Prisma speeds up its app by moving its neural network magic

Prisma, the app that lets you turn regular photos into beautiful artworks with a single tap, now works offline. 

Since the app uses neural network-based tech to apply its photo filters, it has so far required an internet connection. The required computing power was simply too great. And some of the work needed to be offloaded to remote servers. 

Now, Prisma has managed to implement the neural network tech into its iOS smartphone app, which should make it much faster. 

How much faster? Well, it depends on how powerful your smartphone is. Prisma tells users it'll take 2.5 seconds for an iPhone 6S to process a photo, and 3 seconds for an iPhone 6 to do the same. Previously, it could take anywhere from 2 to 10 seconds for the app to apply a filter. When the company's servers were clogged up by requests, this time sometimes extended to unbearable lengths for many users.  Read more...