Windows Mobile Picture News Viewer from WPN, Beta Testers Required

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.worldpicturenews.com/web/AboutUs2.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.worldpicturenews.com/web/AboutUs2.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"With more than 300 photographers and well over 5,000 media clients in every corner of the world, WorldPictureNetwork has a coverage that exceeds many of the traditional wire services. The digital revolution has meant that clients now expect images taken at 9 a.m. can arrive within hours halfway around the world. Our network is built for instant delivery - from a photographer in the field, through our editors to your desktop well before deadline."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Feb06-WPN.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />WPN is taking the photo news delivery to the next level. WPN is working on a Windows Mobile Smartphone application called “WPN Mobile”. This application allows us to connect to the WPN servers using our Smartphones and download feature stories on a daily basis, a little like an RSS news reader except it is picture based. The pictures cover a variety of topics, and each picture will have a headline and sometimes a small article to explain what’s going on. WPN Mobile according to WPN CTO, Ifor Evans, is designed for Windows Mobile 2003 SE Smartphones but will also work on WM5.0 devices. I was able to successfully install it on my WM5.0 Cingular 2125 and I like the photo based news reader, more because of the quality of the photos. If you haven't checked out the WPN <a href="http://www.worldpicturenews.com/web/news_index.aspx">photo gallery,</a> then check it out right now, and if you like the quality of the photos and information, then sign up for BETA testing by sending an email request to ifor.evans[at]worldpicturenews.com. In case you are not interested in Beta testing but like the content and the idea, then you will be pleased to know that this service will most likely be free when it launches. What I like about this application the most - <i>a picture says more than a thousand words;</i> move over traditional RSS news readers, here comes WPN Mobile. :) Please post your thoughts in this thread.

[Kris Kumar]

After a day or two of use, here is my initial feedback:

- Definitely like the concept.
- Love the quality of the photos. As someone who is interested in photography, I am spending a lot of time admiring them. :)
- The application is functional, has some minor nits and I have tons of suggestions ;-)

Wish list / improvements:
- Ability to zoom into photos
- When I click on the "Story" soft key, the blurb or the caption that describes the photo should have some formating. Like the title should be bold; the photographer's details or place should be in italics etc.
- The network selection form should be a one time selection or it should be an options setting.
- The "Update" menu item should under the "Options" menu instead of "Options->Feature" (save clicks)
- The "Update" should in my opinion update ALL the things I have subscribed to
- The "Update" IF it is meant to update only one topic, then it should show the photos for the selected topic after it has been updated, instead of showing the previously viewed topic/photo
- There should be a progress bar or somekind of text to inform the user of current download or update status
- When you are on the Unsubscribe screen and you click on "Cancel", why do I see the strange error message "You have not yet Subcribed to any WpN Mobile features." :?

[Mike Temporale]

After a day or two of use, here is my initial feedback:

Thanks Kris. Sounds like a pretty nice app. Is there a lot of content on their server to select from?

[Kris Kumar]

Content is pretty limited right now but I am told it will improve over the period of the Beta. Right now it has: Daily news, Week in Blog (excellent photos), Week in photos, Superbowl related ones and Hollywood celebrity girl related photos.

I think the limiting factor is that this photo-reader is meant for WpN news content and is not supposed to aggregate other news sites. So the choice is always going to be limited WpN.

But I love the quality of the photos. If you are into photography, it is a must have news reader. ;-)

[Mike Temporale]

Oh, so it's totally limited to their feeds? I can't setup a photo feed that would work in their player? That's kind of a downside. :(

[iforevans]

Mike,

It is possible to set up channels in WpN Mobile for non WpN stuff.

I.e. it would be possible to set up a SmartphoneThoughts channel and have everybody able access news and review from Smartphone.com on WpN Mobile ...

Good idea Kris ey?

...Ifor

[Kris Kumar]

It is possible to set up channels in WpN Mobile for non WpN stuff.

I.e. it would be possible to set up a SmartphoneThoughts channel and have everybody able access news and review from Smartphone.com on WpN Mobile ...


I stand corrected. That is awesome.


Good idea Kris ey?


:way to go:

[Kris Kumar]

I like the improved navigation in Beta 2.1 version.

I like
- the wrap-around - once you get to the end of the photo list, it shows the first one
- the pushing down on the joy stick (action key) causes the story to show up.

Wish List:
- How about taking the push down on the joy stick to the next level; when you are reading the story, push down on the joystick (action key) and the application should take you back to the photo. This way I can see the photo, read the story without taking my thumb off the joystick. ;-)
- Definitely need to improve the application icon. It is difficult to figure out on the WM 5.0 icon based menu if the icon is selected or not. Check the image below.
- Minor nit - the icon name should it be "Wpn Mobile" or "WpN Mobile" or "WPN Mobile". ;-)

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-feb06-wpnicon.gif

[iforevans]

Hi Kris,

Th Joystick going from picture to story to picture is a great idea!

I have a designer working on the ICON ;-)

...Ifor