I reported on this iPhone app back in ’08, saying it would be a very cool app. Now, Sketches 2 launched with some major improvements over the original.
Sketches 2 is a new product that dramatically improves and augments the drawing and sketching capabilities of the original Sketches application, without compromising any of the fun and pleasantness customers are used to. Sketches 2 allows users to easily jot down their notes and scribble their thoughts using their fingers, illustrating their ideas with colourful diagramas, notes and sketches.
Built-in localization and extensive sharing options make it excel as a casual social pastime. In addition, Sketches 2 adds a lot more flexibility, making it suitable for creative individuals or even artists on the go. All areas of the application have been revised and redesigned to accommodate the new features in a sensible, easy to use interface where polish and attention to detail are noticed across the board.
The User Interface of Sketches 2 has been designed so it can provide obvious access to frequent features while allowing users to access advanced functionality when they need it. Not less importantly, it is also aesthetically pleasing.
Sketches co-founder Jorge Llubia says:
“We have tried hard to replicate Apple’s philosophy of user-centeredness, making controls look obvious without compromising functionality, and I think we have achieved an innovative paradigm to easily let the user choose among a myriad of options for a given setting”. This approach has been put to use in the selection of predefined clipart shapes, background styles or the color picker. “For the casual user, the way to select a pencil and a color is easy and fun. Advanced users will appreciate the flexibility -and beauty- of the new professional color picker”.
The same philosophy can be found in other areas of Sketches 2. Users can effortlessly sketch diagrams using predefined lines, circles and solid colors, but there are also natural-looking brushes that cater to artists and creative aficionados.
The use of drag-and-drop gestures for shape selection, or the incorporation of a continuous zoom and panning mechanism triggered by multitouch pinching are other examples of LateNiteSoft’s commitment to polish and detail.
Sketches 2 takes full advantage of the capabilities of iPhone OS 3.0. One example is the ability to capture a map with the user’s current position to use as the background for a drawing. “In previous versions of Sketches”, explains Jorge, “we had to use a very simple mapping interface, but the new one provided by OS 3.0 is stunning – users can zoom in to the desired area and select map, satellite or hybrid views, just as in the built-in Maps application. Using the map background, the new place marker shapes and the ability to email or tweet drawings, we are constantly using Sketches 2 whenever we go out with friends”.
Sketches 2 has also been created with device-and localization-awareness in mind. It will adapt to the characteristics of the device it is running on, and will show a localized version of the user interface when possible. Sketches 2 is currently available in English and Spanish, with French, German, Italian and Japanese coming in the next product update.
Pricing and Availability: Sketches 2 is available through Apple’s App Store for only $1.99 / 1.59 Euro (offer valid for a limited time). Sketches 1, currently at version 1.7.6, is available for OS 2.0 devices for just $0.99 / 0.79 Euro.
LateNiteSoft: Sketches 2.0
Sketches 2.0 Screenshot
LateNiteSoft is based in Torrelodones, a small beautiful town in the outskirts of Madrid, Spain. Bringing dozens of years of accumulated experience in both the software and telecommunication sectors, LateNiteSoft was founded in late 2006 as a Mac software company. Its product portfolio includes Xslimmer and Snapshot for the Mac, and Sketches for the iPhone. Copyright 2006-2009 LateNiteSoft. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Computer in the U.S. and/or other countries.
