Timeline 3D App Reviews

I used to use this program all the time, and I LOVED it. But most of its most useful features (like being able to format the dates in the timeline itself) just don’t work with El Capitan. Technical Support has been unhelpful. Until these problems are fixed, don’t waste your money. Once they’re fixed, it’s worth taking a look at this program again.

-Edit Background image or video 4K Format (Loopable, and Custum size or full screen) -Add a soundtrack, I suggest track involving with the Timeline presentation. It can be the same principle with the Background image or video. -Custom Size image or Video to give more or less importance to an event -Timeline background panoramic image following the Timeling progression. -Inter Timeline on a Event! -Bring back old features (-Entry by number instead dates) -Add a kind of google+ friends projects! It can become really popular! For now it’s not really usefull for me. BUT Please Mr. Adam add those features and it can change the interest of your product! ;)

When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing that you can actually obtain graphically sophisticated timeline software like this for free. And, as long as you’re happy with the basic features (which are pretty impressive), it looks like you never need to pay. My feeling is that, if you’re going to use timelines a lot, it is well worth unlocking the paid features to allow export to a Keynote or PowerPoint slideshow or to a website. A few things prevent me from giving this a 5-star rating as it stands: 1. A few bugs. For example, on exiting from a presentation, Timeline often rewrites the date of the most recent event with that of the oldest one. As long as you’re alert, you can put it right immediately, but it is rather a strange bug that could cause some people some problems. In addition, I find that Timeline sometimes removes notes and tags from one event and puts them in the next one. Again, rather a perplexing bug that could cause a lot of confusion if the problem isn’t noticed right away. 2. Color codes seem to be ignored in some of the provided themes. 3. Text and themes are only minimally editable. It appears to be impossible to make selected text bold or italic, for instance, and you can’t decide, for example, that you want event titles extra-large. 4. There is a tags field in each event, but it doesn’t seem to have any function. There is no autocompletion and no way to bring up a list of previously-used tags. You cannot click on a tag to show all the events that have that tag. Tags don’t show up during timeline presentations. It is to be hoped that the tags field has been introduced initially and will be followed up by ways to leverage the tags.

This program was a great addition to my software library. I had some great projects in the works but now I have to pay for the export features??? Why did you do this?

Wonderfully done application. Fantastic developer support.

I’ve been using Timeline 3D for a while now. I use timelines a lot in my blogging/writing, and this one had all the features I was looking for. I especially like the ability to export in so many formats, and then decide how I wanted to host my timeline on the web. I purchased the app years ago, long before it was on the app store, and the export features weren’t “free” then, either. You got them when you paid for the software. I’m so happy with this app that I don’t mind paying for them again. It happens from time to time, when developers have to create an entirely new application that’s compatible with OS upgrades. It’s an application worth paying for. I tried the beta and the look and feel is much nicer. It feels more stable than the previous version, too. I’ll have to kick the tires on the final version, but I expect it’ll be as good as evern. I can’t wait for the updates to the iOS version, and seemless editing between desktop and mobile platforms.

I’ve used various iterations of Timeline 3D over the years. I am thrilled to see it updated for Yosemite. The program itself has never been free, at least not with all the features. This model of free with exporting costing $25 (or whatever it is) is more than reasonable. Great software should be paid for. That’s how developers earn a living to make more great stuff. Thanks for another excellent version!

Loved the previous version of this app, in fact, Id have paid an upgrade fee simply to have it working under Yosemite. The new version? Not so much. It eschews the timeline interface where new entries are seen in the timeline as soon as theyre entered, and replaces it with a drab boring list of events. After youre done making entries and looking at the gray screen, you can "generate" a timeline that looks similar to that created by the previous application. The "killer feature" here, apparently, happens when you click on an event in the sidebar and the timeline zooms to show that particular element (see screenshot above). Its cool for presentations, but as I never used timeline for live presentations the new effect is lost on me. Id much rather have the old workflow where I can see my entries on the timeline as Im working on it. The 3D view also leans towards invoking motion sickness. If you run the mouse over the event list it automatically expands. Moving the mouse back into the window contracts the list, and moving the mouse offscreen (even just to the menubar) hides the event list completely. The net effect is that of a 3D window thats constantly growing and shrinking and showing and hiding elements on every mouse twitch. Better, I think, to have a standard segmented control in the toolbar to show and hide the list as desired and as needed. The magically changing workflow is distracting and more than a little annoying. Another minor nit is that the app will import old timeline files... and immediately forget the name of the file. Every document imported and saved is "untitled". Unlike the other review, I dont mind paying for upgrades or getting a "free" app and paying to unlock functionality. Developers have to eat too. I just wish the new app had more of the flavor and charm (and workflow) of the old app.

Over the years, I purchased two copies of this (2008) and again in (2010) as part of various promos. It looks like they’ve moved it into the Mac App Store and part of the compromise is that it’s a free download with $25 as an export feature. Considering even though I’ve owned it for 7 years and I’ve never used it other than to dabble, I’d have to say this is a net-win for most people as you can basically try and use for free, and only pay for it if you need to produce something for video, presentation, or web editing, all for about half the retail price of the original. As per usual for developers who have moved into the store, there is no upgrade for previous owners, who I’m sure will disappointed with having to fork over some more money. OTOH, things like Yosemite/iCloud and Retina support may be enough to ease some of the pain. By the way, there’s an iOS version for $10 which I’ve never used, just FYI. In any case, if you ever have to create a multimedia presentation based on a timeline, then it’s worth looking into this. As a free download, it can’t hurt.

I agree with other reviewers that the loss of the old timeline editing interface is the biggest tragedy here. I am very comfortable working direclty in the timeline and have been doing that for years with prior versions. All the fancy 3D motion graphics a total distraction for me in trying to navigate my timelines. I’m really hoping the developer brings that old editing interface back.

Ive enjoyed working with Timeline 3D for several years and Im amazed and the blend between function and aesthetics it is able to produce. To deliver a great timeline app is hard enough, but to produce one that plays nicely with iOS, MacOS, print, movies or web is incredible. I thought the prices to unlock different export functionalities were very friendly and the export functions work great. Great update, free download, ability to display on any screen and print. Great app! Looking forward to using it more, much more.

I’ve used this program for a few years. Mostly now and then when I’ve got something that really needs this kind of treatment. When I do, it’s awesome. I had some challenges recently upgrading some old files to the latest version and the response from Adam was incredible. He responded personally and we walked through the issue. He fixed it and found (and fixed) a bug in the process which will be in the next update. Thanks Adam!

I downloaded the previous version a couple of weeks ago to try it out, great app with flexibility. Could be used for presentations and nimble enough to visually sketch out rough timelines before adding all the details. With the new version you loose three great features in exchange for “simplicity”. 1. Instead of editing in the graphic timeline view, you must now edit in an abstract list view and render to 3D every time you need a visual reference, very cumbersome and time consuming. 2. The new version sizes pictures for you, not so good. I prefer controlling the size of the pictures, the user should determine the size and emphasis of each graphic, not the app. 3. Showing the entire timeline on one screen. Maybe I’m missing something here? There should be a zoom view for working/viewing small segments of the overall timeline. Your product was already very easy to use and first class, but now you’ve traded away some great functionality for no good reason. Maybe you can alter the previous version to run on Yosemite for us “power users” and leave the new lite version for the kiddies. I’ll buy the old version today but not the new.

This app used to be elegant, beautiful, fun, and made you more creative. Now it is the exact opposite. 1. You used to edit in the timeline itself with background images, fonts, embedded images, and other settings. The result is that working in the application made you feel intuitively “in tune” with the creative aspect of the project you were working on. Now you have to edit events in a blank white interface that is like a stripped down Notes file or Text Editor. In addition the application controls image sizing and other settings. You might as well be writing an XML file in a text editor that the timeline would read from. 2. If you want to actually see your work you have to render it into “3D Presentation.” The separation of preparation and presentation is utterly ruinous to the creative process. Nevermind the fact that probably much of Timeline’s actual users NEVER present their timelines at all, but instead create them for personal use, like myself. Timeline used to be useful for visualizing all kinds of data, whether you ever intended to present it or not, and the VISUAL aspect of working in a Timeline visualization (as opposed to a spreadsheet) is directly related to the question of “Why am I using this app at all?” There used to be a good answer. 3. You also have to pay to be able to save your work in different formats. Again, this follows from the idea that the ‘rendered’ or ‘saved’ work is something different than the work itself. You can’t work in multiple formats and simply use Timeline to keep them all in sync. The entire philosophy of the application’s new workflow, i.e. that you should work and then render and then work and then render is reminiscent of 1970s computer applications. When working on a visual project in a visual space, like a timeline, it is ESSENTIAL to have real-time rendering of every change. I am a web application developer by profession and for years we put up with the work-then-refresh process but nowadays even web applications are built in real-time with real-time display of every change. This application is like a Neanderthal version of it’s previously evolved self. I am deeply dismayed to see one of my favorite applications of all time become a glorified Notes file with a wait-and-see-it presentation mode.

This version is not a serious tool. Features this product needs to be a serious timeline tool include: 1) ability to see and work with the timeline in 2d mode. 2) ability to customize font and image size for each entry. 3) ability to export a timeline into a multiple page pdf. Condesning everything into one page makes complex timelines illegible.

I give presentations using Keynote. I use slides with MP4 movies exported from Adobe Premier Pro and I export Image sequence and slideshows for presentation from Timeline 3D. I also export Timeline WebGL files for posting on the web. I love what Timeline 3D does and hope that they continue to support it and add new features, such as, perhaps, a 3D Horizontal presentation mode in addition to the beautiful verticle mode in the current version. I have had the occasion to need support and have found Adam to be very responsive and helpful. BeeDOCs is one of those great small companies that makes a unique, easy to use and very valuable tool, if you have a need for an excellent Timeline tool with lots of export choices. I was happy to pay $25 to unlock the export choices. These have been upgraded since the last version—many great improvements. Thank you for a simple, easy to use and well thought out Timeline Tool.

I use Timeline 3D a lot, more now with the new version. It helped me to write my book because I could layout the scenes, the characther, when they will meet, when they will come and go.. The exporting features are awesome, is well worth to buy them. It might take some time to adjust from previous versions, once you do, you can not go back. Gret service and great support. Go buy!

I was a user of Easy Timeline until today when I upgraded to Yosemite and Easy Timeline stopped working. I tried to “upgrade” to Timeline 3D and found it doesn’t let you.. - edit in 2D (normal) timeline mode - show stop and start dates I’m sad I’ll have to hunt (again) for a basic timeline creating software. It will not be this one. :(

I was hoping that this would create a PDF so that I can print out my homework with picture on each of the pages with year on every of the pictures, but they minimized my pictures into one by one inch size thumbnail pictures. Even on the slideshow, the picture are still minimized. My homework was for my art class and the pictures need to be big enough to be able to see the art. I’ve worked on my homework for like 7 hours till exported my hardwork into PDF and slideshow. It turns out to be a big time disappointment for me. At least I just realized that I could’ve done better with Keynote than this when the slideshow actually use the Keynote. Now I have to do my homework whole again. *SMH* If you are student and a Mac user like myself, don’t waste your time or bucks on this, just stick with Keynote!

After spending a couple of hours putting together a timeline, I lost it. In fact when I tried to say I got an error that said (seriously) “Unable to save, the file no longer exists.” Well, uh, what? Also, everytime I went to full screen mode, the 3D display would go crazy. Well, even though the error message told me it couldn’t save, when I did “duplicate” it DID save a copy of the file. However, I had to go find it myself because “Open Recent” knew nothing about it. If you try to change themes while saving to iCloud, the App won’t show changes until you re-load (or re-start the App, I forgot). If iCloud integration is that broken, it should be disabled. I can’t find an option to print my timeline across multiple pages, making a lot of work pointless. Wish I had realized that sooner.