, remote photography, photo syncing, smart device integration, Bluetooth Low Energy, camera remote control, Nikon camera app, NIKON IMAGE SPACE, photography workflow, photo sharing, automatic photo backup, firmware updates, mobile photography, digital imaging, photo management, GPS tagging, DSLR app, mirrorless camera app