Justinmind Blog

Justinmind invites you to take part in its beta testing program of Justinmind Prototyper 4.0. Lots of improvements have been made in the dynamic data grids, the workspace, keyboard shortcuts, tooltips, and many more. The beta has already started but you can join us anyway!

Download for Windows Platforms

Download for Mac OS X Leopard or later

Download for Mac OS X Tiger

Download English Tutorials

Download Spanish Tutorials

What is a beta version?

A product’s beta is an officially released version of a product which includes most of the product’s functionality. The beta version is intended for external testing of the product in order to identify configurations that cause problems, as well as collect requirements and suggestions from users.

Before its official release, a beta version ALWAYS undergoes a full cycle of internal testing, after which the application is sufficiently stable in the majority of computing environments.

What’s new in this version?

• New functions in the expression builder to simulate complex data flows

• Optimized workspace and more space to draw

• More event actions available

• Lot’s of new keyboard shortcuts

• Customized ID’s for widgets

• Organize your screens in hierarchy

• New HTML export with all the comments introduced inside the Prototyper and with data master simulations

• And even more like for instance, tooltips, masters size, single radio button, more intuitive data grids management, etc.

These are the recommended hardware requirements

• 1GHz processor or higher

• 512 MB of system memory (1GB recommended)

• 200 MB of available space

• Macintosh 10.4 or higher or Windows XP or higher

Please note that a beta version is NOT the final version of the product and therefore the developer does not guarantee an absence of errors that may disrupt the computer’s operation and/or result in data loss.

Consequently, beta testers use the beta version at their own risk and Justinmind bears no responsibility for any consequences arising out of the use of the beta version.

Participating in beta testing enables you to:

• be among the first to gain access to the latest versions of Justinmind Prototyper and share your opinion with us;

• help Justinmind improve the quality of the product being tested;

• provide your suggestions on possible ways of improving the product;

• free technical support;

• collaborate directly with developers and other beta testers using dedicated sections of our forum; and,

• receive free versions of the product, which are awarded to the most active beta testers.

When taking part in the beta testing it is necessary to:

• register to the beta program (if you are not already registered)

• download and install Justinmind Prototyper
• Windows Platforms (XP, Windows Vista and Windows7)
• Macintosh Platforms OSX 10.5 and later.
• Macintosh OSX 10.4.

• Download the tutorials either in English or in Spanish (they are not finished yet)

• spend a certain amount of time on familiarizing yourself with the product and testing it;

• prepare and send out bug reports on any errors found;

• provide suggestions on ways to improve the product being tested; and,

• report on compatibility issues (specifically related to your configuration).

Reporting problems:

• To report an error, please provide a detailed description of the ways in which it manifests itself on your system, the steps which lead up to the error and characteristics of the hardware used for testing.

• You can also use this procedure to provide your suggestions on improving the product.

If you have any questions regarding the Justinmind Prototyper 4.0 beta testing program, please write to jim.support@justinmind.com.

Keren Flavell reviewed Justinmind Prototyper during her last participation in the “Byte Into It” radio program, a weekly space in RRR from Melbourne, Australia. Check it out!

And don’t forget to register to our private beta for the new 4.0 version. Did I mention that you can win free licenses?

Thanks Keren and cheers to all our Aussie users!

In September 2010, Justinmind will issue a enhanced version of its Prototyper. With Justinmind Prototyper 4.0, you will create dynamic website wireframes and highly fidelity application prototypes without coding. Register online at http://eepurl.com/FNTV to test the new Prototyper and win free licenses of a value of $495 each.

Dear customers and users,

Today we have launched a new update for Justinmind Prototyper with some interesting improvements that could make your daily work more comfortable. Important: if you use the new widget named “rectangle” your prototype can be opened with the 3.2 version only (not older versions).

Tables

We have changed the way tables resize. Now, only the last column or row is resizable. We realized that resizing all the cells when a table is resized has more drawbacks than advantages so we changed it.

Selection

Components are not always easily selected. So we´ve decided  to improve this feature by highlighting components when “flown over”. Now, you’ll see a nice orange border effect when you put the mouse over a component. Furthermore, the cursor now changes state to suggest possible actions to users.

Containers

We also decided to change the way containers work. Before, you couldn´t  put a component over a container as the component was integrated straight in the container. We also changed the dual structure of “layer containers” vs “simple container” as it was impossible to transform one into the other. First, we changed the “container” widget to a more simple “rectangle”. Moreover, all the old “containers” are now “layered containers”. Please note that all prototypes made with older versions work fine, however, prototypes made with the 3.2 can´t be opened with older versions.

Widgets

We have noticed that certain users tend to create widgets by clicking on them in the control panel and then click again on the canvas, instead of using the drag&drop function. These users were used to other drawing tools that work like that, so, along with the drag&drop option, you’ll be now able to create widgets by clicking on them on the control panel. This can be really useful when you want to draw a rectangle with a certain size from start.

Outline View

The outline view was a really good solution to the selection issues on the widgets but we have received many requests to improve it. So now you can right click on the outline view elements and execute the same options that if they were selected in the canvas. Also you can define the order of the elements by drag and drop and insert elements into containers also by drag and drop, all inside the Outline View.

Keyboard shortcuts at Properties panel

The canvas  were reacting to keyboard shortcuts like CTRL+C or CTRL+V but the properties panel wasn´t. So users thought they were copying and pasting properties between the properties input fields but what they were actually doing was making copies of the screen component that was selected. To avoid such confusion, we have implemented all these keyboard shortcuts on both canvas and property panels.

We are always happy to receive suggestions from anyone, drop us a line! Many of the suggestions have already been implemented and others will come in future updates and releases. Thanks to all our users for their insightful feedback!

Wireframes and mockups have been used to think and define websites or applications before their implementation. But with the coming of the web 2.0, dynamic websites or RIA, you need to think everything from UI to conditional navigation or the type of interactions you want to use. But mockups or even clickable wireframes are not enough anymore.

Justinmind Prototyper 3.0 is a powerful wireframing tool designed to build fully functional dynamic prototypes without any coding, both on Windows and Mac.

At first glance, Justinmind Prototyper looks really powerful. It lets you create Rich Interactive & dynamic Application prototypes. You can also integrate real data and simulate their behaviours through datamasters and datagrids. Ultimately, it simulates real conditional navigation (i.e. functional login pages).

OK, so “powerful” is one thing, but is it easy? Well basically, everything is done through drag and drop. From creating mockups to adding interaction and datas, Justinmind is incredibly easy to use. Easy as Powerpoint, the desktop application comes with a wide range of reusable templates, masters and widgets (sketching or mobile widgets). You can also drag and drop images and elements (videos, flash…) straight from your computer or any other application like Photoshop or Illustrator. You can also create your own interactions by simply drag & dropping events on elements. Even conditions and data are added using drag&drop, no coding is involved. You can build a dynamic website literally in minutes, and to test, you don´t need to export it all as it provides an instant simulation button.

But Justinmind is not just a quick and high-fidelity wireframing software. It also allows to test, comment and validate prototypes. You can add and attach requirements directly to elements or export them. Once you´ ve commented the prototypes, you can generate your own customised specification documentation (.doc) with webpage images, diagrams, navigation flows, requirements and comments. The prototype generated is coded in HTML so that you can share it quickly and easily.

Once you ´ve created and export your prototype to HTML/JS, the extent of interaction and dynamism is such that the prototype is, for end users, identical to the final product.

Justinmind Prototyper is a new wireframing tool particularly powerful and easy to use. Whether it’s for definition, design, validation, development or testing purpose, it can be used through out all the processes of an IT project. Overall, it `fluidifies´ communication, cutting cost and rework load… because a good prototype is worth a 1000 words.

Widget Libraries: prototyping easier than ever.

We’re launching a very useful new feature: Widget Libraries. With them, it’ll be easier to include pre-designed icons, templates, html and flash codes.

With pre-made libraries, you can wireframe even faster. To warp speed now.

You don’t have to create a login screen every time you do a mockup. Nor OpenID banners. Even a Flickr Badge, if it’s what you want to insert. Now, you can reuse the widgets, download from our website, or even share yours with other creators.

Create a 2-column layout? Just drag and drop, and adjust the size. Headers, links, collapsable regions or breadcrumbs? The hard work is already done. You can also save your most used fields (like a login or a shopping cart) and reinsert on another project with just a few clicks.

HTML Wireframe Generation

Now, you can generate HTML of your prototype with just a simple click , sending this to your clients, sharing with colleagues and simplifying work. This was a request from several users, and we’re glad to announce it as a new feature of our new Justinmind Prototyper 2.6 version.

Mini-screens on the right side

A great usability improvement, now the Screen Panel shows a mini-view of your screen, so it’s easier to know where you are linking to, and facilitating work. You’ll never wonder again where you are pointing at.

Conditional navigation

Now you can add conditions to you navigation flow in your Events panel. It’s easier to create login screens, simulate password errors, or any kind of navigation that’s based on different conditions.

It’s just another new feature that can easily be added with Justinmind Prototyper 2.6

Change common properties in selected widgets

Do you want to change the colours of ALL buttons at once? Increase font size for all titles? Now, by just selecting them all, you can change de properties with just a few clicks.

Work with full screen

Another improvement for the designers, you can also edit the objects while working on full screen. Just click on the icon and voila.

Improved Colour-picker

Now the colour-picker shows the current selected colour, helping (a lot) when you’re trying to select that tiny little blue dot. Neat usability asked by our users.

Hooray! It’s online.  Officially launched, as you can see on our home, download directly the brand new, tested and approved Justinmind Prototyper 2.6 for both PC and Mac. After months of coding, beta testing and preparation, we’re ready to deliver you our renewed flagship product. Now, it’s even easier to design and develop wireframes and prototypes for web, desktop and mobile applications

Click here to download both PC and Mac versions.

Among the new features are:

• Widget libraries
• HTML Wireframe Generation
• Mini-screens on the right side
• Conditional navigation
• Change common properties in selected widgets
• Work with full screen
• Improved Colour-picker

Tomorrow, I’ll do another post with detailed explanation about the new features.

The interface is clearer, and easier to use the drag and drop functions. With this new release you can simulate interactive mockups, even with real data, before starting the project development.

See some tips and tricks on our published tutorials, or wait for the new ones this week:

Tutorial 01: from wireframe to prototype

Tutorial 02:How to create a form using JustInMind Prototyper step by step

Tutorial 03: Filtering data and hiding elements with JustInMind Prototyper

Tutorial 04: Creating a comment form and simulating a comment with real data