By Graham K. Rogers

Outline

A while back, I also looked at some apps that sent postcards of photographs. The user selects an image, writes a message, enters the address. And of course, the user pays the bill. This is a way of producing unique output directly from the iPhone or iPad that may well please a recipient with the thoughtfulness.

A recent arrival in the iTunes App Store here is Woodpost, a new twist on the postcard idea, as the output is on wood: specifically plywood. The full name in the iTunes App Store is Woodpost by Fuzel. This output can be mailed anywhere in the world for a standard price of $7.99. The developers, Not a Basement Studio JSC are also responsible for the app, Fuzel Collage.

A wood image - either square or rectangular - is packed in an envelope (craft paper) and comes with a magnet and a dock. As the output is wood, there are expected to be imperfections - such as with graining - but this would be part of the charm of such a medium.

Woodpost

Below are four theme selectors: Simple, Family, Love and Travel. Each of these has a dozen templates: some with frames and some with messages. Most of the frames are tasteful. As I scrolled the templates up and down the screen on the iPhone, they expanded to fill the width of the display: a nice effect.

Once a theme is selected, the user's Photo Library opens and an image can be selected. That fills not just the chosen template but all, so they can be scrolled up or down to allow final selection. It is possible to go back at all stages of this process.

When the templates with the user's photo selection is shown, there are buttons at the bottom of the screen to allow a change of photo, and to edit the current selection. Editing is basic with three tools: Optimise; Mirror, left to right; Mirror, top to bottom.

When the user has decided on the image and template, Next reveals a panel for a message to be written: like a postcard. Seven lines of text are available. A three-screen panel then shows the finished product (including the message), the envelope and the accessories, along with pricing.

I was then reminded that I had not included a recipient for the output. When I tapped the button for this, I was asked to Sign up (or Sign in). Options for this were using Facebook or Twitter accounts, or to enter email details. I used Twitter, then was returned to the Enter Recipient button. Once complete, the item was added to the cart and I was able to make the purchase either through PayPal or a credit card (no Apple Pay here). Tracking could either be done via an email authorisation or with Push Notifications.

Comment

The choice of wood as output medium makes Woodpost by Fuzel somewhat unusual, The standard pricing and accessories (magnet and dock) give this excellent value, especially considering that mailing costs are included in the fee paid. While this type of output may not appeal to all users, the uniqueness, along with the quality of the app itself, should earn the developers a lot of friends.

This is recommended in a tentative sort of way. . . .

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. He is now continuing that in the Bangkok Post supplement, Life.