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Dear Apple: Please add decent mobile control over MobileMe photo galleries
As a MobileMe subscriber I enjoy using the Gallery for photos. I think the interface and options for viewing photos in the galleries is beautiful. However, every time I maintain the site I can't help but be frustrated at the lack of control Apple provides. The only real control comes via the Mac using iPhoto or Aperture. And even then, photos placed on the galleries have less utility than on the desktop.
The Mac
With Aperture or iPhoto you can create albums for upload and sync to MobileMe. You can add or delete photos and the albums stay in sync. You can add new albums, drag and drop photos between them, and any keywords or star ratings added to photos in a MobileMe album work just like any other album.
Unfortunately, once you get off the Mac some of this data is not used, and your ability to make changes are reduced drastically.
The Web
The Gallery interface for MobileMe on the web isn't too bad. Here you can add/delete albums. You also have some control over albums, but are missing the ability to set privacy or the download quality of the photos (see album settings below, MobileMe on top, iPhoto on bottom). These are important settings, yet they can't be controlled via the web interface.
As for photos, you can add/delete, rotate, and drag and drop them among existing albums. Not bad, but there are no other editing controls, no ratings, and no keywords. Further, even if ratings and keywords are used on the Mac, they're not available on the web interface. You know the keyword searches you can do in Flickr? Yeah, there's none of that in MobileMe.
The iPhone
On the iPhone it gets much worse. You cannot use the web interface, instead you're routed to a page that tells you to load Apple's Gallery app. The app is beautiful (below) and great for viewing pictures, but that's all it allows. There's no facility to edit information or change settings for albums or photos. There's no upload facility, and not even the ability to delete a photo from an album. Aside from viewing all you can do is email a link to a photo or album.
It should be noted that a picture viewed in the native Photos app can be uploaded to MobileMe, where you can select an existing album (but not add a new one) and a title/description. Again, no editing, deleting, ratings or keywords are allowed.
The iPad
Sadly, the iPad is the worst mobile device of all for controlling one's MobileMe galleries. Like the iPhone, you can't use the web interface and must download the Gallery app. But the Gallery app has not been upgraded for the iPad, so it's either very small or very ugly, take your pick.
The Upshot
In short, you have good control of galleries via your Mac, but some of that data isn't stored online, and when you leave the Mac you're limited. The Web interface is OK, but lacks privacy controls, and the iPhone/iPad have essentially no controls at all.
Apple ought to change this. The Gallery app could take some cues from Flickr's own app, which allows title, description, photoset (including adding a new one), tags, image size, geotag, and privacy level for each upload. Further, it allows editing an existing photo's title, description, photoset, tags and privacy. It also allows you to delete photos.
It's frustrating that real maintenance on my MobileMe galleries requires I get back to a Mac. Frankly, it takes the "mobile" out of MobileMe. It's no wonder I use Flickr more often.
Since I got the iPad, my MacBook thinks it's ignored
As you can see, that's just not true.
Shadows: Coffee and iPads on the porch
Nice shot. Sometimes capturing a shadow (or reflection) of an object is better than the object itself. I posted this because I really like the photo.
And coffee.
And iPads.
ColorSplash now available for iPad
The excellent ColorSplash photo application is now available for the iPad. Great app.
Hipstamatic For The iPhone: One Fun App
This is not a full-blown review, but if you've got a few bucks to spare (even just two) and like taking pictures with your iPhone as I do, then take a long look at Hipstamatic.
This slick little app recreates the plastic "toy" cameras of yesteryear, and does so in a fun and engaging way. It comes with three types of "film" (that only affect the picture's border), two flashes, and three lenses. You can mix and match these elements for varied looks. You simply swipe the elements to pick and choose. Tapping an element provides a brief description of it.
In addition to the included elements, there are "Hipstapacks" for purchase (99 cents each) that include additional lenses, film, and flash.
Pictures are stored in a Recent Prints section of the app, and from there can be uploaded to Facebook, Flickr or email. This app is for taking pictures only. Once taken, they're not editable within the app (e.g., you can't try a different lens on an existing print), nor can you import an existing picture to modify it. However, all pictures taken are also stored in the usual iPhone camera roll, so you can post-process and upload them via any other app you like.
In just the short time I've used it I can recommend this app. I love its simplicity, yet the mix and match style allows for many effects. If you always want to take a picture "cleanly", and then try out different styles, this is not the app for you. For me, however, I tend to know whether I want a photo in this style and it's not a problem for me.
Below are sample pics. The last four were taken of roughly the same scene so you can get a feel for the different lens effects. Keep in mind the pictures are somewhat compressed for purpose of this blog entry, and can be a higher quality if desired. Note that I'm using an iPhone 3GS, but "tap to focus" feature does not apply when this app is in use.
John S lens, Kodak film:
Another Reason Sunday Mornings Are Great
