SQUIB: a : a short humorous or satiric writing or speech; b : a short news item. (Merriam-Webster)
This Tech Squib breaks all the rules. It’s a renegade. But it gets results.
I usually steer clear of app reviews here because this is a gadget zone. We have to be talking a physical item — actual “stuff” — if it’s going to be a Squib. So, why make an exception for Pixuru? Because this app results in an actual tactile product, it slips through our rigorous Tech Squib screening process (…which is mainly me deciding what I want to write about here…).
Pixuru takes your iPhone photographs from your device and prints them onto canvas, wood, metal, device cases, etc., for a fee. Via its own app, Pixuru allows you to select, orientate and moderately resize a selected photograph. Then, you select the printing material, the size and other options — including multi-panel and other arrangements.
The app is free, as is image shipping back to you. But, the printed products can run close to the pricey side. The cheapest canvas print is 8×10 and $33, with four panel canvas running up to $120. Metal or wood printing runs slightly higher.
While the app is easy to use and customer service is strong, the user needs to know the limitations of the service. The app is best suited only to cellphone photographs — not images taken elsewhere and imported over to your phone. Once selected resizing is limited, so be sure to select images already suited to the app’s aspect ratio.
If you can work within the outlines of the above, Pixuru does exactly what it promises — turning a moment on an iPhone into art.
