Comparison between EM2 and MP1 on importing
I did a quick comparison on the both to discover differences and here are my preliminary results:
My document with results:
Roelof
- EM2 is building up the database different from MP1. At import you can follow the building off the thumbnails in EM2 and when they all are there, the import is complete (the spinning wheel does not spinning anymore).
However, in MP1 the thumbnails are present almost immediately after starting the import. But the import is not ready then. While the spinning wheel is working, the application cannot be used. - It seems EM2 is a lot quicker on importing than MP1(see table in my document)
- It seems MP1 generates a significant smaller database (see table in my document)
- The Keywords in NEF’s are not garbled in MP1 (as described in topic: ), I did test it on NEF’s from D70 and D90
- I did not see Flash setting change from Off to On after rebuilding NEF’s (as described in the same topic as mention above), I did test it on NEF’s from D70 and D90
My document with results:
Roelof
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Did a performance (and an UI) comparison between Media Pro 1.0.0.49135 and Expression Media 2.0.2 (2096) too … guess who won … Expression Media 🙄 .
Details soon (here).0 -
Have you see that MP1 had a significant smaller database?
Roelof0 -
Sorry, but the Media Pro testing and follow up had to wait. But finally here we go:
Computer set up
– Mac Pro (2009) 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
– 8 GB RAM
– 640 GB Western Digital Caviar Black Harddrive
– 1 × 24" Dell screen & 1 × 19" LaCie screen
– Mac OS X 10.6.7
Images/Data Volume
- 1.000 JPG Images / 2,88 GB on disk (2.881.904.977 bytes)TEST NO. 1
Preferences > General …
[…]
Preferences > Media Rendering
Images
Rendering: Bicubic (better)
Color Match: [yes]
Use alpha channel: [yes]
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [no]
Preferred Engine: [Apple]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [profile]
Edit > Thumbnails and Previews …
Thumbnail size: Variable (Catalog 320px)
Quality: High
Use built-in thumbnails (…): [no]
Media Previews: [no]
===========================================================================
Media Pro 1.0.0.49135
Import Images via «Drag’n’Drop» (two runs)
(1) Time: 03:18 minutes / Catalog size: 27,2 MB (27.163.430 bytes)
(2) Time: 02:52 minutes / Catalog size: 27,2 MB (27.163.614 bytes)
«Action > Rebuild Item» after changing preview size from 320 px to 480 px
(1) Time: 03:40 minutes / Catalog size: 52,9 MB (52.916.832 bytes)
(2) Time: 03:46 minutes / Catalog size: 52,9 MB (52.917.016 bytes)
Note: Media Pro starts 2 (additional) processes ("Media Pro Importer") during the import in the background
===========================================================================
Expression Media 2.0.2 (2096)
Import Images via «Drag’n’Drop» (two runs)
(1) Time: 01:07 minutes / Catalog size: 27,2 MB (27.158.926 bytes)
(2) Time: 01:02 minutes / Catalog size: 27,2 MB (27.159.110 bytes)
«Action > Rebuild Item» after changing preview size from 320 px to 480 px
(1) Time: 01:11 minutes / Catalog size: 52,9 MB (52.911.670 bytes)
(2) Time: 01:07 minutes / Catalog size: 52,9 MB (52.911.854 bytes)
Note: Expression Media starts (additional) 9 processes ("Expression Media 2 Importer") during the import in the background
===========================================================================
iView MediaPro 3.1.3 (Build 42E6)
Import Images via «Drag’n’Drop» (one run)
(1) Time: 06:31 minutes / Catalog size: 27,1 MB (27.137.206 bytes)
«Action > Rebuild Item» after changing preview size from 320 px to 480 px
(1) Time: 06:47 minutes / Catalog size: 52,9 MB (52.864.208 bytes)
Note: iView MediaPro starts (additional) 0 processes during the import in the background
===========================================================================TEST NO. 2
! Preferences changed
Preferences > Media Rendering
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [no]
Preferred Engine: [Phase One]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [profile]
===========================================================================
Media Pro 1.0.0.49135
Import Images via «Drag’n’Drop» (one run)
(1) Time: 03:42 minutes / Catalog size: 27,5 MB (27.452.310 bytes)
«Action > Rebuild Item» after changing preview size from 320 px to 480 px
(1) Time: 04:18 minutes / Catalog size: 53,2 MB (53.205.712 bytes)
Note: Media Pro starts 2 (additional) processes ("Media Pro Importer") during the import in the background
===========================================================================RESULTS
(Note: I’ve put the "What’s new" headlines from the product web page in the brackets)
Performance ("Work at warp speed")
Media Pro 1.0.0.49135 is much slower than Expression Media 2.0.2 (2096) during image import,
maybe due to much less additional import processes (2 vs. 9). Strangly the "RAW" rendering settings
have a negative performance impact even w/ JPGs; the Apple render engine is faster than the Phase One
render engine.
Even when switching between images in "Media View" Media Pro 1.0.0.49135 is slower - and the image
is first pixelated before it gets newly rendered.
Usability ("Professional photo manager")
If I compare the GUI between these three evolution steps I see a clear step backwards - besides the fact
that the GUI elements are just replaced (re-painted), not re-arranged or, better, re-thought. The menu
structure is more or less the same, like the preference settings which are not very user friendly and
better be cleared up.
Generally I have no problems w/ the much darker interface, but …
One big negative GUI and UX fact is that in Media Pro the process/activity indicator ("Spinning Wheel")
on the right bottom window is very hard to see because the contrast is very low - thereforee I can’t tell
if the application is idle or busy (eg. during import).
Comparing the color values:
rgb(32,32,32) / [color=#202020:1qnat5at]#202020[/color:1qnat5at] [Indicator/"Spinning Wheel"]
vs.
rgb(40,40,40) / [color=#282828:1qnat5at]#282828[/color:1qnat5at] [Background]
https://img.skitch.com/20110527-1c2pb9jsin4q2yex284hg7uwte.png
Also the "glossy" effect at the sidebar dividers ("Media Info", "Photo EXIF", etc.) has a negative effect
for the readability and is additionally distracting.
https://img.skitch.com/20110527-d88bsha5g1a4sb37b2mpe5jwsa.png
Extras ("Showcase your work")
No new HTML templates (web galleries).
===========================================================================CONCLUSION
The "all new" Media Pro 1 isn’t new at all; it’s a paint over, UI/UX disregarding, performance reduced,
and crashing Expression Media "successor". I know Phase One had to act in a very limited time frame due
to licensing conditions w/ Microsoft, but this first version under a new management is, sorry to say, a
very bad start. And the customer has to pay the upgrade fee.
Hopefully they get the application back on the (right) track before the loyal customers get off.
Due to lack of other (real) possibilities I’ll stay w/ Expression Media 2 - and give Phase One a (second)
chance w/ the next x.1 version.Date: 20110527.0241
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That's a good report.. thanks for taking the time to do that testing.
I too have found MP1 unworkable... with frequent crashing, noticable sluggishness, and the clarity of the UI taking a big step backwards.
I'm going to skip Media Pro 1... Even if they release a patch, my 30 days trial will almost certainly be over and therefore won't be able to see if any service packs make a difference.. so I guess I'll have to wait until MP2 is ready... Shame, I've been hoping this product would finally get better... ☹️0 -
Clearly this product needs to be reworked in order to be usable.. thx for the detailed look. 0 -
Speaking about poor readability...
The red text for offline media on dark grey is not readable at all for some of my collegues. I can understand that this is not working but I can still read it. But for others this becomes a total blur so MediaPro should use something else. Red over light grey was not a problem before.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/231879/mediapro/red.jpg0 -
[quote="Dudikowski" wrote:
Speaking about poor readability...
The red text for offline media on dark grey is not readable at all for some of my collegues. I can understand that this is not working but I can still read it. But for others this becomes a total blur so MediaPro should use something else. Red over light grey was not a problem before.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/231879/mediapro/red.jpg
Yes, regarding red text on a dark grey background, this is critical for people with color blindness (or color vision deficiency) and should be avoided.
I think Phase One should test the UI/UX again and maybe should take in consideration to get professional help by hiring a specialized consultant and/or UI designer, or at least take these issues seriously.0 -
Many thanks for such detailed testing. It confirmed my suspicion that MP1 is s-l-o-w compared with EM2. There are so many shortcomings that it seems we shall all have to see if a decent version arrives or just carry on with EM2, which does a pretty good job for me.
Mike0 -
[…] For the protanope, the brightness of red, orange, and yellow are much reduced compared to normal. This dimming can be so pronounced that reds may be confused with black or dark gray, and red traffic lights may appear to be extinguished. […]
— Color Blindness → Dichromacy (Protanopia), Wikipedia
Here is a comparison between «regular sight» and «color blindness (Protanopia)» …
https://img.skitch.com/20110531-jchdchkd5yrwjxqg1ru4bh52xx.png0
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