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Concept:
- digital postcard online service
- a la Apple iCards (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobileMe)
- only better ; )

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Goal:
eCards started in 1992.
iCards by Apple's iTools online service launched 5 jan 2000, was revamped in .Mac 17 Jul '02, but was killed by Apple's 2nd revamp called MobileMe on 9 Jul '08



Apple doesn't usually invent but reinvigorate any product category & they superseded eCards by far, in quality, originality, efficiency, clarity, ease, speed...
every other eCard service simply sucked & still sucks in comparison, even after Apple cancelled the iCard service.
no one cares about quality design in terms of service offerings, but thousands if not millions of users do care, as they send those cards to those they respect, yet designs are disrespectful, un-evolved or not on par.

It takes years to derive essence. This software must reach sophisticated simplicity - zen UI.
We're still in the middle ages in eCard dev. iCard did the world good. Who knows if it will return.
Yet if it does simply as the old iCards, it's not enough. JungleCards fills the gap & there's more to come...

jungleCards should become synonymous with this category
...like Kleenex for tissues, Google for search, iPhone for SmartPhone etc.


Why not invigorate this category, make it stunning & addictive.
It needs to catch up with browser tech & take advantage of built-in OS possibilities i.e. MacOS X + Vista/Mojave ; ).



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Competition:
no eCard competition exists. all have ugly cards, occasionally nice designs, and all their UIs are clunky & not user-friendly, or animated in infantile manner, or flash-based (forcefully so, even if user dislikes it or has slow internet connection).

WIX Cards www.wix.com/new/Holiday-Cards
Plaxo eCards http://ecards.plaxo.com/ecard/



or the cooler solutions, more innovative, yet lacking functionality:

equinux Stationary Packs ($30/$50) www.equinux.com/us/products/stationery/index.html
Belight MailFactory/Labels & Addresses ($50) www.equinux.com/us/products/stationery/index.html
dekorte PostCard ($10) www.dekorte.com/projects/shareware/PostCard/


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Compatible:

Integrate features with:
MacOS X + Vista/XP Addressbook
Apple iPhoto / Aperture www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/


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Code Lang:
web-based

or Adobe Air
www.adobe.com/products/air


you tell me, as expert, which web-based coding language is best, in terms of flexibility, state-of-the-art configurability, feature & UI potential


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Main Features:
Well, unless you're totally interested, i won't reveal mesmerizing features.
but to attract your curiosity, it contains all iCard features, but surpasses it with these keywords/features:

- huge postcard design library
- custom designs
- user uploads (moderated; auto-sized to fit our format: format, cropping & resolution)
- user uploads (unmodetated bin but through keyword tags)
- stamp choice (in design + # of designs; preloaded designs or by user but always stating "Created in Congo" (atop) + "Sent from _ _ _" (user input on bottom of stamp) vs. iCard "Hello From Cupertino, CA"; like iCard, state stamp date)


- font choice (7 styles + endless sizes)
- index (search cards visually or by word; categorized by theme, keyword, artist or user, date, color mood)
- image database (moderator/webmaster can edit/delete/add categories & images; user logs in to edit/add/delete own images)
- add card to basket (so that at end cam delete for final choice and/or write to all cards)
- background color
- card style (regular rectangle, rectangle but scalloped edge, rectangle but ripped edge, square, oval, round, all above shadowed)
- download (iCards only allowed to sent copy to sender's eMail too, but download should be available before or without sending at all)

- user steps:
1. user browses collection visually or searches by typing;
2. user clicks on multiple category images or adds to basket or adds own image;
3. clicks image that is automatically positioned on blank card;
4. clicks on stamp design & # of stamps;
5. types msg & stamp;
6. preview screen allows editing or send; send screen allows multiple emails (unlike iCards, sender + recipient names not obligatory, though available; download option vs. sending)

you just code, i give you all designs




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other skills:
open-minded; state-of-the-art coding; creative; original UI; on-time; communicative


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compensation:
since this software does only 1 thing, allow interactive online postcard creation, and i don't know your skills & timing, bug-free coding...let's discuss payment options...


thanks so much 4 your interest

corrections:

section: Goal:
eCards started in 1995 (www.e-cards.com).

section competition: add:
eCards www.e-cards.com
GreetingCards http://greeting-cards.com
Blue Mountain www1.bluemountain.com

sorry, thxRemoved file: jungleCards.webarchiveAttached file: jungleCards.zipRemoved file: jungleCards.zipAttached file: jungleCards.pdf.zipRemoved file: jungleCards.pdf.zipcorrections:
section Main Features: add:

- upload (please note that whether i, as owner or webmaster, add text quotes or cared images, i want to be able to just throw them all in a folder & have your site code add them automatically to database categorized for display & search for users. is there any way you can code a little upload app for me i.e. MacOS X widget, to easily upload files directly into the jungleCard site & database, that also allows me to tag files with keywords etc.?)

- quotes (jungleCard site 1.5 will include a database for quotations, poems etc. that users can search & paste or drag n' drop onto the eCards if they don't wish to write any message or add to their message! another way to make this eCard service different from the rest)


Attached file: jCards.zipRemoved file: jCards.zipAttached file: jungleCards-srs.pdf