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people can't view synth without installing
Do people really have to install Photosynth to be able to see one of mine?
I’m frustrated
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Dale, unfortunately, without a plugin of some kind, the browser can't do anything even remotely like 3D viewing. Maybe in a few years that'll change :). We are very aware of the adoption barrier some may have to installing the binary (especially because it doesn't yet work on Mac), and are working on multiple fronts to improve this. However, don't expect anytime in the near future that a completely 'bare' browser will be able to view synths-- there's just no way to do convincing 3D with AJAX. Sorry!
I’m wishing web browsers were more evolved!
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Inappropriate?Hey Dale,
Yeah they do. The viewer component which is the web browser plugin we install is a crucial part of photosynth experience.
--peter
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Inappropriate?I've already had a half dozen friends not watch my first synth because they won't install it. Is this a common trend you are hearing about? Photosynth usefulness just went down a bunch in my book if some consumers can't see because they can't/won't install software. -
Inappropriate?Dale, unfortunately, without a plugin of some kind, the browser can't do anything even remotely like 3D viewing. Maybe in a few years that'll change :). We are very aware of the adoption barrier some may have to installing the binary (especially because it doesn't yet work on Mac), and are working on multiple fronts to improve this. However, don't expect anytime in the near future that a completely 'bare' browser will be able to view synths-- there's just no way to do convincing 3D with AJAX. Sorry!
I’m wishing web browsers were more evolved!
The company and 4 other people say
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This is great software. It is truely a shame that the synth cannot be shared without installing the software. -
Inappropriate?The only argument that could truly be made is to split the viewer and the synther installations apart. This would, however, make things more complicated for those planning to actually create synths themselves - having to download two installers rather than one.
Also, complaining that people are reluctant to install a plugin is not really Live Labs' problem. Yes, I know that the installer is not pure cross platform plugin yet (because it relies on DirectX for the 3D).
Looking at how this argument applies to other similar plugins, it took years for Flash to become mainstream. Should Macromedia or Adobe have given up when the masses didn't rush to download Flash to experience the inventive websites that were developed with it? What would you do if a friend that you were asking to try YouTube today (or a customer visiting your site) refused to install Flash? It is really the exact same scenario.
I'll grant that there have been some problems with people not having a decent graphics card or updated drivers for it and the issue with the ActiveX activation in Internet Explorer on some machines. I think I'd just bear in mind that the plugin is not yet a month out of release and it has already seen an update to address the problem with the ActiveX activation in Internet Explorer.
I have every confidence that we'll see the installations wrinkles ironed out on Windows soon and Mac compatibility is clearly very important to Live Labs. Hang in there, friends.
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