Request for feedback on new tech - Zoomify.com

[ASchroeder]

Hi everyone - wondering if I could get a little feedback on our technology. We've been creating tools to deliver high-res images on the Web for several years. Our viewers thus far have been limited to ActiveX, Java, and QuickTime. Finally, we've managed to do it entirely in Flash - Flash 6, to be exact.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, www.zoomify.com/flash (http://www.zoomify.com/flash/). Note - we're a technology company, not a design company! :)

If you click on one of the demos at the top of the page you'll see what I'm talking about. The SWFs are about 10k - all the image data resides on the server until you actually move to that area and Flash makes a request for that part of the image.

Also, we've developed an annotation system for UC Davis which also only requires Flash Player 6: www.zoomify.com/enterprise/zas/ (http://www.zoomify.com/enterprise/zas/). Adding labels, notes, etc., is disabled for the demo. The image itself, if you're interested, is a tissue sample from a cancer research study.

Also, you can download a portable example (emailable, etc.) here (http://www.zoomify.com/downloads/area51.swf) (just right-click "Save Target as..." on windows). It does require an internet connection to work since data is being pulled on the fly.

Anyway, love to hear your impressions, suggestions, feedback, comments... whatever you'd like to share. Thanks!

Alex
Zoomify, Inc.
www.zoomify.com (http://www.zoomify.com/)

[eilsoe]

Aw MAN, I'd LOVE to have a prog like that!

Just not a rich man... :(



Anyway, sweet tech!! :P

[ASchroeder]

Thanks eilsoe! We try to be pretty flexible with regard to pricing. Our intro product which allows you to convert images and display within Flash 6 is only $129 (and edu discounts are 30% off that). Yeah, the Enterprise version which includes the annotation is $795 - but it's designed for use by universities, museums, libraries, etc. The Enterprise version also includes command-line conversions (so you can script it with CF, ASP, PHP, etc).

Version 1.75 of Zoomifyer for Flash will be coming out in the next few weeks (it has the speed enhancements in the demos). Maybe we'll have some drawings for free copies. :beam:

Alex

[kirupa]

Hey ASchroeder,
The technology behind it is really nice! I am sure this program will be a great success in areas where images can be zoomed in for a clearer picture (medicine, topography, subway maps, etc).

Cheers!
Kirupa :rambo:

[eyezberg]

Me says: good software, have a contest, subject set by the developpers, and offer one to the winner!

[Raydred]

Can't wait till we get satelite pictures in realtime with the zoom in =) lol =)

nice though.

[bit-101]

that's pretty cool. though technically not too hard to do in flash. you'd just need several versions of the pictures in several different resolutions, chopped up just right. of course, if the program does all that work for you, that's great, and worth the money if you have a lot of pictures to process.

[pom]

I just don't understand how it can switch so fast from one resolution to another... Did anybody feel the loading time? Cos I didn't...

pom :o

[bit-101]

it may be loading in the background. once a certain resolution is loaded, it assumes you are going to zoom, so starts in loading the next one, and so on.

at any rate, i didn't mean to put it down by saying it wasnt too hard to do, it's pretty impressive. just looking it over and realizing that it's not some super alien technology, just a very ingenious packaging of stuff that is pretty basic in flash.

[reverendflash]

I think it is pretty tricky, but I don't see a lot of my clients needing to "zoom in" on any one part of a graphic that much...

Maybe in a map to their location, but that is it...

Just my opinion...

Rev:elderly:

[ASchroeder]

Thought I'd jump in and mention that you're correct bit-101 - this experience can be replicated with separate files. However, the tiling and tiering process is automated by our encoder (saves you tons of time). Also, our single-file approach is easier to maintain on a site, we can support files many many gigabytes in size (where'd you'd literally have millions of tile files otherwise - too many for a file system to handle), we can do 3D and panos (not in Flash...yet), we'll soon be supporting JPEG2000 storage....etc. We're hoping all this justifies the (small?) price.

In any event, we do provide the FLA with the program, so you can open it up in Flash MX and see how we did it. We have sort of an open-license approach - you can't claim our code as your own, but you can use it, modify it, build upon it, etc.

As for potential uses of the tech, we do have a pretty diverse range of customers. Our Flash viewer is brand new, so I don't have any references for that quite yet (aside from UC Davis). We do have Burton Snowboards (http://www.burton.com/) (they're using our QuickTime solution), Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (http://www.mfah.org/) (using ActiveX/Plug-in/Java), Theban Mapping Project (http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/) (using Java), and the British Library (similar to US Library of Congress). And of course, FHM.com (http://www.fhm.com) in the UK. :o

BTW the Theban Mapping Project is a great use of Flash - really cool site.

Alex

[bit-101]

i agree. as i said, if the program automatically chops and coordinates the images, that's worth the money, as that would be the biggest amount of time, i'd think.

[reverendflash]

nice app, but a niche market...

Rev:elderly:

[ASchroeder]

Hi everyone,

Well, after getting a ton of feedback on our first Zoomifyer for Flash release, we put our noses to the grindstone and really created what we think is a great solution for raster images in Flash. We're releasing a new product called Zoomifyer EZ which is totally free to use. Some samples are available on our home page at www.zoomify.com (http://www.zoomify.com/). You can download it for free at www.zoomify.com/downloads/ (http://www.zoomify.com/downloads/).

It isn't nagware, shareware, trialware, anything-ware - it's free to use as long as you want <:}. Of course, we ask that you purchase Zoomifyer for Flash (just shipped version 1.8) if you want to modify the source and change the splashscreen, toolbar, or incorporate it into your Flash movies, etc.

So, even though it's niche, Rev, it's free. :)

Thanks for hearing me out guys. If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me at alex-at-zoomify-dot-com.

Alex

[reverendflash]

thanks Alex,

I will check it out...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[SureShot]

There is something I dont get - how come I can download it for free, but you still give the option to buy. I looked around on the site to see if it was trial software but there was nothing that would lead me to belive that it is...

[reverendflash]

Hey Tuknuk...

I know it's hard to see out from under that toque, but
It isn't nagware, shareware, trialware, anything-ware - it's free to use as long as you want . Of course, we ask that you purchase Zoomifyer for Flash (just shipped version 1.8) if you want to modify the source and change the splashscreen, toolbar, or incorporate it into your Flash movies, etc.

:beam:

hoser...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[Jubba]

hmmmmm...interesting... Time to go into geek-mode :geek:

Bit...Pom...Sen...Lost... What do you guys think? ;)

Nice use of Flash Alex :) I don't personally have a use for it, but that is **** nice. :)

I didn't see this post originally, just seeing it for the first time now...

[SureShot]

your right rev - it's the hat's fault :)

acutally I have a tendancy not too read the entire thread sometimes :) Thanks for pointing that out for me - I gotta learn just not to ask questions :)

[upuaut]

Thanks for posting this at Kirupaforum ASchroeder. Always nice to know that we're being thought of as a serious test audience for these products.

I like it.. though as others have said, a little too much money for my usage at this time. (and freebies without the ability to modify the source are not really useful for me, though still apreciated.) I'll keep it in mind if I have any projects that could find it useful.

again.. thanks for taking the time to post your info here and interact with us and our comments.

[RelandR]

Abso~Phreakin~Loverly

I have a site in progress (they sell antiquities) and methInks that this would be a great expansion to the generic slide show routine

...after I've played around with the freebie - I'd be interested.

tell me ... does the $129 version do the split screen tricks as seen on your preloaded demo ? ... and is there full tutorial doc's for tweakage ?

...cluelessMinds wanna know...

[ASchroeder]

Hi RelandR,

Yep, the $129 version includes full docs, the entire viewer FLA, the HTML, SWF, etc. Totally tweakable. The demos on the home page were made with the $129 version.

David - you bet. You guys have a great forum. Glad that you've all taken time to offer feedback.

:)

Alex

[reverendflash]

Alex:

I have a client who is a "Center for the Arts" for a small community on the Northern California coast. I think your app may just be a perfect fit. They are a non-profit, and I am doing the website pro-bono, but I think we may be able to squeeze something out for this app, should the director approve...

I'll keep you updated as events unfold...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[mariofan]

thats a great piece of technology, but i dont think every designer will have a use for it - however, for people who will - it is absolutely amazing!!


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/matt.kenyon/mariosmily.gif mariofan

[ASchroeder]

Hi all - apologies for the delay in responding. Killer month - several tradeshows (including FlashForward2003 in San Francisco). Wanted to let you all know there is a 30% discount for education customers, and I'll extend that to non-profit orgs as well if they reference this thread. =)

But, as a super-special offer, I'll give a free copy of Zoomfiyer for Flash to the first 3 people who respond to this thread! :egg:

Alex

[senocular]

is this a new technology or something like mapquest - Flashisized?
ME FREE FRERERERERE
... Im starting to like it already :beam:

[fez]

thats awesome

[reverendflash]

me 2! please...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[Jubba]

lol

[fez]

did we win?

[senocular]

ASchroeder just a busy person - not a regular - just dropped in for the quick post and will check back later, maybe not even today :-\ just give it a little time, but yeah WE'RE THE WEENERS!

[fez]

AHAHAHAH!!!

[RelandR]

:*( ... shoulda paid better attention ... methinks me number five


...ohWell...

[ASchroeder]

Well, looks like senocular, fez, and the rev won. =) Congrats guys. I'll personally drop you emails through the Kirupa forums and let you know how to get a copy.

Alex

P.S. When you create cool stuff with the product let me know!

[senocular]

did anyone else (fez, rev) get their emails? maybe mine got blocked.

[fez]

nope...

[senocular]

Originally posted by senocular
ASchroeder just a busy person - not a regular - just dropped in for the quick post and will check back later, maybe not even today :-\ just give it a little time, but yeah WE'RE THE WEENERS!

;)

[fez]

eagerly awaiting........

[ASchroeder]

Hey guys, sorry about the delay! :hangover: Let me know if you didn't get the emails I sent you today (Monday)!

Alex

[fez]

yippee! im a WINNER!!!

[SureShot]

****... I want to be a winner...


always the looser.... :(


Congrats guys :) It's a cool program for sure!

[Aislin]

Yeah, tuknuk and I will stand outside your window and watch while you use it. Forever.

[RelandR]

Aislin just what are you gonna watch him use ??? ;) ;) ;)
ummmm...tuknuk didn't win ...
...but I'm sure he'd love to have you lurk outside the ol'Gloo anyways :!:

[reverendflash]

Thanks Alex!

I have downloaded the prog, we will let you know when I have built something with it...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[fez]

i cant figure out how to work it...

[senocular]

Ive been going back and forth with Alex a bit discussing potential issues... but I can do a little write up on how to use it if you want.
... well tomorrow ;) I need sleep now

[senocular]

actually, you know what? Anything I was about to write here is pretty much all explained in the users guide. Did you take a look at that yet fez?

default loc:
Zoomifyer for Flash v1.8\Documentation\ZF Users Guide v1.8.pdf