They're using the Google Maps API (JavaScript) to display their collection of high resolution images, such as this one Chicago. Whether you're you're using Flash, Silverlight, or AJAX to request the appropriate image information from the server and make the transitions between images look good, it's valid to point out that the Google Maps AJAX approach has been doing a pretty good job with this for a few years now.įor instance, take a look at the xRex sample viewer. Taking a step back, there's nothing magic about the RIA approach to browsing these big images. There are also some limits to what you can customize with Zoomify - I'm guessing that with enough work you could get it to look and act how you wanted, but I'm just about certain that it would require a lot more work than an equivalent experience would take in Silverlight. The Zoomify viewer can be customized, but from what I've read in the FAQ's it looks a lot more complex than working with the Deep Zoom MultiScaleImage. The fact that Deep Zoom is built in as a native Silverlight element - a primitive, like an image or a textbox) means that you have full control over how it works, including user interface composition, interaction, and programmatic integration. There's no reason that you couldn't host a Deep Zoom site on Linux / Apache (and could view the site on Linux, Mac, and of course Windows). So you could build and host a Silverlight / Deep Zoom site like Hard Rock without paying a single cent to anyone, including Microsoft. You’re free to host your photos where you’d like, without restrictions on ad support or licensing requirements. By comparison, Deep Zoom is built into the Silverlight plugin. Zoomify is a more appropriate comparison for professional use, but it costs $795 per server. None of that would work for a site like Hard Rock, which serves up over 4 GB of images in a custom interface, and probably plans to be online for longer than 6 months. They store your photos for 90 days (renewable up to 6 months), then they delete them. For example, a free service like Zoomorama is really cool way to show off your own photos, but it’s an advertising supported service which limits you to 150 mb per album. You had to install additional server software, write a lot of custom code, and / or give up a lot of control over your application. While Flash (and even AJAX - more on that later) have been capable of delivering large images via progressive downloads for a while, neither have supported it natively. A few days later, Lee at The Flash Blog showed off a collection of DEA photos on Zoomarama, saying that it illustrated how Flash can do the same thing. Haven't we seen this before?įor example, when TechCrunch called the Hard Rock demo the Coolest Bit of MIX Keynote One, commenters were quick with the "Yawn, seen it before" talk. The unimpressed folks point out that there are other Flash applications that handle this, too, like Zoomify and Zoomarama. Some folks say it's incredible, and some say they were impressed when they saw it in 2005, was called Google Maps (and zoomed all the way from outer space to their house). The reactions to this have fallen into two groups. Haven't I seen this before? Google Maps, Zoomify, Zoomarama, etc? ![]() In a nutshell, the site allows you to smoothly zoom from a wide angle display to an extreme closeup on items such as Bo Diddley's guitar. Fair enough, I'm hosting the video at Viddler, using a Flash based player. I've seen a lot of comments from folks not wanting to install Silverlight to see if it's worth installing Silverlight. Since it's a visual experience, I recommend watching the video fullscreen. Well, it should install smoothly for you unless you're an Adobe Flash staffer who might not want it to install smoothly - can't help you there. ![]() Go ahead browse the Hardrock Memorabilia site - Silverlight 2 installs in seconds, and doesn't require a reboot or anything. To frame the conversation, I'm going to include a video, but you really should just browse the site instead so you can see the smooth transition between the zoom levels, etc. ![]() It's really the kind of thing you have to see words don't capture it well. It takes advantage of a new Silverlight 2 feature called Deep Zoom, which allows for smooth zooming and panning over a large collection of large images. The Hard Rock Memorabilia site got a lot of press MIX 08 TechCrunch called it the coolest part of the MIX keynote.
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