New FREE teleprompter web-based app at DVinfo.net

Mike Drob · March 23rd, 2009, 10:01 AM

Ok so a few weeks ago I needed a quick cheap laptop teleprompter solution that I didn't feel like paying for and after browsing for available solutions, I didn't like anything that was out there.. so luckily i happen to also code for a living so figured i'd write my own. also figured i'd write a web-based one.

if you just wanna get to it already - check it out EasyPrompter - the best free online teleprompter.

I'd really love to hear your feedback, everyone. I intend to maintain and improve it, especially if there is interest. I also intend to keep it free. If it gest super-popular or people really want to be able to save scripts, settings, etc - maybe i'll think about sort of a premium account, but the basic prompter will always be free.

I think this is at least competitive to others like it but really want feedback.

Please go and check it out. there are no ads and no accounts to sign up for. just type in your script and hit start.

I didn't know where this should be posted so figured i'd post here. if someone thinks there's a better place for it, do let me know.

tell everyone ;)

Thank you

Mike Drob · March 24th, 2009, 09:13 AM

not a single piece of feedback? comon people

Alan Emery · March 24th, 2009, 09:20 AM

Hi Mike,

Very nicely done! This is super easy to use and set up.

Alan

Paul Kellett · March 24th, 2009, 12:13 PM

That's brilliant, definitely one to save to my favourites.
Is there any chance of you making it into a downloadable program ?
I've been in situations before where i could've used a teleprompter but i didn't have a net connection.
I'd be willing to pay a small fee for a program like that, simple and easy to use, plain black and white.
My paypal is on standby !!

Paul.

Andy Tejral · March 24th, 2009, 12:50 PM

Without even looking at it, I would agree that downloadable would be much better. No matter how reliable your internet connection is, Murphy says it will pick precisely the worst moment to go down. I wouldn't want to hold up a shoot waiting for someone to figure out what's wrong with the 'net.

Mike Drob · March 24th, 2009, 08:06 PM

A windows app is being considered. I also had the idea of making the web app downloadable. Meaning the javascript would just be saved and you can run it from your computer without a connection.

Dale Guthormsen · March 26th, 2009, 05:03 PM

Mike,

Well done! I have had use for a promter a few times and everytime I priced them I cringed and we moved on without one.

I wont have use for one until well into May when we shooting a three to four part series. It will be a first for us and the prompter will be excellent. I look forward to using it.

I actually had thought of setting up a power point to do it.

Now if you could make it stand alone so that you would not need an internet link that would be awesome for those of us who shootl mostly outside!!!!!!

Is there a chance of that?

Sean Walsh · March 27th, 2009, 06:44 AM

Mike - love it.

It does all it needs to do - I've just tried it out and it worked brilliantly.

I have to agree, a download version would be the icing on the cake.

Looking forward to your next phase of development...

Bill Mecca · March 27th, 2009, 08:55 AM

Mike, nicely done. a couple items though

1. I didn't see any controls to mirror the text, did I just miss them?
If that isn't a function then in order to shoot thru the glass the user would need to build a periscope type prompter. IMO mirroring text is essential.
2. Can scripts be imported or does one have to manually type the script in order to use it?
3. Downloadable is essential.

Ervin Farkas · March 27th, 2009, 10:14 AM

Can't wait for the downloadable version!

Colin McDonald · March 27th, 2009, 03:31 PM

Well done - thanks for posting that.

Brian Luce · March 27th, 2009, 05:27 PM

No mirror text? Deal breaker. :(

Mike Drob · April 2nd, 2009, 10:28 PM

unfortunately, there is no way (currently) to flip text in JavaScript. There are some unicode hacks that'll flip it horizontally but none that will do it vertically. The only way to get this is with a downloadable font that will simulate flipped text. Not the most elegant solution but i may have to implement it.

there is no way to import script aside from copy/paste at this moment. if there is enough interest, I will consider some sort of account-based setup where you'll be allowed to save scripts/settings.

downloadable version is coming soon - keep the comments coming!

Mike Drob · April 3rd, 2009, 01:02 AM

Ask and you shall receive. Portable stand-alone version is now available. Please let me know how it works for you all.

EasyPrompter - the best free online teleprompter.

Gary Nattrass · April 3rd, 2009, 02:52 AM

Thanks Mike a really useful thing to have on my macbook pro, it works a treat and is nice and simple for quick teleprompting.

March 23rd, 2009, 10:01 AM	#1
Mike Drob Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 75	New FREE teleprompter web-based app Ok so a few weeks ago I needed a quick cheap laptop teleprompter solution that I didn't feel like paying for and after browsing for available solutions, I didn't like anything that was out there.. so luckily i happen to also code for a living so figured i'd write my own. also figured i'd write a web-based one. if you just wanna get to it already - check it out EasyPrompter - the best free online teleprompter. I'd really love to hear your feedback, everyone. I intend to maintain and improve it, especially if there is interest. I also intend to keep it free. If it gest super-popular or people really want to be able to save scripts, settings, etc - maybe i'll think about sort of a premium account, but the basic prompter will always be free. I think this is at least competitive to others like it but really want feedback. Please go and check it out. there are no ads and no accounts to sign up for. just type in your script and hit start. I didn't know where this should be posted so figured i'd post here. if someone thinks there's a better place for it, do let me know. tell everyone ;) Thank you

March 24th, 2009, 12:13 PM	#4
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	That's brilliant, definitely one to save to my favourites. Is there any chance of you making it into a downloadable program ? I've been in situations before where i could've used a teleprompter but i didn't have a net connection. I'd be willing to pay a small fee for a program like that, simple and easy to use, plain black and white. My paypal is on standby !! Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

March 24th, 2009, 12:50 PM	#5
Andy Tejral Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 523	Without even looking at it, I would agree that downloadable would be much better. No matter how reliable your internet connection is, Murphy says it will pick precisely the worst moment to go down. I wouldn't want to hold up a shoot waiting for someone to figure out what's wrong with the 'net. __________________ Andy Tejral Railroad Videographer

March 26th, 2009, 05:03 PM	#7
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Mike, Well done! I have had use for a promter a few times and everytime I priced them I cringed and we moved on without one. I wont have use for one until well into May when we shooting a three to four part series. It will be a first for us and the prompter will be excellent. I look forward to using it. I actually had thought of setting up a power point to do it. Now if you could make it stand alone so that you would not need an internet link that would be awesome for those of us who shootl mostly outside!!!!!! Is there a chance of that? __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

March 27th, 2009, 06:44 AM	#8
Sean Walsh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, Milton Keynes, Bedford UK & Beijing, China Posts: 102	Mike - love it. It does all it needs to do - I've just tried it out and it worked brilliantly. I have to agree, a download version would be the icing on the cake. Looking forward to your next phase of development... __________________ Sean Walsh http://www.visionworkstv.co.uk PPro, Z1, EX3 - Currently in Beijing at CCTV-News

March 24th, 2009, 09:13 AM	#2
Mike Drob Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 75	not a single piece of feedback? comon people

March 24th, 2009, 09:20 AM	#3
Alan Emery Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Janetville Ontario Canada Posts: 210	Hi Mike, Very nicely done! This is super easy to use and set up. Alan

March 24th, 2009, 08:06 PM	#6
Mike Drob Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 75	A windows app is being considered. I also had the idea of making the web app downloadable. Meaning the javascript would just be saved and you can run it from your computer without a connection.

March 27th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#9
Bill Mecca Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 475	Mike, nicely done. a couple items though 1. I didn't see any controls to mirror the text, did I just miss them? If that isn't a function then in order to shoot thru the glass the user would need to build a periscope type prompter. IMO mirroring text is essential. 2. Can scripts be imported or does one have to manually type the script in order to use it? 3. Downloadable is essential. __________________ Award-winning Pine Barrens Documentary! Video, Audio, Music & More

March 27th, 2009, 10:14 AM	#10
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	I love it Can't wait for the downloadable version! __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

March 27th, 2009, 03:31 PM	#11
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	Well done - thanks for posting that.

March 27th, 2009, 05:27 PM	#12
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	No mirror text? Deal breaker. :(

April 2nd, 2009, 10:28 PM	#13
Mike Drob Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 75	unfortunately, there is no way (currently) to flip text in JavaScript. There are some unicode hacks that'll flip it horizontally but none that will do it vertically. The only way to get this is with a downloadable font that will simulate flipped text. Not the most elegant solution but i may have to implement it. there is no way to import script aside from copy/paste at this moment. if there is enough interest, I will consider some sort of account-based setup where you'll be allowed to save scripts/settings. downloadable version is coming soon - keep the comments coming!

April 3rd, 2009, 01:02 AM	#14
Mike Drob Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 75	Ask and you shall receive. Portable stand-alone version is now available. Please let me know how it works for you all. EasyPrompter - the best free online teleprompter.

April 3rd, 2009, 02:52 AM	#15
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Thanks Mike a really useful thing to have on my macbook pro, it works a treat and is nice and simple for quick teleprompting. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/