CloudCanvas: HTML5-based Digital Media Editor

[Reid Kistler]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://lifehacker.com/5594297/' target='_blank'>http://lifehacker.com/5594297/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"If you've been interested in using a web-based image editor but you've found them slow or too tied-down to plugins you might not have access to everywhere you want to work, CloudCanvas is a fast HTML5-based editor that frees you from plugins."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1280087032.usr19541.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you are the creative type, and would like to try out a HTML5-based editor, CloudCanvas seems worth taking a look at - particularly as they have a <a href="http://www.cloud-canvas.com/" target="_blank">"Design Competition"</a> that may allow you to win one of three $500 awards (submissions are due by Sep 12, 2010). Still new enough to be called a "Beta," the CloudCanvas site provides a basic introduction to their features and underlying technology, but for now it is largely learn on your own: at the time checked their Documentation was sparse (an outline of Menu Items), and the "Discussion Forum" had precisely 0 (as in Zero...) posts, and only a single, very brief, FAQ. Still, I was able to open the editor in both Firefox and Opera, and create a very simple "Drawing" in each: those who are more adept at using image editors will probably be able to grasp CloudCanvas without too much difficulty.</p>

[ptyork]

To me, this is one of the places where the Web has no real value. At least until everyone has symmetrical 25Mbs or better broadband. I mean, who in their right mind is going to upload their media to the web just so they can use a web app that offers little above MS Paint (much less the free Paint.Net). Cool technology to be sure, but I don't see the point. Not EVERYTHING needs to be in the browser, despite what Google says.

[Jason Dunn]

To me, this is one of the places where the Web has no real value. At least until everyone has symmetrical 25Mbs or better broadband. I mean, who in their right mind is going to upload their media to the web just so they can use a web app that offers little above MS Paint (much less the free Paint.Net).

In general, I agree with you 100% - but in the case of this app, it has some interesting design capabilities build in, so it's not really the same as something like Piknic, which is exactly what you're talking about. Also, Web-based editors can do things like pull photos in from Flickr, so you can upload your images, then pull them in for editing, then push them back out again.

Of course, I do none of those things - I like me some real apps. :D