[UPDATE: 7 November 2012 – there has been a minor update to version 0.9.6.1 which has all the webappy goodness noted on this page and then some]

Wow, what a difference a year makes!  Exactly one year ago the first public Ryuzine betas were released.  Today we’re proud to announce the availability of the SIXTH major revision of our reader and authoring webapps, an update to our Ryuzine Press plugin for WordPress, and the all new newsstand webapp called Ryuzine Rack.

Nearly all the code has been rewritten, which is why this feels a lot more like a “Ryuzine Reboot” than just another update.  However it is not only completely compatible with any of your existing Ryuzine publications, updating them has never been easier.  Just drop them and their image assets and issue-specific styles into a new Ryuzine distro folder and the old file (all the way back to the first public release version) is rewritten and updated on-the-fly to the current version.  We’ve also renamed Ryuzine Machine to “Ryuzine Writer” to make its utility clearer, and introduce our optional newsstand webapp called “Ryuzine Rack” for both stand-alone Ryuzine installations and the Ryuzine Press plugin for WordPress.  Ryuzine Reader and Ryuzine Press have also been overhauled to take advantage of all this rebooty goodness.

Since this “reboot” took a bit longer to test and finish than originally anticipated, rather than making you wait even longer we’re releasing it all right now.  That’s right, hit the download links and you get this shiny new version of the PDK available today get this even shinier newer version of the PDK available today  Over the next month we’ll be updating the online demo [update: online demo has been updated] and documentation.

The PDK now includes all the Add-Ons and Themes available on our site. They’re also included when you use the Ryuzine Press plugin “one click” installer (yay! no more need to install all of the extras individually). Here is a run-down on what’s in store in version 0.9.6.0-b:

Ryuzine Reader

1. Issue-specific stylesheet no longer specified in config file

2. Android 2.x fixes/changes:

a. fixed scrolling in panels

b. prevents incompatible page shadows setting

c. disables pages shadows and 3D page turn

d. fixed “cover clearing” issue

e. fixed page turn error when themes are applied

3. Android 3+ fixes/changes

a. fixed scrolling issue in panels

b. added Native Momentum Scrolling

4. iOS 5+ devices:

a. added Native Momentum Scrolling

b. fixed horizontal scrolling error in panels

c. fixed Safari version detection in App View mode

5. Zoom & Pan no longer enabled by default on touch devices

6. Dynamic theme loading fixed for Android 3+, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry

7. Internet Explorer Favicon and Shortcut added (including Windows 8 Pinning)

8. Animations now supported in Internet Explorer 10

9. Experimental detection of Internet Explorer 10 running in “Modern UI” full-screen and snapped modes

10. Margins fixed in Continuous View

11. Fixed missing resource error for “Help” lightbox content

12. Fixed lightbox.css file, now allows custom gallery CSS3 animations (you have to pick one for all of them though)

13. Splash screen can now be animated with CSS3

14. Right-binding (which was partially broken) is now fixed

15. Platform theme targeting now includes Windows 8 “Modern UI” mode

16. Options panel updated to make it more clear when options are disabled by another setting

17. UI is now dynamically generated

18. Default Share widget now properly handles document titles with quotes, apostrophes, and dashes.

19. Fixed selector position when long localized text is applied to Option Panel

20. NEW “Cool Beans” theme for OS integration with Android “Jelly Bean.”

21. NEW default theme available in “light” and “dark” base variations

22. Previous default theme is now broken out into its own theme.

23. Themes are now also applied to Lightbox containers

24. In-Page styles are now removed in “Plain HTML” view.  Ryuzine attempts to store the styles in a cookie file so they can be restored.

25. NEW “Page Slider” navigation option alternative to Table of Contents Panel.

26. UI can now be hidden with all themes.  User can choose manual or automatic hiding.

27. The “fillpad” option is replaced with “fillall” which does exactly what it sounds like – fills all the available space in the bowser (best only used for fluid layouts).

28. iScroll script implemented as an optional add-on.

29. Improved Legacy Compatibility for Non-IE Browsers (old versions of desktop and mobile Safari)

30. Dropped support for Internet Explorer 7 and earlier and Opera browsers

31. Added error handling (especially if javascript and/or stylesheets are disabled)

32. Easy updating of existing publications (just drop old Ryuzine file into new Ryuzine installation)

33. High-density displays on the Apple MacBook Pro and Air, and Google Nexus 10 tablet (as well as any other high density screens that may be released) are now better supported.

Ryuzine Writer (formerly Ryuzine Machine)

1. Fixed WYSIWYG toolbar and button display error for Opera 11.x browsers (Opera 12.x is not supported)

2. “Add Device” dialog OS options fixed and updated for Windows 8 and iOS 5+

3. New Device Profiles:

a. iPad 2/3

b. Samsung GalaxyTab2 10.1

c. HP Touchpad

d. iPhone 5

e. Nokia Lumia 920

f. Microsoft Surface RT

g. Microsoft Surface Pro

4. Fixed Simulator “browser view” for Windows Phone device profile.

5. “bannerad” element renamed “appbanner” to prevent name/class collisions with other bannerads or ad scripts

6. NEW! PHP File Operations when running from localhost development server for Open/Save files

7. Simulator now fixed for Firefox browser.

8. Experimental compatibility with Internet Explorer 9 & 10 (still has minor UI problems but functions work)

9. UI completely redesigned to be more intuitive, clean, and increase work space.

10. Disabling WYSIWYG editor and running webapp offline (no web server) no longer triggers Xinha warning dialog.

11. NEW! Options Panel allows you to change config file setting within webapp (retained in cookie file)

12. Ryuzine Writer can now use the same themes as Ryuzine Reader (all the themes were rewritten)

13. Simulator now includes Anders Tornblad’s “addTouch” script for multi-touch simulation on desktop systems (note: the “addTouch” script is still considered experimental and has some usability issues)

14. NEW! “Start Page” with shortcut buttons to common starting tasks.

15. WYSIWYG Full-Screen editing now actually fills browser (and if browser if fullscreen is true fullscreen editing)

16. NEW! Build Ryuzine Configuration Files

17. NEW! Build & Edit Ryuzine Rack Data Catalog Files

18. Improved Split-View Coding Mode (auto-splits horizontally/vertically based portrait/landscape or choose manual buttons)

19. NEW! Load URLs in the Simulator (to check mobile view of Ryuzine publications already on the web, for example Ryuzine Press Editions)

20. NEW! Load Ryuzine Files directly into the editor (no need for “source files” anymore)

21. NEW! Test Configurations and Issue-specific styles in the Simulator before putting them in external files.

22. NEW! Build Package option (req. PHP File Operations) bundles publications into downloadable ZIP files.

23. NEW! Issue-specific style link imports with file and is used in WYSIWYG editor.

24. Experimental “Mobile Mode” UI for Android 3+ and iOS 5+ devices (it’s still has some bugs so it is not recommended for production use).

Ryuzine Rack ( NEW! )

* An intuitive rich app experience

* Auto-generation of promotions or use your own custom banners

* Not limited to Ryuzine media – link it to any type of content you want to promote virtually anywhere.

* Grid, Detail List, and Simple List viewing options

* Automatic, adjustable pagination of search results

* Deliver high quality images to high-density displays

* Uses plain HTML files and HTML Tables as catalogs instead of a database

* Unlimited custom catalogs!  Use one for each year, or support multiple languages, or one for material on your site and other catalogs for content on your friends’ sites, however you want to divide it.

* Responsive design automatically adapts to different screen sizes and orientations.

* Uses the same configuration files and themes as your Ryuzine publications for seamless integration

Ryuzine Press Plugin for WordPress

Rewritten, simplified, bug-fixed, and updated.  Getting the Ryuzine webapp into the plugin is now a simple “one-click” install.  You’ll need to deactivate the current version and trash it and then upload and activate the new version (there is no automatic upgrade path from the 0.9.5 plugin to the 0.9.6.0 one).  Download (90KB)

* Fixed theme targeting (previous releases were not targeting BlackBerry Tablets or Windows Phone 7.5).

* Added Windows 8 Metro/Modern theme targeting.

* Switched to new client-side dynamically generated UI (faster server response)

* Ryuzine Reader installation simplified to a single button click (bundle now includes all addons and themes so you do not have to install them separately).

* iScroll support added

* Light/Dark base UI selection

* Ryuzine Rack replacement for automatic Archive page

* Ryuzine Rack Builder allows additional newsstand content and catalogs to be included.

* New shortcode for Ryuzine Rack  cover thumbnail can also be used to place cover background image on Edition

* Articles List now optional on auto-generated covers.

* Masthead is now optional for auto-generated covers and splash screen.

* Page Slider option for in-app page navigation

* Configuration tab for RyuzineRack “Media Type” and button text and “Category” names

* Comic Easel support updated (the small hack, though, is still required)

As noted above we’ll be updating the online documentation for publishers with all the details soon along with an updated online demo.  But there’s no reason to wait, you can go get it for yourself right now!

Those in attendance at last night’s presentation got a sneak preview of what’s in store for the next version of Ryuzine.  Well, now that the cat’s out of the bag here are the high points of what to expect in version 0.9.6.0 Beta:

• Over a dozen issues fixed
• Support for iScroll 4 (implemented as an optional add-on)
• Easier updating of publications (no longer need to regenerate from source files)
• UI is now dynamically generated
• Support for Internet Explorer 10 and BlackBerry 10
• “Ryuzine” files can now be edited as “Source” files
• Choose between “Table of Contents” panel or “Page Slider” style navigation
• Updated Themes

And last but not least it will introduce our new “Ryuzine Rack” (optional) news-stand style webapp.  It is built on the same architecture as your Ryuzine publications, can use the same configuration files and the same themes for seamless integration, and offers publishers a far cooler way to provide a landing/portal than a page of text links.

It uses a simple HTML table for the catalog, so it doesn’t require a database backend. Many different types of content – including downloads and print publications – can be showcased.  It’s loaded with options for the publisher and we’re confident Ryuzine Rack will have your readers coming back.  Of course there’s more, but you’ll have to wait.

If all goes as planned the next version will be released in September  October.  The Ryuzine Press Plugin update should happen around will happen at the same time, including a WordPress integrated version of RyuzineRack that replaces the built-in custom post-type archive page for your Ryuzine Press Edition publications.  But don’t let that stop you from downloading the current version – because any publications you create can be easily updated to the next version.

[ post updated 15 September 2012 to reflect new release schedule and add information about the Ryuzine Machine update ]

Tomorrow night there will be a brief presentation of the Ryuzine family of products and using them to create digital comics for desktop and mobile devices as part of the monthly meeting of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy, Minneapolis Cell.

Where: Big Time Attic, 1618 Central Avenue NE, Suite 216, Minneapolis, MN 55413
When:  2 August 2012 @ 6:00 PM

There will also be a comics “jam session” immediately afterwards downstairs in Diamond’s Coffee Shop.

Both the presentation and jam session are open to anyone who is interested.  Hope to see you there!

Ryuzine™ Press is a new FREE, open-source plugin for WordPress 3.0+ which “bridges” your blog posts to a Ryuzine webapp installation.

The plugin turns your blog back-end into the authoring program for instantly publishing unlimited Ryuzine Press “Editions.”  Each edition is made up of a curated selection of blog posts, which are ported into the pages of the Ryuzine webapp.  You’ll be able to deliver your content to both desktop and mobile users in a dynamic, touch-enabled, digital magazine format.

Ryuzine Press is not a WordPress theme.  Your Ryuzine Press Editions exist alongside your blog, not in place of it.  Your readers will enjoy the convenience of cloud-based content with the engaging experience of a mobile app.  You will enjoy instant publishing optimized for mobile users without having to deal with app stores.

(artwork by Jon Sloan)

The Ryuzine Press plugin also works with the popular ComicPress 2.9 theme currently used by an estimated 25% of all online comics.  Your existing archives can easily be assigned to Ryuzine Press Editions, offering your readers a realistic, page-turning comic book reading experience.  Plus, of course, Ryuzine supports right-binding for “manga” style titles too!

FIND OUT MORE ON THE PLUGIN’S PRODUCT PAGE

Disclosure: Ryuzine Press Plugin requires the closed-source Ryuzine webapp be installed on the same server.  It is free for non-commercial use, and for commercial use you only need to purchase an affordable, flat-rate license for each title (not edition) you publish.  Due to the differences in the licensing the plugin and the webapp are not bundled together for download.

Sa-Bom Jim comic book artist and creator Jon D. Sloan will be appearing as an Artist Guest of Honor at the MarsCon convention in Bloomington, MN from March 9 – 11th!

Sit in on panels moderated by Jon, swing by to say “Hi” and purchase a signed copy of his trade paperback “A Watcher In Our Midst.”

Prices at the door are $60 for adults, $25 for children ages 6-12 for all three days; $25 (adult), $10 (child) for Friday only, $35 (adult), $15 (child) for Saturday only; $25 (adult), $10 (child) for Sunday only.

Full details available at www.marscon.org.