...anyone use one? Any recommendations?
I am looking at Hot Gloo and Pencil Project..
Ah heck, here's a good list with some iPhone solutions:
http://speckyboy.com/2010/01/11/10-completely-free-wireframe-and-mockup-applications/
I haven't used any of these. The only one I've heard of is Cacoo but I like the look of Pencil and Prototype Composer. I tend to favor simple, get-er-done, low-learning-curve programs that have stencils. I think the hand-drawn look is a deterrent and tends to use too much layout board workspace. So looking only at the screenshots, I'd pick Pencil,fwiw.
I used to use Pagemaker for 'sketching' back in the early 90's. The screenshot of Prototype Composer looks a lot like Pagemaker. Currently, I use Sketchup for 3d layouts (rooms, media centers, floor plans) but it sucks when it comes to text annotations. For html/site mockups, personally I'd find a template and import it to Citydesk, modify it to suit, then output the html directly.
www.axure.com - EXCELLENT wireframe and prototype software.
Another vote for Axure RP Pro here. Capable of high-level 'polar bear book' wireframes or something approaching an interactive website.
Another vote for Axure.
I use it all the time and make all of my guys use it.
I have used Axure a lot and it is great.
However, unless you have a client who is willing to pay for all the time you spend mocking up I would be careful with this tool. There is no way of reusing the mock up when you start developing the site/applicatione so to some extent it's a waste of time.
Thanks, looks like I know what I'll be trying!
I mostly use Axure for creating product specs.
So I create a wireframe in Visio or something similar and identify the functional and design aspects of each part of the page.
It then gets kicked to a designer for the mockups.
Once I get the mockups back I plop them into the original Axure file and continue writing the specs w/ full functionality requirements and any other details needed for the developers.
Whew, she ain't cheap! But it looks like I could build Travelocity2 in there. Easy to learn also?
Very easy
I'm not a wireframe guy, but I came across this today, fwiw:
http://iplotz.com/index.php
www.axure.com is good, but very complex.
I use this on a few fairly big ecommerce projects: http://balsamiq.com/ It's really easy to use and it costs $79
Very surprised that no-one has mentioned Balsamiq mockups. I've yet to find anything that can mock-up an idea faster and, combined with Napkee it's a few clicks to turn that in to a working prototype.
It's a pretty different approach to Axure, but we find it gets us out of prototype and in to development faster.
It's a combination that works well for us. It's quick enough to use that you can even "work live" in a face to face client meeting to try ideas out. Just make sure they realise that producing the final site isn't as easy!
...thanks to you guys, I just used Balsamiq to mockup my FB app and it worked like a charm. I am coming back now to get the name of other one, Napkee, and ask one question...
If Balsamiq is good for mockups... and Napkee apparently simulates/animates them.... is there anything that makes a flow chart out of all this, so you could show a high level diagram of what is going on? I had a woman draw the following diagram for me, but I could do this if I had something as easy as Balsamiq to use.
Any idea what software she used? Or you know of any software that would work?
I'm pretty sure Axure will make flow charts as well, but dont hold your breath - have to install again and check ;)
Dunno what that one is from, but gliffy http://www.gliffy.com/ is easy to use online app for flowcharts.
That looks like the ticket. Thx:)