--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Astro Max Calculator" developer_entity: "Gregory Wu" bundle_id: "com.gregwu.Astro-Max-SUI" app_store_id: "1598192808" category: "Photo & Video" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2021-12-13" report_date: "2026-09-17" last_verified: "2026-09-17T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "1.1" total_reviews: 0 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.05 data_age_days: 59 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 2 tags: ["photo & video", "free", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "astrophotographers", "requiring", "quick"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/astro-max-calculator" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Astro Max Calculator Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Photo & Video · Free > **TL;DR:** Astro Max Calculator is a photo & video app by Gregory Wu, available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Astro Max Calculator is a photo & video app by Gregory Wu. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Category** | Photo & Video | | **Developer** | Gregory Wu | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Low (0.05/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 59d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Gregory Wu - **Category:** Photo & Video - **Target Audience:** Astrophotographers requiring a quick reference tool for shutter speed calculations in the field. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 1.1 - **Report Date:** 2026-09-17 - **Signal Count:** 0 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.05/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1598192808 - **Bundle ID:** com.gregwu.Astro-Max-SUI - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-09-17 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Astro Max Calculator is a free astrophotography utility for iOS that calculates shutter speed limits based on lens focal length and sensor crop factors. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the cognitive friction of manual 500 Rule calculations during night sky sessions, allowing photographers to focus on equipment setup. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] 500 Rule Calculator:** Estimates maximum shutter speed for astrophotography based on lens focal length and sensor crop factor. - **[Differentiator] Night Vision Mode:** Red-tinted UI color scheme to preserve user night vision during outdoor photography sessions. - **[Standard] Conservative Rule Selection:** Allows users to select alternative shutter speed rules (400, 300) for tighter focus control. ## Market Position {#market-position} Astro Max Calculator occupies a narrow niche in the Photo & Video category as a free, single-purpose utility. The four-year update gap (1,739 days) indicates it is no longer competing for active market share against updated photography tools. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free - **Analysis:** The app is distributed as a free utility with no visible monetization or in-app purchases. ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Night Vision mode preserves dark adaptation during outdoor photography sessions. - Conservative rule selection (400, 300) allows for tighter focus control than the standard 500 Rule. **Growth Levers:** - Integration of modern sensor data for newer camera models could capture users currently relying on manual calculations. ## What's New - **Latest (v1.1, 4 years ago):** Introduced a Day Mode color scheme and added crop factor information for Micro 4/3 cameras. ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - No updates for 1,739 days. - Maintenance-only status since late 2021. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 1 majors in last 6 months · 1739 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Astro Max Calculator is a photo & video app that is completely free. > **Bottom Line:** Astro Max Calculator provides a functional, specialized tool for night sky imaging, but the four-year development silence leaves it vulnerable to modern, actively maintained alternatives. **Best for:** Astrophotographers requiring a quick reference tool for shutter speed calculations in the field. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [SUNSET] Sunset the app because the four-year update gap indicates no active development capacity → reduce brand drag ### Outlook: Stable The market for specialized photography utilities is consolidating around apps that maintain active update cadences to support new hardware. Astro Max Calculator remains in a dormant state, meaning it will likely continue to lose relevance as newer camera sensors render its current calculation logic obsolete. - 🔴 The 1,739-day update gap signals that the developer has abandoned the product, leaving it unable to adapt to new camera sensor specifications. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Total Reviews | 0 | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Outlook | Stable | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Astro Max Calculator** (this app) | N/A/5 | N/A | Gregory Wu | | [AI Catch: AI Video Generator](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-prominent-aicatch) | 4.4/5 | n/a | Prominent Fortune PTE. LTD | | [AI Video Editor・Trim, Compress](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ai-video-editor-trim-compress) | N/A/5 | N/A | Ankitbhai Jivani | | [Cantina: AI Video & Characters](https://marlvel.ai/apps/is-signal-ios) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Cantina, Inc | | [CapCut: Photo & Video Editor](https://marlvel.ai/apps/capcut-photo-video-editor) | 4.1/5 | Mixed | Bytedance Pte. Ltd | | [Instagram](https://marlvel.ai/apps/instagram) | 4.3/5 | n/a | Instagram, Inc. | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Gregory Wu ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store ID:** 1598192808 - **Sources:** App store metadata. ## Related Intel Reports - [*AI Catch: AI Video Generator*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-prominent-aicatch) (Prominent Fortune PTE. LTD) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*AI Video Editor・Trim, Compress*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ai-video-editor-trim-compress) (Ankitbhai Jivani) · N/A Rating - [*Cantina: AI Video & Characters*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/is-signal-ios) (Cantina, Inc) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*CapCut: Photo & Video Editor*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/capcut-photo-video-editor) (Bytedance Pte. Ltd) · 4.1/5 Rating - [*Instagram*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/instagram) (Instagram, Inc.) · 4.3/5 Rating - [*Lightroom: AI Photo Editor*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/lightroom-ai-photo-editor) (Adobe Inc.) · 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Picsart AI Photo Editor, Video*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/picsart-ai-photo-editor-video) (PicsArt, Inc.) · 4.3/5 Rating - [*Video Star*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-frontierdesign-videostar) (Frontier Design Group) · 3.5/5 Rating - [*짤봇*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/blackturtle2-jjalbot-ios) (jaesung Lee) · N/A Rating - [*예쁜 사진 - 좋은 하루의 시작*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/kwonkunkun-goodmorning) (KunWoo Kwon) · N/A Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Astro Max Calculator free to use? Yes, Astro Max Calculator is currently distributed as a free utility with no in-app purchases or subscription tiers. ### Does Astro Max Calculator work for all cameras? The app supports calculations based on lens focal length and sensor crop factor, including specific support for Micro 4/3 sensors, but it has not been updated for newer camera models since 2021. ### What is the 500 Rule in astrophotography? The 500 Rule is a heuristic used to estimate the maximum shutter speed for night sky photography before star trailing becomes noticeable, based on the camera's focal length and sensor crop factor. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.05/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 0 - **Data Sources:** App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 59 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/astro-max-calculator) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.