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06-08-2010, 02:15 PM | #1 |
Nameless Being
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Fifobooks Composer: a simple way to create your own illustrated e-book
We've created a "labs" site, where we can test new features before they're formally released.
First up is Composer: http://labs.fifobooks.com/Composer, an automated tool for creating illustrated books like comics or graphic novels/manga. All you need is a stack of images (png, gif, jpg) -- upload them, set the page sequence, and (optionally) define chapters. Composer does the rest, and produces a file in e-book format (either .epub or .cbz). We think the potential for all-illustrated e-books is huge, not only because of how good they look in color on the iPad, but also because of Apple's arbitrary censorship in their book store: http://www.siliconera.com/2010/05/08...ted-by-itunes/ Note, too, that you can even turn your own photo albums into e-books, if you're so inclined, since Composer doesn't care what kind of images it parses. We would love to get everyone's feedback on Composer; please feel free to leave a comment or question here, or you can reach us anonymously via our contact page: https://www.fifobooks.com/Contact |
06-08-2010, 02:57 PM | #2 | |
Wizard
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How about a downloadable version??? Derek |
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06-08-2010, 03:35 PM | #3 |
Nameless Being
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Hi,
I'm not sure what you mean by "downloadable". You can download the .epub or .cbz file Composer creates, and use it however you please (i.e., there's no obligation to publish it on Fifobooks.com). Composer does not keep a copy of the resulting e-book, nor the images used in its creation. If you mean downloadable as a desktop app, though, we learned that people don't want desktop apps, and we've come around to that view ourselves. |
06-08-2010, 03:43 PM | #4 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
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Nothing seems to happen on IE7 when clicking "Add Images", and "Set Cover" is unclickable.
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06-08-2010, 04:09 PM | #5 |
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Hello Xanthe,
Try using IE 8. We did not test under older versions of Internet Explorer. Joubert |
06-08-2010, 04:13 PM | #6 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
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Okay, I'll download IE8 and try it with that later.
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06-08-2010, 04:46 PM | #7 | |
Guru
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Why, this is a hosted solution. Obviously Derek meant to release the script that does the conversion so it can be run locally.
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06-08-2010, 05:04 PM | #8 |
Nameless Being
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06-08-2010, 05:56 PM | #9 | |
Not who you think I am...
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This is a utility to create graphical books. Entirely different, and shouldn't do more than touch some pre-selected files. Web-based software for that purpose is inefficient and a waste of bandwidth; upload, download, iterate, upload, download... repeat until satisfied. Also, what happens when you go away? Or change your terms of service? And why should anyone trust you when you say you don't keep copies? Who are you? |
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06-08-2010, 06:34 PM | #10 |
The one and only
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Without being too negative or disrespectful - but who actually needs this tool?
Creating cbr/cbz? Zip any number of image files, rename .zip to .cbz or .rar to .cbr, done. Create an eBook out of cbz or cbr? Simply upload to calibre, a desktop software, convert to different formats, done. |
06-08-2010, 07:26 PM | #11 | |
Wizard
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Derek |
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06-08-2010, 07:29 PM | #12 | |
Wizard
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Don't know who you've been talking to, but *I* would be crazy to rely upon an online webapp. I own my own copies of Adobe Creative Suite (4), Microsoft Office (2010) and 3DS Max. And I wouldn't *dream* of relying on the (possible) continuted existence of a critical-need webapp. Derek |
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06-09-2010, 09:05 AM | #13 | |
Nameless Being
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In fact, it makes it worse in some ways, b/c if you don't trust the web site in the first place, you're unlikely to install something from that site on your pc, for fear of viruses or malware, etc. The point about uploading and downloading makes sense, but it is less valid now than 5-10 years ago, when broadband was less widely available. As Flickr and YouTube have shown, people are ok with uploading and downloading decent sized files to and from those sites. Also, with the advent of Google Docs and Zoho, the idea of using an app that was formerly desktop-bound on the web has become more acceptable. Even Microsoft Office is now available as as web app. I'm not against the idea of building a web app per se, but I just haven't heard of a compelling reason to do it. |
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06-09-2010, 09:07 AM | #14 | |
Nameless Being
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06-09-2010, 10:12 AM | #15 |
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I don't get web based apps. If I want an app, I want it on my computer where I can access it and use it anywhere, anytime, anyway I want without having to worry about internet availability or connection problems.
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