Jeff Brown at TradeshowBluesBlog posted yesterday on Trade Show Executive's new look for their online publication.
You can access TSE's latest issue based on this Flash application by clicking the link under the magazine cover graphic. (I can't identify a direct link as it's in a Java language. Also, remember to allow for pop-up boxes once the dialog box appears).
I'm on a cable connection. The app took about six seconds to load. Which is faster than my normal Acrobat load using TSE's former format.
That's the good news. And it's kind of cool watching "pages flip" as you try to read the publication.
But, similar to Jeff's critique, the format doesn't work for me.
I'm on a laptop with a 14" screen. And Jeff is right. I can barely read it. On my screen, at a normal full page view, what would be 10 point type in the printed version appears to be about 5 point, which makes it like looking at the fine print in a appliance warranty, only with much less clearly defined letters.
Although there are no commands on screen other than page turners, you can right click a menu that allows you to zoom in or out. But unlike Acrobat, which maintained resolution regardless of how big or small you maginfied the graphic, zooming in on this Flash application is like zooming in on a static jpeg - you'll get bigger images, but they get increasingly fuzzier. And that's with the graphic quality set on "high".
I believe Jeff, always the gentleman, was trying to say something nice by stating that, "Possibly just the great visual behavior is enough to keep eyeballs on the page long enough to look at the ads which I think come across okay for the most part."
Not wanting to be meanspirited myself, I'll say something positive too. Darlene, it's a nice try. I think you've created a wonderful contextual ad opportunity for LensCrafters.
Good: I will be on the lookout for my mailed copy.
Bad: You have to adjust paper settings to 11x17 to print two pages together. Oh -- and make sure there's 11x17 paper actually loaded in the printer.
Ugly: Printing this out, even on 11x17.
Posted by: Dana Doody | August 10, 2005 at 03:06 PM