View Pictures in Multiple Formats with AcidImage

Posted By: Ed Friday, February 1, 2002 12:40:45 PM

Red Mercury has released AcidImage 1.0, an image viewer that allows users to view JPEG, GIF and BMP images directly from an SD/MMC card or Memory Stick. It can also display images in PictureGear Pocket or MGI PhotoSuite formats from RAM or expansion card. It supports normal and high-resolution screens up to 16-bit color. It has a slideshow mode and allows zooming and reducing of images. AcidImage 1.0 is available now for $10.

Slideshow mode lets the user choose which images to be displayed and set the interval between them. Images load in the background during the slideshow, so when it's time to switch to the next image, it's ready to go.

If enough RAM is available, AcidImage can open a picture from a 3.3 Megapixel camera at full size or fitted to the screen. If not enough memory is available, the app will load that 3.3 Megapixel image at a smaller size so it can still be viewed.

AcidImage can zoom all the way from less than 1% size to 1600% size. Sony users can zoom in and out with the Jog Dial. Images can also be rotated. These are controlled with on-screen icons which can, of course, be hidden to show all of the picture.

It fully supports the Clie's hi-res screens, displaying images at 320x320 pixel. Whatever the resolution, AcidImage reqires a color screen.

A free demo is available.

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Handera QVGA?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 1:05:40 PM #
Often the term "HighResolutionScreens" is used here. But just as often, it is not really declared what sort of highres-screens it is for.
There are two systems. Handera QVGA and Sony.

Could you please try to be more precise with the term "High-res screens"?

RE: Handera QVGA?
fleegle @ 2/1/2002 1:07:52 PM #
I was about to post the same thing. Darn, you beat me to it.

RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 1:31:50 PM #
The Website says that AcidImage only runs on color screens, so I'd say that's a big, "no it won't run on your HandEra 330."

Try JPG View
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 1:43:10 PM #
This program works great for HandEra. The JPG images use the whole screen, and the program can read the images directly from the CF. I shrunk the images to 240x320, copy the images to the CF with a reader and then view it from there. Downside: JPG only. But that's the format all my pictures are in so it's perfect.
If you don't have a reader, try TCFI. It works great though you can only do one images at a time.

JPG View
http://www.claus-fenske.de/jpgview/

TCFI
http://www.mulliner.org/palm

RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 1:52:01 PM #
Why support Handera? I'm not against the 330 but viewing pictures on a mono screen is like watching a DVD on a 13 inch B&W TV.

RE: Handera QVGA?
acarrino @ 2/1/2002 2:11:34 PM #
well put.

Actually tried the program?
Ronin @ 2/1/2002 2:20:59 PM #
Far be it from me to break up the string of posts here but has anyone actually tried this program?

If so, care to share with the unwashed masses your opinion.

BTW, maps and other similar images are quite serviceable on a monochrome screen. And depending on the contrast of the image a monochrome picture beats a blank. As I recall many newspapers still use grayscale images to convey the news. Also there are still plenty of grayscale Palm out there.

I have
rldunn @ 2/1/2002 3:10:32 PM #
I was a beta tester on a Clie 610, and this app is awesome. It loads pics very fast, has a great UI, and can pan and zoom easily and quickly, since the pic doesn't need to reload. It's slideshow feature is particularly nice, since the next pic loads in the background while the current pic is displayed, so it has seamless switching.

RE: Handera QVGA?
fleegle @ 2/1/2002 5:03:08 PM #
"Why support Handera? I'm not against the 330 but viewing pictures on a mono screen is like watching a DVD on a 13 inch B&W TV."

Actually, it's more like viewing a DVD on a B&W 15" TV. The Clie is like viewing a DVD on a color 13" TV. ;-)

JPGview allows you to view the pictures in full screen (Graffiti area collapsed), rotated, hi-res mode. That is nice. Red Mercury should do the same thing with this program.

Now, some Sony-phile is going to say "Why would I want to view a larger image of my pictures?"

Color may be nice on some pictures but have you ever seen a colorized version of an Ansel Adams picture? It isn't as striking. Of course those pictures composed to play with the lights and darks.

Don't get me wrong. I would love a color screen on my HandEra and supposedly Epson and HandEra are working on a color QVGA screen. So why not support it now in anticipation of the color HandEra.



RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 6:15:56 PM #
I guess that looking at pics on a color HandEra would be OK. The loss of resolution on the lowly QVGA screen wouldn't be too bad, but i would still rather use the Clie

RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 11:57:47 PM #
That would be true for screen size, but it would be similar to watching 800x600 B&W resolution 15" versus 1028x768 color in 13"

I for one prefer the latter despite the smaller size.

RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/4/2002 3:51:40 PM #
No, here is how it is really:

Handera: B&W 3.6" 320x240
Sony: Color 2.4" 320x240 (since most images are rectangular so you won't use full 320x320)

-John

RE: Handera QVGA?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/5/2002 2:13:45 PM #
The have no intention to make a version for Handera.

So does anybody know a program for viewing .gif-pictures, that are located on the CF or SD of a Handera.

Mail from red mercury:
...We have no plans to do a black & white / grayscale version in the near future...

Jog dial support?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:21:27 PM #
If this app lets me zoom in/out with the jog switc the way PictureGear Pocket does, I'd be sold. The developer's site doesn't say anything about this, though.

RE: Jog dial support?
Ed @ 2/1/2002 2:37:01 PM #
Yes, you can.

---
News Editor
RE: Jog dial support?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/2/2002 6:57:48 PM #
IMHO, I think AcidImage's JogDial support can be enhanced a bit, especially in the file list. I'd like to see the jog dial work like JPegView (directly highlight the file when scrolling, instead of paging up & down).

Looks good for $10

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:24:24 PM #
Good price for what appears to be a good feature set. Will try it out on my 320x320 Clie and report back. (Will see if speed is any good and if the thing is stable.)

RE: Looks good for $10
mfs @ 2/1/2002 2:30:48 PM #
I've been playing with it for the past hour and I am sold. I just registered it. It reads my 64MB stick from my Sony Digital Camera very fast. The only thing I wish it supported is deleteing images. Maybe in a future release.

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:30:49 PM #
Initial report:

The good news: you need download only a single .PRC file (150k) to the Palm.

The bad news: After installing it & running it on my Clie, it automatically starts scanning the 128 MB memory stick that's plugged in; this has so far taken takes SEVERAL MINUTES to do, even though there are only a couple of pictures on the card. The program is essentially unresponsive during this scanning (you can pull down the menu but not really do anything).

OK, after an incredibly long time, the access light for the memory stick has stopped blinking ... and the Palm is HUNG. Frozen.

Bye bye for now, AcidImage -- will maybe take a look at version 1.01 when it arrives.


RE: Looks good for $10
mfs @ 2/1/2002 2:32:57 PM #
PS: Its great I do not have to convert my PGP images to its format. It reads those just fine!!! Thats another great selling point...

Mike

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:40:05 PM #
It's alot slower loading a jpg than a PGP, but I guess that's expected.

a 50k JPG takes about 10 seconds to load up in Acid Image.

I would really like it if the view/slideshow mode was able to show the current picture while loading the next picture in RAM. That's really needed for viewing JPG. In this day and age, 10 seconds is a long time. (Gah)

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:42:40 PM #
I'm the guy who posted the 1st message in this thread ($10...) and the message about the program freezing. Anyway, I just reproduced the problem (identical behavior after a reset). I have a N760C with a 128 MB card, and this program simply does not work for me. I will tell the company what I've encountered and see if they can find a conflict or a bug to fix.

-Roy.


RE: Looks good for $10
Edward @ 2/1/2002 2:50:22 PM #
Its JPEG decoding is very slow compared to JpegWatch, and it doesn't seem to read EXIF data. However it does Pan very nicely, and supports loads of image formats.

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 2:52:44 PM #
Roy here again. Sent the following e-mail:
Hello,

I tried AcidImage 1.0 on my Sony Clie N760C. I have a 128 MB memory stick that is mostly empty (perhaps 90% empty) but has some assorted files on it, including a few JPGs. Here's what happens when I run AcidImage:

1. The program comes up with its splash screen and an icon indicating it's scanning the memory stick.

2. It continues scanning the memory stick for a VERY long time (several minutes), confirmed by the access light's flashing.

3. AcidImage freezes and I must reset the Clie.

This has occurred twice. I have plenty (over 2 MB) of free RAM.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

-Roy.



RE: Looks good for $10
Edward @ 2/1/2002 2:53:37 PM #
It seems to Load the Image into Ram, which is what allows the speedy panning. With JpegWatch you can load a 1600x1200 image at full size.

RE: Looks good for $10
rldunn @ 2/1/2002 3:07:56 PM #
To Roy, try setting AcidImage to Pause and Resume in PiDirect if you're running it. I have a 64MB MS and it scans it in 3 seconds.

To Edward, I have the most recent versions of AI and JpegWatch, and on my 610, AI is the fastest to display the full pic. JpegWatch seems faster, because it displays a partial pic when it's ready, but I'm referring to displaying the full pic. And as mentioned by another poster, in Slideshow mode, AI loads the next pic in the background while the current pic is displayed for seamless switching between pics.

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 3:13:16 PM #
rldunn, I do not have PiDirect. Just installed the app into memory and ran it. Ideas? Thanks,

-Roy.


RE: Looks good for $10
paulkbiba @ 2/1/2002 4:12:17 PM #
Gee, I've tried it on my 760 with 128MB memory stick. It scans the stick in just a few seconds and has not frozen once.

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 4:34:46 PM #
Roy, have to tried re-downloading the demo and re-installing the app? Maybe the download was corrupt. - rs

RE: Looks good for $10
Edward @ 2/1/2002 4:58:49 PM #
I have timed Jpeg watch and AcidImage and I now concur that AcidImage is faster. This seems to be because it loads and displays the image from Internal memory.

This still leaves me unstuck with Digital Images in the size range of 1600x1200 which even with 2Mb free it won't decode at full size, wheras JpegWatch handles these fine.

Also I cant find anywhere where it will show you the EXIF data or thumbnail. Finally I am not a big fan of the way it scans the MS. I put different Images in different folders for a purpose!

RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 6:09:03 PM #
Roy here again. Problem appears to be the "Trash" directory on the memory stick, which was apparently created by MegaLauncher and which cannot be deleted by any means I can find so far. Will reformat and report back.

-Roy.


RE: Looks good for $10
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/2/2002 5:51:46 PM #
OK, I finally backed up the rest of the memory stick, formatted it, and restored everything. No more "Trash" folder. As a result, I've lost the ability to move things from the memory stick into the trach using MegaLauncher. It was a nice feature but it's probably the cause of the problems, so I'll have to do without.

Anyway, bottom line, this fixes my problem with AcidViewer. The program seems to have the best GUI and feature set out there and, as I said initially, is a good deal for $10!

JPegWatch is having a Sale: $10 only

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 5:13:21 PM #
Go to PalmGear and take a look! Now AcidImage has a competition.

Sale for a limited time only.

Same price - AcidImage better
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/2/2002 3:01:19 PM #
I have tried both this is better than JPegWatch.

Same price - No questions - get this one.

how to.....

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 6:41:45 PM #
With JPGView, how do i go back to file list after viewing a jpg file? when i click on "APP" button, it thinks I'm trying to move image.....i can only get back to the file list after tapping 8 or 9 times on the screen....any suggestions?

I'm using N760c, if that matters!

RE: how to.....
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 7:58:05 PM #
press the back button

RE: how to.....
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 8:05:29 PM #
ahhh....never tried that...thank you very much!

RE: how to.....
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/2/2002 1:05:36 AM #
I tried hitting "Back" button, but that takes me to the application I was using before, instead of file list! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: how to.....
rldunn @ 2/2/2002 10:56:18 PM #
It does that for me too, but it's a bug. It's supposed to take you back to the file list, but it only works with certain setups. Hopefully that will get fixed in the next version.

Animated GIF

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/1/2002 8:49:03 PM #
it says on the info that it can view gif, can it view animated gif???

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