camera%2BVolumeSnap has returned to the excellent iOS photography app Camera+.

Last year, developer TapTapTap released an update to its Camera+ application with a small hack -- users could press the volume-up button to take a picture, instead of needing to press a soft-button on the screen.

This was considered an unauthorized hack and Apple banned the app until TapTapTap removed the feature. Apple then borrowed this innovation for iOS 5, and now users can press the Volume Up button to take pictures in the native iPhone camera app.

Camera+ for iPhone is available for $0.99 on the App Store [Direct Link].

Top Rated Comments

Veinticinco Avatar
184 months ago
If you can't beat them/think of it first, then block them citing DA violations regarding 'unauthorised' use of API. Then do a 180-degree U-turn once you've utilised the idea into you own OS.

Not Apple's finest hour this...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gatearray Avatar
184 months ago
And by having the publicity from Apple removing the original Easter egg from this app, the developer has made MILLIONS of dollars that she wouldn't have without said publicity.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jozero Avatar
184 months ago
Any app, if it uses the built in camera API, now inherits this feature as well.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MattRK Avatar
184 months ago

Apple did not 'borrow' this. It was clearly a planned feature hence Apple blocked it.

Do you have any proof to this? How do you know that Camera+ didn't have this on their planned feature list before Apple?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tinmania Avatar
184 months ago
iRonically I had two updates earlier: one for Camera+ and the other for Camera Genius. Both had one-line blurbs about the update.

Camera+: "Volume snap is back, beyotches!"

Camera Genius:"Removal of Volume Shot as requested by Apple."


Too funny!!!!




Michael
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nagromme Avatar
184 months ago
There are good reasons not to have this: the volume switch becomes only “sometimes” volume, and the tap-trigger jiggles the camera less (since it triggers on release and has no physical click). You can say that user confusion only matters on major issues, but the great iOS experience is actually a sum of many small choices, with pro-user motivations just like this policy (when it was in effect).

There are good reasons TO have this: people asked for it! Camera+ demonstrated/encouraged that request. A click feel is, after all, familiar (and doing it via the headphone remote is actually useful at times).

Did Apple block Camera+ so they could “steal” the idea (Evil Apple as always!) or did the developer agreement ALREADY forbid the use of the hardware buttons for non-standard purposes? Hint: the latter is true.

Then Apple changed that policy, because they LISTEN to people and flexible. This is but one of a constant stream of examples of how Apple adapts and improves. They are not fairytale tyrants, they are innovators seeking the best experience for us, and making great calls, and making bad calls, and fixing them.

However, because Apple is Always Evil™, they are both evil when they do NOT change a policy, and evil when they do :p

So, since we know they’re always evil in all cases, no matter what, and facts don’t matter... lets enjoy the change in both the native app and Camera+ :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Users Report Static Speaker Noise While Charging

Tuesday December 30, 2025 10:39 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max owners are having trouble with the speakers of their devices, and have complained about a static or hissing noise that occurs when the iPhone is charging. There are multiple discussions about the issue on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and Apple's Support Community, where affected users say there is a noticeable static noise "like an old radio." Some people report...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With a Rough iPhone Fold Mockup

Monday December 29, 2025 10:55 am PST by
Apple is rumored to be introducing a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and since it will bring the biggest form factor change since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, curiosity about the design is high. A 3D designer created an iPhone Fold design based on rumors, and we printed it out to see how it compares to Apple's current iPhones. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...
macbook air march 2020

Apple Says Final Intel MacBook Air and Apple Watch Series 5 Now 'Vintage'

Wednesday December 31, 2025 8:39 am PST by
Apple today added the final 13-inch MacBook Air powered by Intel processors, the Apple Watch Series 5, and additional products to its vintage products list. The iPhone 11 Pro was also added to the list after the iPhone 11 Pro Max was added back in September. The full list of products added to Apple's vintage and obsolete list today: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) iPhone 8 Plus 128GB ...