The Couch

Last night, Apple pushed our latest update to Graphic.ly Comics on the iPad to the App Store. While it likely seemed we were laying low, we’ve been working with the great folks at Ninth Division to get this in your hands as quickly as possible.

If you have ever used our iPad app before, this update is for you. We’ve fixed the most painful bugs plaguing users (and us) alike, such as the dysfunctional Close button and several of the intermittent crashes and UI wonkiness issues. We’re now covered for iOS 4.2, too, and increased the speed of backups. If you tried the app before, and had some issues, please give us another whirl… we’d love to get your thoughts now. 

If you wrote a review before, thank you. If you haven’t, please consider it; we need your feedback, as do other new users to the app. All of us at Graphic.ly believe comics and characters are the most interesting when being discussed with friends, and the same goes for apps for comics, too. 

Don’t even have an iPad, and wondering where that leaves you? No problem. Graphic.ly has you covered. Buy and read any of your books here on the Web, on the iPhone, or your Mac, PC or Linux desktop. Even better? Our Android app is coming very, very soon. (Want to be the first to know? Sign up here.) Lastly, if you haven’t yet, be sure to hop on Facebook (to Like us) and Twitter (to Follow us) to join in the conversation with us… it’s the first place you’ll find out about some of the exciting announcements we’ve got coming up in the month or two. 

This was the first year we went to Comic Con International in San Diego and it was certainly a crazy one.  We wanted to share with everyone some of the fun, and not so fun, experiences we had a Comic Con International.

One of the things that stood out for me the most was the interacting with creators and publishers who stopped by our booth to talk to us.  The feedback we got was useful and positive, being able to discuss our plans and the needs of these creators was exciting and reaffirmed just how much we can help.  It was great to hear the excitement for our bonus material in Irredeemable #1 and how it generated talk about the additional things the creators want to do that can help us push comics into a digital age.  New things which that don’t just replicate the print books but compliments it while adding a lot of extra value, that we are sure fans will love and just as importantly the creators are excited to produce.

I did learn a lesson from Comic Con, that lesson cost us $100 and means that I will always check prices with a pedicab driver before taking the journey!

- Kevin

I enjoyed walking by the Oni Press booth, and recognizing Greg Rucka there; doing a double check on his name plate and walking on over.  We got to have a discussion on Wonder Woman, Queen and Country and all books that he has written.  Got some recommendations from him on other books (either at Oni or otherwise).  Then excitedly got to show off Graphic.ly on the ipad with Kevin to him.  Really hoping he might get involved with some of our extra content in the future.  Overall, with all the creators and publishers I talked to, it was really great having something to talk to them about instead of just gushing about how much I like their work in abstract ways.  Almost everyone I talked to creator and publisher-wise was excited about getting into the digital space: I got to try and convince them that Graphic.ly was the place to be (and it is)!  

Really a theme throughout the entire convention for me was how patient and calm most people were: there was absolute chaos happening all around, but for the majority people were very chill and polite: they were just there to have a good time!

People love them some iPad.  They want to play with them, check them out.  And truly I could see comic fan’s eyes light up when they saw our reader; it was just an “I get it” moment on how great reading comics on the ipad can be.  I can’t lie in that I’m not sure if I sold Graphic.ly to every single one of them, but I think I sold a few ipads this weekend….

Seeing kids play with the special features in Irredeemable #1: seeing the different styles of “coloring in” or “erasing”.  Some went super-fast-race-car and others were very careful to keep in the lines, even though there was nothing they could really do incorrectly.

Meeting the Glee kids…  

Coming to the con this was the one group/panel I wanted to meet.  Due to con-sibilities, I wasn’t able to get in line for either the signing or the panel.  I was disappointed, but I was there to get the good word out on Graphic.ly, not to meet triple-ly talented actors and actress…  However…  as I am sure many a con story goes, I was there at the right time to get in line after the ticketed people for a signing.  I got to gush to each of the actors and actresses about specific things in the show as the security people gave me wary looks, afraid I would kidnap Heather Morris and Naya Rivera to make them sign and dance just for me!  I made the n00b mistake of not recognizing the creator of the show Ryan Murphy.  *forehead slap*  The one person who could have made an all Sondheim episode happen and I walked right by the guy, wondering who the heck this guy between Chris Colfer and Naya Rivera was…  Glad I got my moment of fangirl silliness for Glee!

Running after Felicia Day so fast, my ipod touch flew out of my back pocket! (I personally liked when Audrey didn’t realize Joss Whedon was standing 4 feet in front of her - Jon)

Seeing the con, with cranes and all, getting set-up.  It’s a major undertaking…

-Audrey

What were some of your favorite memories from the Convention Floor?  Feel free to share them via the comments or submit them to The Couch.

Also come back tomorrow to hear from Adrienne and myself.