DISQUS

MrSnap · 2 weeks ago

Well this is very disappointing. I take a lot of videos and photos with my 3GS and use Photon to upload them all quickly so I can share them with my family and friends via Phanfare and Facebook. Having to upload single photos and videos at a time while not being able to track which ones have been uploaded already is a major blow to that workflow.

I won't be upgrading my app until I'm forced to via Phanfare service updates. Please, please keep this in mind when making backend improvements. I'd hate to lose my ability to use the older app.

Thanks.

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

Honestly, it is disappointing to us too. We will try to leave the service in a state where you can use the old app, but we can't predict how long that will be.

We agree that without the import flow, it's tough. But you can rename albums in photon and shoot in photon so it is still possible to do what you used to do. It's just slower.

rlieving · 2 weeks ago

I also take a lot of pictures with my iPhone, so this 'upgrade' is pretty disappointing.

You blame Apple here for making you change your program, but there are definite workarounds that you could implement that would make me happy with the new version.

For instance, now you really NEED to implement the ability for the user to delete albums from the phone. Put it in the album configuration screen. There really is no good reason (I can see) to not have this in the application already.

A 'select all' would be nice so I can mass move my photos to the album of choice. Right now I have to poke them all with my finger.

Maybe you could elaborate on why the user can't choose an album. Can't you implement a holding album and then allow the user to move the photos from there to the album of choice? (You already can kind of do this.)

I understand your hand-wringing about Apple and the process, but as a programmer I DON'T understand how your team can't think of creative workarounds for the issue.

Of course, I am not in the meetings with your developers. But these 'issues' were presented in a fashion that puts Phanfare in a helpless position. "We did X, Apple told us no, so now the world is bad." What? No programmer thinks that way.

Think creatively and fix it. You are almost there. Create a workaround and move on.

---

And to Apple who forces these changes - not good. I love my iPhone, but do not plan on getting another when my contract expires. From Google Voice (of which I use and need for work) to Phanfare, you need to back off a little.

I assure you that my iPhone experience was not sullied by the way I select photos in Phanfare.

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

To delete an album, swipe across it.

We worked hard to create our custom import flow and frankly we don't have the time, resources or inclination to dedicate resources to creating a workaround when we already created a perfectly good solution.

The user can't choose where the photos get imported because, in our flow, we are no longer allowed to put up the album chooser dialog on the import screen. Could we find another way for the user to express the import choice? sure, but we are not going to right now.

This version also made it impossible to choose multiple photos at once for import. Given that the only picker we may use is the one provided by Apple and given that the picker lets you choose a single image at a time, I don't see a workaround for that.

We are a small company with limited resources and lots of software and this process has become too expensive for us.

I realize that you are frustrated by the loss in functionality. So are we. We are users of the app and of all our software, and we are the ones who have dedicated personal time to building functionality that people can no longer enjoy.

rlieving · 2 weeks ago

You know what? My last post sounded harsh. That's not exactly what I intended.

I AM SO HAPPY TO DELETE ALBUMS! Who knew? (And by that I mean, that I would be so happy AND that you could delete albums from Photon.)

So, while I agree that it is less than ideal to have the flow interrupted, it is in my opinion (for users) a minor inconvenience.

Photos get put into the 'Album of the Day'. Once uploaded, they get moved to the correct album and the temp album gets deleted. It's a little bit of an extra step, but it still works well.

Photon still rocks.

PS: Is there a complete Photon guide posted on the web somewhere?

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

Sorry, there is no user guide. But hopefully most of what it can do is self explanatory. That seems to be the way that iphone software goes. very little documentation, including from apple on the built in stuff.

yes, there are workarounds for everything except the inefficiency of single image import, and we truly don't know a way around that.

glad you like it. spread the word!

sjudd · 2 weeks ago

Well I never hopped on the iPhone band wagon, though I love Photon for displaying photos on my touch. I think I'm getting a Droid today, so looking forward to the Android version of Photon!

Bstring · 2 weeks ago

This is simply delightful. I can hardly believe it. I've been out of the loop the last 30 hours playing with my new Droid and now I read this, like a dream that keeps getting better. To hear a developer say this about Apple brings tears to my eyes, tears of joy.

I, too, have a Touch for viewing pics, reading email/facebook/twitter around the house, and is also my alarm clock.

And just think, I was almost resigned to the fact that Phanfare would never get behind Android. Gosh, this is incredible. What can I do to help?

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

Don't get too excited. We are not working on an Android version today, but we might some day. Its all about timing. I always thought Android had long term potential.

bstring · 2 weeks ago

So the message to Phanfare members that I am hearing is, getting an Android device does not mean you will forever be without a mobile Phanfare app, but in fact, the more the merrier and wait will be shorter.

Android users should be vocal and not let up!

Here's a short list of Android devices for anyone curious.
T-Mobile: G1, MyTouch, Motorola Cliq
Sprint: Hero, Samsung Moment
Verizon: Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Eris

Coming Soon: Sony-Ericsson X10, HTC Passion

mamabritts · 2 weeks ago

I am soooooo frustrated. Is there a way to get the old version back? Ug I trustingly hit update all before I realized what I was loosing.............

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

Not that we know of. Sorry that you lost the super-cool multiimport features. hopefully apple will allow it again in the future.

saperboy · 2 weeks ago

Would it be possible (not illegal) for Phanfare to produce a Photon app that would be available in the Jail Break Repository? Just wonderin.

erlichson · 2 weeks ago

Certainly possible, but probably not something we have the resources to pursue right now.

gregdully · 1 week ago

I too look forward to an Android version for Phanfare! I have owned a G1 since it launched, and have recently purchased the Droid from Verizon. I love the platform! The issues you are having with Apple, & the iphone is exactly why I refused to buy one! Android is the answer...

rgosselin · 1 week ago

You should also consider the Palm Pre (or webOS) for a client. Shouldnt be very difficult to port your client since the webOS is supposed to be completely web friendly