Timeline 3D for iOS Gets Impressive Update

My favorite timeline application, Timeline 3D for iOS (both iPad and iPhone), got a nice iOS 7 update. Not only does the new design fit right in with iOS 7, there are also several new features.

The app can now publish interactive cinematic timelines to the web. Where before timelines were slideshows you can now get interactive timelines, letting you jump around (forward and backward) at will. If you’ve ever presented with a timeline, you already know how big this is. Everything is built on WebGL and very clever. Here is an example. 

That’s not all. They’ve improved the lighting for a better sense of 3D. (As a longtime user of this product, this was immediately noticeable.) You can also share timelines and media between devices using Dropbox or AirDrop. iOS 7 dynamic text adapts the interface to user preferences and the 3D perspective uses parallax motion dynamics.

If you want to impress a client or customer, build a professional looking timeline on you iPad while they are explaining events to you and then hand over the iPad at the end and ask, “Is this right?” This is a nice update and a great time to check out Timeline 3D (website)(iOS App Store).

 

Timeline 3D for iOS


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One of my favorite software developers, BeeDocs, just released their first iOS product, Timeline 3D (Website) (App Store) for iOS. I’ve written about BeeDocs’ Timeline 3D application for the Mac before.

This new version brings many of the same powerful tools to iOS and that alone makes this pretty spectacular. I am increasingly walking in meetings and presentations with just my iPad. Before, the only way to include a BeeDocs caliber timeline in my presentation would be to generate screenshots or movie files on the Mac and save it out to the iPad. The interactivity and ability to make changes on the fly were both lost.

In short, this gives me all of the interactivity I normally enjoy sitting behind my Mac on my iPad. The whole thing works with AirPlay Mirroring so I can build a timeline while talking to the client and wirelessly beam it the conference room (or courtroom) screen through an Apple TV. It is like magic and makes me look brilliant. Another useful feature is the ability to email a PDF of the timeline right from the iOS device.

I definitely see myself giving future presentations with a complementary timeline running on my iPad. I can then switch between Keynote (or any other presentation tool of choice) and Timeline 3D right in front of the audience. I’m thrilled that BeeDocs has come to the iOS platform with this software and I plan to take advantage of this application in courtroom and conference rooms immediately.

Adam Behringer, Timeline 3D’s developer, has been laboring at this product for some time and it shows. Adam made a video showing off the application .


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Easy Timeline from BeeDocs

(Disclosure: BeeDocs, maker of Easy Timeline is a sponsor of MacSparky.com. I’ve used (and paid for) BeeDocs’ products long before they started sponsoring the website.)

I’ve always been a fan of BeeDocs Timeline 3D. As a lawyer, I find its powerful timeline tools useful and often take advantage of Timeline 3D to quickly create professional looking timelines for use in the “day job.”

Put simply, I’m a believer in BeeDocs and their products. I’ve even switched some lawyer friends to Macs solely based on my Timeline 3D timelines. One legitimate problem for potential Timeline 3D users is, however, its price, $65. I think the price is right, especially considering how often I use the software. However, if you are just making a few timelines, $65 can be steep. Users spoke and the gang at BeeDocs listened.

BeeDocs now publishes, through the Mac App store, Easy Timeline, $20. Easy Timeline is a simple to use timeline application.

In addition to offering a lower cost alternative, Easy Timeline also gets a BeeDocs timeline product in the Mac App store and all the user convenience that comes with that: easy installation, no license key, multiple installations.

Creating timelines with Easy Timeline is a snap. The app ships with several color schemes and layouts you can choose among when creating a new timeline. (You can also change the look after you start building your timeline)

Creating new timeline entries is intuitive. Click the New Entry button and start filling in data. You can drag and drop multimedia on timeline entries, including images, movies, and audio. The date formatting is flexible from within the timeline.

As you add additional entries the page automatically adjusts itself to fit your data. I used to spend hours building timelines in complicated excel and graphics apps before discovering BeeDocs products. When the timeline is complete you can share it as a PDF file or display the timeline from inside the app. Easy Timeline includes Timeline 3D’s three dimensional display mode. This lets you use the arrow keys to move forward and backward on a timeline in three dimensions. It looks fantastic for audiences (and juries).

Differences with Timeline 3d

The more expensive Timeline 3D, $65, includes a lot more import and export options. Timeline 3D, imports events from many other applications, including iCal, Aperture, iPhoto, OmniFocus, Basecamp, and Skitch. Timeline 3D also publishes timelines to websites, YouTube, Keynote, and HD video with advanced rendering features such as motion blur and audio soundtracks.

Both Timeline 3D and Easy Timeline have the same data format so you can move timelines between both products.

Summary

Put simply, Easy Timeline takes a lot of hard work out of making timelines and creates a final product simply not possible without many hours of time with more complicated software. If you’ve been holding off on BeeDocs timeline products, now is the time to get in.