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Imagevue vs. iPad

Using Imagevue on mobile touchscreen interfaces

Imagevue vs. iPad

September 23rd, 2010By mjau-mjau3 Comments

Update: This post is outdated and concluded with the launch of Imagevue X2.8 Mobile!

Because mobile platforms often use touchscreen interfacing, have smaller screens, and some platforms (iOS) don’t support SWF, the Imageuve gallery needs to display differently on these platforms. We have a few ideas about this –

Phase Now!

Currently with the latest release of Imagevue, if you go to the gallery from an iphone, the visitor will see the html gallery adapted to fit nicely on an iphone. We have achieved this by creating an iphone.css stylesheet specifically for iphone. Check it yourself from an iphone:

Imagevue X2 Demo

Phase 2

For next release (the big one we are currently working on), we will release an optimized CSS stylesheet for the iPad (as we have already done for the iphone). This will allow Imagevue html gallery to function neatly and user-friendly on an iPad. Of course, iPad does not support FLASH so displaying the native imagevue flash application is simply not an option(not for us, or not for any competing software).

Phase 3

After the initial fixes above, we are certainly looking forwards to make the “ultimate” iPad gallery experience. However, I am a little uncertain about peoples expectations in this arena. Lets look at the iPhone first:

The iPhone is a small device with a small screen. Additionally, its mouse-less touch-screen interface is a different experience than viewing it from standard browsers on normal computers. The ultimate gallery on the iPhone, is basically something similar the native PHOTOS application on the iPhone … There is no room for swish-swoosh and fanciness on the limited screen size and unique style of interactivity. I think the best experience a visitor can wish for, is to actually be able to browse through the gallery/pages with no clumsiness. If anyone disagrees with my opinion, I would like to hear their suggestions!

The iPad has a bigger screen than the iPhone, although it inherits the same unique style of interactivity. There is room for some “special touch” for a gallery on the iPad(unlike iphone), but it is still limited in terms of design and esthetics. In my mind, we will aim to build a gallery that is functional to navigate and smooth to use on iPad, but it may lack the personal touch and flair of the imagevue SWF gallery … I guess what Im trying to say, is that its unrealistic to expect anything revolutionary, but instead maybe aim for something that works very smooth on an iPad(perhaps something similar to the native iPad PHOTOS app?). This is the essence of the iPad in the first place.

Maybe it would have similar visual identity as the native PHOTOS application on the iPad?

There will of course be the need to add some advanced javascript/css3/html behavior. For instance maybe a scrollable menu on the left(similar to native iPad)? Maybe image information/description layer pops up when placing finger on image? Basic crossfades between images? In the end of the day, the iPad screen and interface is just better suited for something purely functional, without too many “artifacts” that interfere with the user experience. Something that can be navigated with a single finger, and that puts the content in focus.

We’d love to hear peoples opinion on this!

iPhone and iPad APP

Many users will soon be wondering if we are going to make an APP for iPhone and iPad soon. First, let’s just take this into perspective: No visitors to your gallery will want to download an application before checking your gallery. They will want to simply target your gallery through their browsers, and then preferably have an optimized experience. So therefore an Imageuve APP for the Imagevue frontend? No, it has no function.

Imagevue ADMIN APP?

Ok, now we’re talking. There may be a growing need for gallery owners to be able to manage their gallery from an iPhone or iPad. Although the new admin should work very well from iPad, the problem would be that you cant upload photos from the iPad/iPhone through a normal browser page. This would therefore be a reason to create an application, perhaps dedicated to uploading photos to your imagevue gallery from iPhone or iPad.

That was a long post! Anyway, would be happy to hear your feedback or suggestions! The reason I am a bit skeptical to some “expectation”, is because I spoke to a photographer face2face the other day – He was wondering if we could make “kickass” Imagevue for iPad … In my opinion, Apple already made the best interface for this …


3 Responses to "Imagevue vs. iPad"

  1. What about a css more generic for mobiles?
    Some javascript to detect the mobile browser and use a css for different resolutions might do it.

    • Yes, we certainly have some plans in this department right after Christmas and after we release Imagevue X2.6. Ultimately, we would like to have a jQuery based version running on all phones, smartphones and handhelds, while tablets/iPad should perhaps have a separate solution because it has a bigger screen.

      We will definitely need some detection methods for this, but need to figure out some smart routines. The problem with screen resolutions, is that new smartphones like iPhone 4 have really big resolutions (almost the same as iPad). However, even though the iPhone4 has a big resolution, doesn’t mean it can handle more complex galleries. The interactivity and screen SIZE is still limited.

  2. I have used Imagevue for years it’s a nice clean look. Keep up the good work


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