[jsword-devel] another bible viewer based on JSword API

[DM Smith]

Tonny Kohar wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just released Alkitab 0.6 which following enhancements:
> - Added Search Panel (Advanced)
> - Added some icon
> - Various UI Improvement
> - Fix Java 1.5 compatibility problem
>
> It is available at http://www.kiyut.com/products/alkitab/ and the
> source code is available at the usual location (under Developer
> Section)
>
> Note: Mac OSX build is available as well. If anyone have tried the Mac
> OSX build, it will be very appreciated if  could you give us feedback
> regarding the Mac OSX build especially
> - installation (is it easy/user friendly enough ?)
> - program running (does it look native mac osx enough ?)
>
> Any feedback is very appreciated
>
>   

Tonny,
This works well on my Mac. But it is not quite "Mac" like.
Installation:
The installer is just a zip and without a Mac you won't be able to 
create a *.dmg ("disk image") instead. But Mac users expect a *.dmg and 
not a *.zip.

On Leopard, the latest version of the OS, the zip is downloaded into the 
"Downloads" folder and the user has to dig for it.

On Tiger, and earlier versions of OSX, the zip is downloaded to the Desktop.

Unless the user has changed default settings, the zip is automatically 
unzipped.

The "app" that you built probably should begin with a capital "A".

FYI, the experience a user gets for a *.dmg is that it is automatically 
mounted and shown in it's own Finder view. The view typically has the 
application and frequently a shortcut to the Applications folder. The 
background image typically includes a banner or splash for the 
application and some kind of indication that the user should drag the 
application to the Applications folder. This indicator may be text or if 
there is a shortcut to the folder present a visual representation of the 
drag.

Application:
The About and Preferences are in the expected location.
On Leopard, a Help menu is automatically provided and it contains a 
"Spotlight" for the app's menu. (This is not present on earlier OSX). 
This makes the absence of any kind of application help stand out.
The menu's the adhere to the Mac UI guidelines (i.e. no underlined 
mnemonics),  but the Preferences -> Advanced have mnemonics indicated 
with an &.
Probably because the application is in an early state of development, 
there is too much NetBeans showing through as menu items.
The big problem I have is that the font being used is way too small for 
me to comfortably read Bible text. This should be a simple CSS change or 
you need to let the user establish their preferred font and size.

Other than that I like what I see!

Congrats.

In Him,
    DM