Remember Pictorio.us?!

[manymarc]

Well I've got a fair bit of my interactive guide to Digital SLR Photography created, Pictorio.us. You may remember my survey from late last year, finally I have the guts of it built.

SO what I would like you guys to do is take a look and let me know:

• What you think of the looks?
• What do you think of the content?
• What do you think could be added?
• Or anything else you want to mention

And please keep it constructive and remember this is a work in progress with quite a few gaps!

Pictorio.us

Thanks!
Marc

[digit]

I really like the design of the site, its really fresh and different from the boring standardness of most other sites. A really good usage of flash, the transitions between tabs is neat. The content looks promising, but I don't know much about photography so I'll stop there! Possibly to improve ever so slightly when you click a photo from the front page instead of loading in flicker it could load in a pop up box?

[Hans Voralberg]

Very nice tutorial, the Focal Length one is messed up though, and there's a few bits here and there, like why clicking the news doesnt do anything ?

[manymarc]

Thanks people!

Yep there's quite a few sections are work in progress. Including the front page, which oddly/foolishly I've neglected since the start of making this site!

[Funkstar]

Those coloured triangles in the O of your logo, is that a 'classic' photography thing?

Have you seen Picasa before? i'm sure i've seen it other places too.

I'll take a look at the rest of the site, i just didn't want to forget my thoughts

EDIT: I really like the way you've done this. I was sceptical of the Flash site to begin with, but your interface is really efective.

Is everything loaded at once? How about making the front page a master flash file and then all the others sub files so you aren't waiting for everything to load at once.

[manymarc]

I just looked at Picasa, genuinely never seen it before! My jaw dropped. My logo was developed on the iris or diaphragm within the lens, with the colours representing vivid life and photography. Oh well! I worked hard at that branding so I feel no guilt SEE

It's actually built in Adobe Flex, which shares similarities to Flash but more geared at the buzzwords 'Rich Internet Applications'.

So the framework is loaded, whilst content eg XML, RSS feeds, Images, SWF diagrams are all loaded dynamically.

[Funkstar]

Heehee. I didn't think you would blatantly use the concept if you had seen it before

I thought the initial download was quite large. 957KB? hmmmm

I take it you are eventually going to have ads etc on it too? I know it is still in development, but i would be trying get the front page up and loaded as quickly as possible.

[manymarc]

Yea the initial download is a bit heavy, it's something I'll definately look into. Thanks

As for the ads, well I didn't intend on making money out of this, but you've just poured petrol on my candle! (yes I made up that terrible metaphor)

[Funkstar]

lol

Been looking some more. I actually really like the site man, you've done a load of work.

I hope you don't mind me throwing ideas at you

The camera parts section is cool. It would be smart to have a vertical list of SLRs on the left, clicking on each one bring up the appropriate detail you have for the D80. I know it could grow arms and legs, but in time, it the site was successful it would be a great resource.

[manymarc]

Thanks again! The parts section SLR list is a great Idea, initially I had plans to do several, but as this site is essentially a prototype for a university project I haven't been able to dedicate the time into duplicate content.

However that's definately a great expansion idea for after I finish what I've got.

'Preciated

[Nick F]

Very nice site, quick question through. Will all the search engines pick up the words since it's built in Flash?

[Hans Voralberg]

Stolen from Google:

"Good coders, when working on an all Flash page, will embed some hidden text on the page just for the bots to pick up and use."

[manymarc]

Haha guess I'm not a good coder yet then! Well I'm actually researching now about the best SEO (search engine optimisation) practice for Flex.

To be honest it hasn't been a priority, as this is a uni project/prototype, but hey I want it out there!

[Bobster]

nope - search engines won't pick up text thats embeded in flash! flash is the spawn of satain, oh btw, in the UK if you have a flash site you need a HTML based site for all those with disabilities (1998 disabilities act)

another logo using the diaphragm http://www.pbase.com/andrewbeaumont

i like the interactive movie stuff

pink highlight seems a little bright..

i'll post more tomorrow

[manymarc]

haha fortunately Flex is compatible with screen reading technology (namely Jaws) if thats the issue you're referring to. However I have not yet configured that, but thanks for the heads up

And yea the text won't be picked up, though there are some prototypes using FXT and Flex turning up that may begin to address the issue of SEO... But it's no great concern of mine at the moment!

[Dark Horse]

Would be good to have more inter connection and detail in the explaination sections for example it doesn't mention the effect changing the aperture will have on the amount of light getting into the lens at all.