iOS Update

[Shmet]

I don't think anyone is getting on the L&L crew about this. They had announced a hope of having an iOS verision out by NaNoWriMo. It's to be expected that we might be getting a bit anxious as we get closer to that time. Any 'pestering' just shows how eager we are to have the Scrivener experience on our iOS devices.

The fact that they're not rushing to just 'get it out' and instead are taking the time to produce a version that lives up to what we see on the Mac and PC, while disappointing on a personal level (I want it now, dangit!), shows how much they care about their work. Which is something I think you'd want from someone making a product you'll be spending your money on.

To the L&L team, keep up the good work, and keep us in the loop when you can!

[Gordon Robb]

Shall we give the L&L crew a little break? They want to release a product that is as good as Scriv on MacOS, and iOS ain't MacOS. They also had their own personal issues along the way. Let's just wait until the thing is really ready for release. What's the point of asking when iScriv will be out? I am pretty sure they'll be delighted to release iScriv and they'll definitely announce it as soon as the thing is ready. But to do it right, they need to take all the time they need.

Firstly, politely asking a question about the realistic likelihood of it being released in time is hardly something they need a break from.

Secondly, the point of asking is that in 6 weeks and 4 days NaNoWriMo will start, as will my feeble attempts at getting a story out of my head. Now that I know that Scrivener for iOS is at best unlikely to be out, I can put me efforts into finding another solution for using my iPad (which will be used for maybe 50% of what I write).

I too want a good, reliable, working product that, most importantly, senselessly synchronises with my Windows version. So please do not mistake my keenness, or polite question, as anything other than part of my planning process.

[KB]

Hi,

All these questions seemed polite and reasonable enough to me - I'm fully expecting some much angrier emails soon. It is disappointing all around, and it's a little bit ridiculous, too, seeing as the iOS version has now taken us longer than it took me to write and release the first version of Scrivener for Mac. So if anyone wants to say that there is no excuse for it taking this long, well, we haven't got a leg to stand on there. In retrospect, my approach was probably all wrong. I wanted to find someone to write the app who was passionate about Scrivener, as opposed to a gun-for-hire, so that we would have someone likely to stay on beyond the end of version 1.0 and so that I wouldn't have to micro-manage every stage of the project. Had we just found a hired gun, it would have almost certainly been done by now (although at some expense to Scrivener and Scapple on the Mac).

The good news is that Tammy, our new developer, who was previously splitting her time between Scrivener and working for another company, was able to go full-time on Scrivener as of a fortnight or so ago, and we now have milestones set for the road ahead.

To answer curiouspeter, the iOS version will stand on its own, but will work best as a companion to the desktop version. It understands the regular Scrivener file format, although to facilitate syncing for the package format there will be some special considerations (but nothing onerous on the user).

All the best,
Keith

[Gordon Robb]

Thanks for the reply, legless or other wise :)

I am sure I'll write out with NaNoWriMo - eventually, so will no doubt still purchase the iOS version.

Obviously, if you are looking for beta testers, and the list is short for windows folks, feel free to add my name :)

[naquada]

It is a shame that the iOS version of Scrivener won't be available for NaNoWriMo, I'd really hoped to give it a serious word bashing for the month... but.. as with Literature and Latte, their attention to releasing good, stable, usable software is right decision...

I know (unless it's ridiculously priced) I'll buy Scrivener for iOS as soon as it's released , L&L's reputation for quality software is second to none... and I'd like something that syncs between iOS and Mac well...

I really hope it see's the light of day soon.. but keep up the good work guys.. everything comes to those who wait ;)

[ravensview]

Hi,

To answer curiouspeter, the iOS version will stand on its own, but will work best as a companion to the desktop version. It understands the regular Scrivener file format, although to facilitate syncing for the package format there will be some special considerations (but nothing onerous on the user).

All the best,
Keith

Really looking forward to this, but I hope by 'desktop version' you mean Scrivener for Windows, not just the Mac version.

[KB]

Really looking forward to this, but I hope by 'desktop version' you mean Scrivener for Windows, not just the Mac version.

Of course - I'd fully expect to be lynched if we released an iOS version that could sync with the Mac version but not the Windows version.

[woulf06]

As I've produced several iOs and Android games, I fully understand what it could be to make an iOS version of Scrivener ;)
Even if I can't wait to buy Scrivener for iOS !

The job must be difficult because there are so many features in scrivener...
The question I have is: are you going to implement ALL desktop features in Scrivener for iOS ?
I guess features such as compiling wouldn't be on top priorities ;)

I could definitely use a light version of Scrivener on my iPad, but that's just my .02$ ;)

[ilottg]

I think that it would be fruitless trying to cram everything into the IOS version. IMHO the iPad app would be good for editing and writing on-th-go. Alas after several years of trying, I have realised that the iPad is just not good enough for a primary writing platform. However, it is excellent for those quick edits or notes.

For me, the most important benefit would be a reliable sync that doesn't lose text, formatting, or anything else :(

For a preview of what could go horribly wrong if not done properly, pop on over to Mariner's discussion board for MacJournal for IOS. Arrrgh, horrible.

[marcoiac]

Alas after several years of trying, I have realised that the iPad is just not good enough for a primary writing platform.

http://www.macstories.net/stories/edito ... ad-review/

I think the iPad does have at least the potential to be a primary writing platform. Some already advocate it, for instance Federico Viticci in his macstories review of Editorial

[AmberV]

No, we have no intention of cramming the entire Scrivener for desktop system into a tablet or telephone! The goal here is to analyse what one needs while they are not around their computer, and provide these core features in the most efficient way possible. Yes, this means retained formatting when getting your work on/off the computer. I think it is fair to say that one of the reasons the iOS version has taken as long as it has is because of our high standards in this area. We didn't want to force everyone to use Markdown or a hybrid equivalent (not that these could really even provide full formatting parity anyway, was Markdown isn't about formatting, but assigning semantics). It means making it so you don't have to hit your forehead 20 minutes after you leave the house, suddenly remembering you accidentally left your project open at home, but rather consequently being able to edit and access it on the go anyway. It means being able to take quick pocket notes as you think of them.

The discussion on whether any tablet or mobile can actually replace a computer is... interesting, but probably academic at this point. I think it is great that people are trying to do that. Frankly I'd rather give up computers and become a carpenter, than try and use a tablet for everything. That would be awful for me. But all of that aside, our goal is not to recreate what Scrivener provides on the Mac or a PC, but rather to give our users on these platforms of viable and seamless experience whenever they step away from the desk. If you want to jot down an idea you have on the subway using your iPhone, you should be able to do that and have it in your project notes when you get back to the office or home. If you cart around a keyboard with your iPad and have a great idea for how a scene ought to unfold, you should be able to haul that out in a coffeehouse and hack away on it, having that scene right in the master outline of your Draft when you get back. You can already do some of this with the Mac version and folder sync, but we want to make it so you can access all of your writings, background information, and the important outline structure itself, even on a mobile phone.

[Philipp]

but we want to make it so you can access all of your writings, background information, and the important outline structure itself, even on a mobile phone.

Yes!
When I was on vacation in Italy a few weeks ago I had my Asus eepc netbook with it's 1024x768 res and scrivener installed.
I did some work on it, but I won't be doing it again. At the end I started writing on paper again and wishing I had taken my iPad with me ;)
Scrivener -although working fine on my netbook- wasn't build for such a low resolution I think. With the tiny trackpad moving the mouse pointer from binder nodes, to index cards, to the text was tedious. I really wished being able to touch the screen.
On the other hand I like writing on my iPad very much, either with a bluetooth keyboard or even the touch keyboard. But ... I miss the background infos, the structure, the other scenes quickly to look through. And getting it back to scrivener ... too much fiddling imho.
Now that I have my beloved mba 13'' all is good, but of course I more often have my iPad with me when outside than my mba.

So, to make it short, quick and easy navigation through all essential information (binder, index-card, content, comments etc.) is most important. Usage of all the common 'iPad ways of doing thing' like pinching for zoom and sliding panels is very important. And like you said, no matter where I write, it simply should be in synch.

Btw will you use iCloud? Since I bought Scrivener through your website I think this is the without-iCloud version. A synch through wifi would be nice too :)

[KB]

It's unlikely to support iCloud. Not only do those who bought through our website, and all our Windows users, have no access to iCloud, but iCloud isn't really set up to handle Scrivener's deep package-based format. Dropbox will be our focus.

I will add to what Ioa said that Scrivener for iOS *will* work as a standalone application - it will be a paid app so it needs to be able to stand on its own - but there's no doubting that it will really come into its own when used as a companion to the desktop version.

As for the desktop version being used on small interfaces, actually the Mac version was originally created on a 1024x768 machine and I've tried to ensure it continues to scale well on small screens. The Windows version may require a little more space, I'm not sure.

[ilottg]

We didn't want to force everyone to use Markdown or a hybrid equivalent... (

Ooohh Scrivener with formatted markdown a' la MMD composer...oops, nearly wet myself with excitement.

KB, please don't flame me :)

[KB]

You're banned!