iZaza - Please help QA this new app

ZazaCast

ZazaCast

Major Contributor
I figured this is the best place for this thread... if not (mods), please feel free to move it.

I'm asking for a little help testing a new app we developed.... iZaza.
It's nothing crazy...yet. Just a good way for iPhone & iTouch users to view the movies on my web site.

It is only version 1.0 and needs a bunch of tweaks like thumbnails and some better design all around, but right now
I want to make sure it's available worldwide in the iTunes store...and the movies play on all versions of the iPhone & iTouch.

Because Apple restricts the amount of data you can transfer over the cellular network, you need a WiFi connection to watch (plus, the iTouch would need that anyway).

I'd appreciate any and all comments, critiques and ideas this group of amazing filmmakers have...thank you in advance!:beer:

You can search the iTunes app store under 'entertainment' for iZaza ....
or in the US, I think this is the link in iTunes:
itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/izaza/id350431297?mt=8

Again, thank you all in advance...

iZaza....do you?

Best,
-Zaza
 
From the Apple weekly report, looks like it's working worldwide. Thanks to anyone who took a peek. Comments are always welcome & encouraged!

Working on version 1.1, so look for an update soon.
 
Yeah, this seems to work good for me.

Couple of suggestions:

--Yes, thumbnails, thumbnails, thumbnails. You're a filmmaker, man, you know an image is worth a thousand words.

--The obvious thing is to make it so the films can update without a new app install. Is that how it is now?

--The WIFI thing is a little bit of a bummer. We have two files for each video, an m4v for WIFI, and a 3gp for 3g connections. The app decides which one to call from the server based on the available connection. I would strongly recommend something like this. 3g is way lower quality, but downloads much faster. I don't know if it would still be an issue considering the length of your movies. Ours are only 20 sec for our app. On purpose, because the user has to watch, then do something. So we did not want to wait for long downloads.

But if you cannot make 3g versions for a 3g connection, then at the very least make it show trailers!!!! You don't want to lose audience because they get the pop-up about WIFI and then never bother to go look again. So at the very least, on 3g, give some nice trailers.

--Also, add a way to comment, or contact you. Think about it. Some Hollywood bigwig gets this on his phone and says: "this kid is brilliant, I'm calling him RIGHT NOW....d'oh!"

--Send to a friend. Give them a button to email a friend that they have to get this app. Again, don't lose people because they have no way to act on their impluse.

Those are suggestions for v2 right off the top of my head.

But I think this is absolutely a great idea. I carry all of my shorts around on my iPhone, but this is a nice idea for getting people to spread your work around.
 
Mark Harris said:
Yeah, this seems to work good for me.

Couple of suggestions:

--Yes, thumbnails, thumbnails, thumbnails. You're a filmmaker, man, you know an image is worth a thousand words.

--The obvious thing is to make it so the films can update without a new app install. Is that how it is now?

--The WIFI thing is a little bit of a bummer. We have two files for each video, an m4v for WIFI, and a 3gp for 3g connections. The app decides which one to call from the server based on the available connection. I would strongly recommend something like this. 3g is way lower quality, but downloads much faster. I don't know if it would still be an issue considering the length of your movies. Ours are only 20 sec for our app. On purpose, because the user has to watch, then do something. So we did not want to wait for long downloads.

But if you cannot make 3g versions for a 3g connection, then at the very least make it show trailers!!!! You don't want to lose audience because they get the pop-up about WIFI and then never bother to go look again. So at the very least, on 3g, give some nice trailers.

--Also, add a way to comment, or contact you. Think about it. Some Hollywood bigwig gets this on his phone and says: "this kid is brilliant, I'm calling him RIGHT NOW....d'oh!"

--Send to a friend. Give them a button to email a friend that they have to get this app. Again, don't lose people because they have no way to act on their impluse.

Those are suggestions for v2 right off the top of my head.

But I think this is absolutely a great idea. I carry all of my shorts around on my iPhone, but this is a nice idea for getting people to spread your work around.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark! Really appreciate the input and your time.:thumbsup:

Thumbnails - yes, they are on the way. Have always been the plan, this is a beta if you will.

Again, yes, when I add a film to my web site, it will automatically showup in the index.

Apple doesn't allow for large transfers over the cellular network, they kicked us on that one. Are you saying you only have really short clips of your films?
Please tell me more...and where can I see your app, is it in the iTunes app store?

Comments, contacts, forward to a friend, etc... all in the plan along with some other tools for the filmmaker. Great minds think alike!:smile:
 
Our app is not in the store yet. I have the only one on my phone now.

For our app, yeah, the clips are only 20 sec. That's because they are only part of the app. It's kind of a game that allows you to interact with characters from THE LOST CHILDREN. It's still in development, but we hope to launch it in about a couple months.

M
 
Yes... I totally agree and we're moving in that direction. Looks like I have a bunch of trailers to create! D'Oh!

...and again... thanks!
 
Version 1.1 has been approved and is up on iTunes now!

Next version will add useful filmmaker tools....
 
downloading. But as for the iPhone issue. I've recently decided that for our film, I will focus on Android, as I already have an iPhone guy on that side. And I have already received two complaints that our film apps are iPhone only...
 
Yeah... I was wondering if you were even concerned about the Touch users, since it doesn't have a camera?
 
ZazaCast said:
Yeah... I was wondering if you were even concerned about the Touch users, since it doesn't have a camera?
Click to expand...

Well clearly they can't use that one in particular. But v2 will do away with the camera and just use geolocation, so it won't matter.
 
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