Needless to say it’s been a hectic couple of months.
The iPad is just perfect for Comic Zeal, there was never a question that I’d be creating a version of Comic Zeal for it.
There are three things I’d like to address today, first I’d like to take you through the Comic Zeal 4 interface, then we’ll talk about importing comics and we’ll talk about upgrading and versions last.
Interface
Let’s start with the interface and look at our first screenshot:
You’ll notice a lot of familiar elements there. The pop-up view holds what used to be the main navigation screen from the iPhone version. Adam has designed new icons for each of the categories and these are shown at the top of the screen.
You’ll also note that the comic title and page number are shown on the same toolbar as the icons. There is no longer a distinction between reading and selecting comics like there is on the iPhone app. It works really well, as you end up selecting the little covers on the pop-up to see the larger version on the main view. It’s a very effective way to browse and if you’ve started to read a comic the bookmarked page is shown instead and serves to give you a quick catch-up on what you’d got up to while choosing a comic.
At the moment we’re still showing the ‘hide interface’ arrow on the top right, Adam has come up with a better option for this but it’s not made it into the first release.
We’ve moved most of the controls to the top of the page because if the iPad is on your lap then it’s going to be awkward to reach buttons on the bottom of the screen. You’ll end up having to thrust your elbow forward and be tempted to press the buttons with your thumb (try it now, pretend to press a button just in front of your belly). When the controls are at the top of the screen you can use your index finger to press them.
We’ve made an exception with the page turning controls, those should be and are accessible by thumb.
Naturally, the reading interface can still be dismissed by a double-tap to give you a full-screen view of the comic.
When the interface is hidden you turn the page by sliding the current page left or right. Sliding it to the bottom of the screen stops the reading of the current comic, shows the interface again and displays the comic selection pop-up.
To finish off talking about the interface I just want to show you what this all looks like in portrait, in case you’ve not seen them before, some of the other comic display options and the splash screen:
Importing Comics
Comic Zeal 4 is able to read CBZ,ZIP,CBR and RAR files natively. So you can just fire up SyncDocs on your PC or Mac, drag in a whole bunch of CBZ files and import them into Comic Zeal. *** Please note you no longer need to do this! this was only when CZ 4 was first released, have a look at the iTunes file description for instructions on how to use iTunes file sharing to sync your files ***
Comic Zeal will still need to process the comics and resize the images, although they’re now 60% larger than they were before. This process is going to be optimised and tweaked once we get our hands on a real iPad. At the moment we have no idea how long it will take to process the comics and it could be that on release, using Comic Zeal Sync is still the best option.
You’ll still need to use Comic Zeal Sync to read PDFs, we don’t know how the iPad will deal with opening the huge PDF files that a lot of you have.
At the moment we can’t talk about any other options for transferring the comic files into Comic Zeal so please don’t think I’ve forgotten to mention it, I just can’t talk about it.
Pricing and versions
So why is this called Comic Zeal 4 and not Comic Zeal iPad?
The plan at the moment is to have both versions on the app store (this means that Comic Zeal 4 will be an additional purchase).
As the tools to do it become easier we’ll make version 4 iPhone compatible too and at that point we’ll stop development of version 3. Whilst both versions are on the store I’ll do my best to ensure that any big version 4 features that are feasible on the iPhone also make it into version 3.
So Comic Zeal Version 4 isn’t just for the iPad, at some point it will also be available for the iPhone, just not yet.
Notes
I hope you’ve enjoyed this preview, before you return to your wandering through the internet I’d like to mention some things:
First, thanks to Jim Shelley for allowing us to use his Flashback Universe comics to promote Comic Zeal and make them available for download. All the landscape screenshots are from his comic ‘Paladin’.
Second, please keep in mind that the images you see here are taken from the iPad simulator, the real device has a much larger bezel.
Third, you can click on any of the images on this page to see them full size.
First off, great app! It has renewed my love for comics. As part of this new love, I bought a bunch of Marvel compilations on DVD. I am having trouble importing the files using the sync program on a Mac. Every time I drag a PDF into the program, it immediately returns an error message: “Comic Has No Pages”. Is there something I am missing in this process? I already read a few and the pdf definitely DOES have content in it.
Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
marc
Darren, please read the iTunes app description for CZ, instructions for file sharing are there.
Marc, have you installed ghostscript form the same page you downloaded CZ Sync from?
OK just so you know, you da man….and I’m a moron, lol. Thanks!
Hello, First off thanks for this great app
i just have one complaint, if you could add a feature start the page at top right or top left always that would be great since flipping through my 2 page manga is a pain
Thank you
My mistake about the two-page spreads. The iPad thinks XXX0405.jpg comes way later than XXX34.jpg. Doesn’t happen on XP, but maybe that depends on how you have set up your sorting. Anyway, problem solved just by naming the 2-page spreads appropriately (e.g. XXX04-05.jpg).
Incidentally – this is an excellent program!
Marc, not at all, unfortunately it’s just not too intuitive.
Nesfe, yes, I’ll add it in one of the next couple of updates and will link it to the manga setting.
With the latest update, this program is almost perfect. A single tap zoom sucked.
But…
Why backup? It’s a waste of space and time. Why do I need to backup the stuff that’s already on my computer? The only thing that needs to be backed up are memos, maybe high scores, and emails. Or stuff like that. 8 hours to copy 64GB of data? That’s silly.
I turn that crap off.
Use Google to find out how to do it!
F$&ck the backups!!!
Ineedfiles, backups are not only about what happens if you lose or break your iPad, without them you may lose all information when you UPDATE an app as well. There is no guarantee that the data files will be kept during an update unless the files are put in the locations where they are backed up.
The latest release states that you added a system wide file association for comic extensions. However, the iPad still is not recognizing this. Either thru Dropbox or File Browser. Is there something else I need to do?
Noob, sooo, silly question … are you sure you’re running the latest release? In Drop Box, how are you trying to get Comic Zeal to open the file?
I love this App!
One request and this might be a dumb question so forgive me if it is.
If I have uploaded my own comic to look at is it possible for the App to recognize where the panels are and scroll through them as I flip? The M@rvel App seems to do this well.
Are we ever gonna be able to rename our files with in comic zeal4 right now its such a pain cause the way some of the files are worded makes the numbering all outta order? I am so confused why this hasn’t been added in the updates yet.
Ever since my ipad arrived I bought CZ4 with no complaints besides the renaming issue. PLEASE fix i beg of you.
And last question.Is it possible to ever go to the way it was back when the very first comic zeal came out on iphone I remember the covers in the menu being much more clearer back then?
Thanks
I’m having the same problem as Noob, just downloaded comic zeal, today. When I tap the file in dropbox I get a notification that ‘This file type can’t be viewed’
Fatjake and Noob, look here: http://comiczeal.tenderapp.com/faqs/other/how-do-i-send-a-file-from-drop-box-to-comic-zeal
Chad, renaming issues isn’t as easy as you may think. By far the best place to rename them is on your PC before importing. I WILL be adding renaming functionality but please understand it can’t be as simple as a pop-up.
I’ll look into the cover issue. A lot of that code is going to go the way of the dodo soon(ish) so I’ll see if I can fix it during the re-write.
Thank you!
John F. That’s just not possible with an app that reads cbz/zip/cbr/rar files. The way Marvel does it is that they have a human tell the app where the panels are. Computers are just not very good at finding them because in many cases the panels are conceptual instead of graphical.
I have the iphone app version on my iPad. Is there a way to upgrade to the ipad version without losing the comics that are already loaded onto my ipad. I don’t mind paying for the ipad app, I just don’t want to lose what I already have loaded up.
Emiliano,
Transferring a rar file seems to work fine from dropbox to cz4, but not other file types (cbr for instance). Is there something I’m missing?
Eldogg, unfortunately there isn’t a way to do that, my apologies.
Chris, I’m not sure that you’re missing anything but is SHOULD be working.
I’ve been a fan of ComicZeal for a while now and of course bought the ipad version as soon as it was available. One issue I am having however is that while I have read all of the comics in ComicZeal of a specific series, when I try to move them all to their own collection box, Comic Zeal crashes. While it’s happened on a few other comics, this is the only time it’s happened with an entire series. I thought maybe it had to do with the titles but I’m not entirely sure (x-treme X-men… perhaps the double – is causing problems?). Like I said, I can still read them, but it makes my default window REALLY long.
silks, PLEASE email me at emolina@bitolithic.com, I’ve been chasing this one down but I need more information. I haven’t been able to reproduce it yet.
I can not sync anymore. I just upgraded ComicZeal on my 3G iphone to the latest version, and now i just can not sync. What happend?
rstempler, are you talking about wifi sync?
backups! have to agree totally with ineedfiles here. i have about 7gbs of comics on the ipad and its been backing up for over FOUR HOURS, and its hardly just over halfway! its totally unnecessary to back up the cb files surely – why not just the database of names etc and placeholder/read status? all the original files are already on the mac and now they’re being duplicated. to have to spend this much time on backups is insane! imagine if itunes duped all the music and movie files as well into the backups. keeeerikey that would take a year. 64gb in 8 hours – not likely, more like 8 days…. help us emiliano-kenobi, you are our only hope. look at this afresh please. its such an swesome and useful app. this backup has got to go
typrat, how would you feel if you lost all the comics on your device the next time I released CZ update?
Terrible!
But its not as bad as the backups – I would rather spend the short time copying the files back to the iPad than having my iPad non-functional for over 8 hours (it still hasnt finished backing up yet and I’ve never had more than an overnight 8 hours to leave it. All my comics are already on my mac, this is my backup. The ipad is the reader and portable version only, no need for it to have all the only copies. Now to me (not a developer of course 
the analogy would be this: imagine iTunes Making a SEPARATE backup of all the music and movie etc files on the ipad too. It would have one copy of all on the mac in the first place and then make a whole ‘nother one! – in the process duplicating gigs of data. iTunes just leaves the original source files where they are and matches the changes during backups by deleting or moving files to the iPad from some database (I suspect). It doesn’t then copy all the files back off the iPad to the Mac during the next backup? Make sense? I guess you’re the man when it comes to the software schemes etc on how to manage/do this best, but I am just pointing out something thats a huge user side issue (ie 8hour+ backups). Not to detract from all that is awesome goodness with your app you understand. Just that this is quite a serious issue when you got 10Gbs of comics on your pad! Just the messenger… 
I agree with Typrat, i have 11 gigas of manga in my ipad and i pretty much gave up on backing up my ipad on itunes. Maybe an option button to allow or not allow backups inside comic zeal could be the best answer. That way we all win
Thats just a suggestion , i downloaded backoff on my pc and stopped backing up in itunes so it stopped being a problem for me
I have to agree with the backup issue. There needs to be some way to make it so you can do this quicker. As it is I now stop the backup anyway so you’re not saving your users anything since we don’t backup due to the huge amount of time it takes.
It might indeed be a feature but its not used because of the time constraints.
So a few comments from me
I love the app and it gets used daily. Its a great reading experience. Some caveats
1) The page turn control areas are way too small. I have to shut the main controls off several times when reading. Several times a comic. How about moving the control to activate the main nav to the centre of the page and making the page turn controls larger?
2) As mentioned, my backup and import times are astronomically huge. I have 10GB of books on my iPad and while it takes very little time to import a file, after each file set is copied there is a significant delay. iTunes beach balls and I sit there for five or six minutes. This happens regardless of the number or size of the books I have imported.
Backup times are not as bad as other people have reported but it is taking about two hours to backup my iPad now. I guess that I could just not pack around that many files and restrict myself to a smaller set of books but… well I just want them all
with all the trouble on the Ipad and the wifi resection issues, is there any other way for us the users to transfer files directly without using wifi.
thanks for your help and congratulation on a awesome app
I am having an issue with a single file. It crashed and now the program crashes every time I load.
Is there any chance of a toggle that prevents loading the last file, kind of like GoodReader has in the Settings menu?
Zac, the newest iTunes fixes the issue with the slow sync times as far as I know.
eddit, yes of course, use iTunes file sharing as per the iTunes app description for Comic Zeal
william, it’s in the update currently with Apple. It’s automatic though.
About the backup again (sorry). I just resigned myself to keeping only a couple of comics on the ipad now. I can’t afford have my ipad inactive for over 18 hours (thats how long it took to back up) every time I sync it (iTunes 9.2/SnoLeo 10.6.4). So I eventually just decided to delete most of the comic files off the ipad. So that puts me back at your “worst case scenario” except I had to do it myself! I honestly think this should be rethought.
I also agree with Zac regarding the (black) controls on and off. The tap to turn page often brings this up and has to be tap dismissed and then tap again to turn page. As Zac suggested a specific area of the page away from the left/right side.
This definitely is the best comic reading app, but I would have liked to keep a larger library on the pad so that I have a bit of choice on what to read.
Its good that you have this feedback method tho, emiliano
I agree with typrat, and it’s something you should definitely consider looking into. To say the ‘solution’ to this problem with backing up is by not putting a lot of comics into the app is ludicrous. If you’ve got the space, why wouldn’t you want all your comics at your fingertips, without worrying about them doubling up on the space your ipad backup will take?
The point that typrat made about iTunes not backing up music and movie files is extremely valid. Can you imagine if iTunes backed up all of that content as well? There would be outrage.
I think you should at least give us the option of turning it off. For everyone that has paid $10 for your app, I feel it’s the least you can do.
typrat, I think you can have more than a couple of comics don’t you?
Manny, I’ll take your advice on what is the ‘least I can do’ onboard and give it the consideration it is due.
Hi, when I use sync to get cbr. or cbz. files on my 3gs, it works fine. when i try to do this with .pdf files, however, even when i have ghost script, or whatever, when it is being synced to my phone, it times out and says the file is too small to reproduce.. what could create this issue?
I bought this app during the first version when it was like 2.00 haha it’s great and i love it
I still have a problem with the manga mode displaying the top right position when going to next page. It seems to only do it while it is zoomed in a lot, and not when it is fit to page.
For example: Some mangas I read are both pages scanned together in 1 picture. Reading in landscape mode makes the text too small so I like to read it in portrait and have it fit to page (so I only have to slide right to left). However, even after the 7/12 update when I go to next page, it still shows the left side of the page first, instead of the top right position as stated. Only way it’ll go to top right position when I flip the page is when the page zoomed in more than “fit to page” size. Do you think you guys will be able to add to that in the next update? Otherwise great great app.
ZachDearth, there is an issue on iOS4, it just won’t do certain colour conversions that used to work perfectly well before. I’ve tried to fix it and looked for work-arounds and haven’t found anything. As a result I’ve spent some time working on getting CZ to handle PDF files natively and this will be in the next update.
kuopoc,, if this is happening in the universal version please file a bug at http://comiczeal.tenderapp.com, otherwise the fix will be in the next update.
I like the comicZeal alot, but the backup is killing me. I have a 64gb ipad and have around 15gb of comics on it. I can’t use the ipad for at least an hour because of the backups. To bad the program is almost perfect, but because of the backuo I’m going to switch to another app. Maby I will switch back when this is fixed in ComicZeal.
Willem, have a look here: https://comiczeal.tenderapp.com/faqs/other/why-are-my-itunes-backups-getting-slower, it’s interesting that 15gb only take an hour to backup for you. For me it’s at least a couple.
Hey just wondering how and or where are the page numbers? If they are on the top after file name can it be changed to be some where that can always been seen. I guess my titles are too long cause i never see my page numbers. Please help this is so annoying.
Thanks,
Chad
Hi Chad, it’s a bug, I’ll get it fixed for you in the next update. I didn’t tell the text field which part of the label to truncate.