macnn
07/25/2008, 7:25pm, EDT
Friday, July 25th
Aquafadas updates BannerZest 1.2
Aquafadas', "hassle-free" banner animation software has been updated to version 1.2. BannerZest takes any collection of images and can turn them into a gallery, navigation bar or slideshow. Using BannerZest requires no knowledge of Flash, as everything has been pre-integrated allowing users to quickly design animations to add interest to their sites. The update adds three new themes, TextSlideShow (Pro version), Hanging and HangingSliim as well as Sticker. BannerZest supports all of the major social websites as well as all major web development tools, such as iWeb and Dreamweaver.
The update is free and recommended for all existing customers or is available to purchase in two distributions, BannerZest Pro for $130 or, BannerZest Standard for $50.
Filed under: software, Graphics/Web Design, Apple
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Great tool, but…
They have a bit of a problem, from my perspective. That is a lot of money for not having many templates to work with. But there is a chicken/egg problem here. Template editors will not be many since there are probably not enough users of this fine product to produce much of a market. So…the lack of templates will continue thus keeping people like me from buy–especially at the steep price.
The way to get more users, create larger market for template makers, and thus get more uses (read buyers), is to drop the price (at least for a while) until they get critical mass. Then pitch their numbers at the Flash guys out there and have an easy to use tool for making the templates available for them. In other words, take a look at RapidWeaver. Very active third-part developer community and great product.
Way too expensive !
The whole Apple iLife 08 software package is $50 less.
I've looked at Aquafadas' site and BannerZest PulpMotion
both seem to be pretty slick at this point. The interface
and feature sets are "designed" well and it's interesting...
but, I'm not paying such a high level of coin for a product
which such limited functionality (regardless of how well
it might look or perform). It better be really compelling stuff.
Even at half the price for either the pro or standard
editions is TOO much with such a lack of features,
templates or documentation. And the standard edition
comes with zero support ! - the Pro with e-mail only.
Regardless of the developers time and effort, there has
to be some sense of value and this isn't it.
I got RapidWeaver 4.0 at HALF the price - it's a complete
website development environment, offers many many more
whole site templates and add-ins like the equivalent of
the BannerZest function (380 templates and add-ins
at last count). Has received numerous 4 or 5 star reviews,
follows all standards and has a great developer following.
It has many slideshow modules AND includes everything else.
Waaay better value. www.realmacsoftware.com