Viewing entries tagged
HTML5
In a recent blog we provided some background and recommendations for the ‘viewers’ or user interfaces that are available to display Flip Page editions. One of the recommendations was to begin transitioning readers to the HTML5 viewer.
Let’s look at some of the tools and benefits that the HTML5 viewer offers.
Earlier this year, we discussed our reasoning for the various ‘viewers’ which we have implemented over time. Our use of the term ‘viewer’ is intended to describe the graphical interface that is displayed when an end-user accesses one of our Flip Page publications. These include, but are not limited to, the HTML viewer, the Flash viewer and the most recent release the HTML5 viewer.
LiLy was introduced in the summer of 2015. The intention of the LiLy platform was to increase article engagement by providing an alternative reading experience with a special emphasis on ‘readers on the go’. The issue with long form articles on smaller devices is legibility.
There are a number of different options available with regards to which ‘viewer’ is used to display a Flip Page digital edition. The term viewer refers to the ‘user interface’ that is displayed when a reader accesses a Flip Page edition. The paginated content, toolbars, background and interactive elements are what comprise the ‘viewer’.
HTML5 viewer with cover thumbnail appearing during loading sequence.
The HTML5 viewer now displays a large thumbnail image of the cover of the publication during the loading sequence. The intention of the cover thumbnail display is to provide deeper brand recognition and awareness for readers accessing content.
In the event that a publication logo or issue has been uploaded to display during the loading sequence the cover thumbnail will display above the custom logo while loading.
The cover thumbnail displays at 320 pixels wide for easy viewing on both desktop and mobile. Publishers are not required to enable this feature in their dashboard. It is available without further intervention.
Our 'scrolls' tool, which had previously only been available in our Flash viewer, is now supported in the HTML5 viewer as well. Not sure what scrolls are? See here or here. Wanna know why we implemented the scrolls feature for the HTML5 mobile viewer? Read below.
The Quest for Sea-worthy Scrolls
Not long ago I had taken upon shore to parle with the chowder-headed lubbers at Flip Page. They recognized me as an able seaman who responded when called 'Long John Silver'. Me vessel had been adrift for many a day and I was blethering aplenty (likely due to the abundance of grog) about me inability to 'oblige the scrolls on my talkin box'. Their land-lubbing nature was not immediately akin to me request.
"Am I speaking Double Dutch to yas" I bellowed.
I pulled out a thin, reflective piece from my ditty bag of loot. They was satisfied to see it wasn't a long scabbard aimed at their throats. It was, as I had spoken, a 'talkin' box'. I scuttled closer, weaving as I walked, as me legs were still of the sea.
"It doesn't unfurl on here as it should. It's ramshackle!" I stammered.
They took a small step forward, as if they was on the edge of the plank, and peered down. I was, in my most obliging manner, awaring them that their scrolls was not configured for sea. Their crew circled as though blowing the gaff and I clasped my cutlass in case of a mutiny.
"Aye" they pronounced and bobbed their noggins as if in agree-ance. - assurin' me of me request. Days gone by and I was beginnin' to feel marooned. I was readyin' the noose for the first codger to set sight on my eyes.
"Ahoy, Silver" I heard from afar. "Yer scrolls is complete" they boasted.
I placed me 'talkin box' atop the hogshead and verified their tale. "Aargh" I exclaimed. "There will be no need for the hempen harness today, my boys" I trumpeted to me crew. I set me sights on me coxswain and shouted "Anchors a-weigh" as we hoisted the Jolly Roger. I pulled the final drops out of the bottle of rum and passed it down my gullet and as I did I began to sing a familiar tune "Yo ho, ho ho"...
- Long John Silver (excerpt from September 19 aka 'Talk like a Pirate Day')
Flip Page Publishing announced today that they have expanded the output capabilities of their HTML5 publication viewer. Originally slated to be the mobile viewer of choice for Flip Page readers the HTML5 build has now been expanded to desktop viewing as well.
“Sometimes it is just a matter of meeting demands” replied Sean McKenna - Flip Page Publishing’s Sales Manager.
Flip Page Publishing had released its new HTML5 mobile viewer just weeks earlier but was already receiving requests to make this a desktop option as well.
“The mobile viewer has been really well received” stated Flip Page Publishing President Brent Palmer.
Previously, the HTML or Flash based editions would ‘switch on the fly’ to the new HTML5 mobile viewer when a mobile user attempted to access a Flip Page edition. However, content publishers are now provided the ability to put the HTML5 version into non-mobile reader’s hands as well.
When asked how the new HTML5 desktop version is received on desktop browsers Flip Page Publishing’s Sean McKenna remarked “It is really slick. The toolbar overlay in the HTML5 version, which removes the visual toolbar, offers an expanded layout compared to the standard Flash and HTML based versions. It just means that paginated content occupies more of the display’s landscape which is what you want”.
Flip Page Publishing maintains that current versions of all of the major internet browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and Internet Explorer) support HTML5. “An upgraded programming language for browsers is long overdue” stated IT Consultant Mark Reynolds. “As the HTML5 language continues to expand, the browser support for this language will follow suit” he concluded.
Flip Page has stated that the HTML5 desktop viewer renders exactly the same as the HTML5 mobile version and includes the same toolset as the mobile product.
How does a publisher take advantage of the new HTML5 desktop version? Flip Page Publishing has made it very simple. There is a new option in the Issue Settings ‘Viewer Version’ dropdown called ‘HTML 5 Viewer’. Select this option during issue setup to offer your Flip Page editions in HTML5 to both mobile and desktop readers.
Valued Flip Page clients,Flip Page Publishing is very pleased to announce the launch of Version 2.0 of our mobile browser version. Our goal was to create a mobile viewing experience that closely resembled the desktop experience. With that in mind we have added a number of features that have helped reach this goal.
For a full listing of features please see below.
Navigation Elements
Pinch and Reverse Pinch Zoom URL links Article links – display in media deck Page-to-Page links Search enabled – per issue and publication Archive issues (if allowed by publisher) Orientation handling for mobile devices Spread or Single Page Viewing Left/Right navigation buttons for non-touch devices Slide transition Scrubber – visual page scroll and selection
Multimedia
Embedded Video Popup Video Autoplay Video Audio Slideshows
Smart App Banner – reader notification that a Native App exists for that publication (iOS devices only)
Retail (Catalogs and Circulars) features – Rollovers
Supported customization
Custom/masked publication domain names Background color and text color of these areas can be customized: Toolbar Search Panel Table of Contents Toolbar can be completely customized with HTML coding
Authentication/subscriptions
Thermostats integration *The upgrade to our mobile viewer will instantly be applied to all publications (past/present/future) with no additional requirements from our clients!
Contact your account representative with any questions you may have related to our new mobile version!
