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Microsoft Max requires too much
October 06, 2005
I heard about Microsoft Max and gave it a try. My only complaint with Google Picasa (the picture manager/publisher software I use now) is the publishing albums feature. My wish is that the Picasa "export as web page" feature generates a nicer-looking html album in an AJAXian way.
On that note, I had read that Microsoft's new Max picture managing software addresses this by .creating flashier albums. So, on with the installation pre-requisites -- I downloaded WinFX (a requirement), rebooted, created a new .net passport account and finally was able to get into Max, only to see the note (see above image):
If you want to share pictures with your friends (which is what Max is all about), your friends need to download and install the program too.
Ok, now that's a complete dealbreaker for me!
Okay, there's no way I can expect all my friends to install WinFX, create a .Net passport and install Max just so they can see some pictures. People are used to just clicking on a URL, opening up a web page (with no annoying login forms) and browsing pics. Anything more, and people get impatient. Viewing an online photo album should be atleast as easy as thumbing through a traditional printed album. There are other problems as well, but I have enough reason to stop here.
I appreciate Microsoft taking a different approach to a picture sharing network application, but Max reeks of a flawed strategy. Since the internet happened, it's been all about making things easier for the user (in this case, the users are the people viewing my pictures), and I don't see how Max follows this paradigm. Even though the product is in beta, this seems intentional and not just a "we haven't implemented that feature yet" decision, so I'm not holding my breath.
October 6, 2005 at 08:01 PM in Reviews | Permalink
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Comments
Need to get a Mac Senor, then you wouldn't have to worry about the Export to HTML for your photos.
:V
Posted by: Vaughn Bullard | Jan 9, 2006 12:11:51 AM
Yeah, I'm waiting for the Intel Macs to come out...
-Vik
Posted by: Vik | Jan 9, 2006 1:10:34 PM
