Progress Update - Saturday, 15, 2015
After writing thousands of words, and taking scores of screenshots, I hit my first major issue. I added my first interactive example. It seems that the interactivity doesnât quite work as expectedâŠ
What?! Why is it doing that? Why isnât it filling the box? Apparently, itâs too much responsiveness. If I used a fixed width layout in Hype, then the widget scales nicely in iBooks. But if I use flexible layouts in Hype, the widget doesnât quite match the box. Iâm not sure if this is an issue with Hype or iBooks.
Another issue was choosing the right settings for interactivity.
I decided to use âPlays automaticallyâ and âPlays on pageâ. While not apparent in the first screenshot, the blue circle pulses. I think itâs awesome. The design looks like static content, just another picture. Yet, that animated dot just calls for attention. Itâs as if the book crosses over into another level. Itâs very sci-fi feeling.
Unfortunately, it seems that my iPhone 4 is too old for this feature. Instead of showing the interactive grid, a circular loading icon appears.
I suppose iBooks was warning me about this, as it clearly says âNewer version of iBooks neededâ. The interactivity works perfectly on my iPad, so I suppose Iâll just have to upgrade my phone. While the book is readable on an iPhone 4, the interactivity doesnât work.
Iâm planning to get a new iPhone when the new models are released â thatâs probably next month. I was trying to hold out for a new âCâ model, as I donât like the larger iPhone sizes, but not having an iPhone thatâs supported by Apple is starting to hinder my work.