Mimi Uploader
- Recent Uploads entries will scroll to first image that doesn’t have alt text. So as you add alt text to a large batch of images, you won’t have to scroll to the farthest one each time. Check it out in this video (also embedded below).
- For accounts that have a tweets archive, do not show it as an upload destination.
- Bug fixes and performance improvements.
- Fix for alt text editor issue that caused editing text to go under the keyboard. Very annoying!
- Redesigned Help screen. Won’t glare at you in dark mode anymore!
- Bug fixes and performance improvements.
- Support for both export options, Markdown and HTML.
- It can be filtered in the Recent Uploads with the filter button on the top right.
- Not familiar with Alt Text? The editor includes a short summary with links to more information.
- As part of this Recent Uploads has been redesigned to show every image in proper aspect ratio and with an indicator to show whether it has alt text attached.
- Fix for issue with image orientation being messed up when uploading in rare cases.
- Small UI improvements related to the alt text feature.
- Supported for both export options, Markdown and HTML.
- It can be filtered in the Recent Uploads with the filter button on the top right.
- Not familiar with Alt Text? The editor includes a short summary with links to more information.
- As part of this Recent Uploads has been redesigned to show every image in proper aspect ratio and with an indicator to show whether it has alt text attached.
- You can now change the size of images you upload to any size you like. You can also change the JPG compression quality. These features can be found in the redesigned Image preferences screen in Settings -> Image.
- Export preferences have a new option to wrap exported images in links to themselves. Find it in Settings -> Export.
A new beta for Mimi Uploader is now out with support for RAW files and improved support for all formats. Also included are some bug fixes and performance improvements.
If you’re not in the beta, you can opt-in.
I look forward to your feedback. Thank you!
The Story of Mimi Uploader So Far
This is about an iOS/iPadOS app I make, called Mimi Uploader.
The Past
This is all from memory, so let me apologize in advance for any errors/omissions.
The concept of Mimi Uploader as an app came about gradually. First I started using Micro.blog regularly. I like putting together sets of photos, so I often have posts with those. Soon thereafter I realized it was a pain to manage uploading a series of photos for a post. Thankfully Micro.blog provided an API. So I wrote a python script that would do that from the command line on my Mac, and that greatly eased the friction.
Some time later I noticed that very often I was taking the step of moving photos from my phone to my Mac (or over iCloud), exporting them, and then using the script to do the upload. Often even for single photos. This increased over time as I used my big camera less often and most of my photos came from the iPhone.
Now, I’m always looking for app ideas to try and improve my skills as a professional iOS developer. It was with that in mind that I started the side project that later came to be Mimi Uploader.
I didn’t want to make the app free as I was wary of supporting too many users and feature requests for a side project. This was just before subscriptions on iOS became a focus of Apple and a source of much consternation amongst the community. And I wasn’t ready to wade into that for this side project so I set it up as a one-time purchase for $4.99. Mimi has remained at that price since it started in early 2020.
As time passed, people in the community started to notice and recommend it, and even Micro.blog encouraged, supported, and promoted it, for which they all have my gratitude.
Since Mimi Uploader was a side project that helped me learn and acquire new skills on iOS I was glad to put in the time to maintain it when I had any to spare. And yes, the evolution of software platforms means that there is a constant need for that labor. At some point I thought that perhaps people want to support ongoing maintenance, so I added a tip jar in the app. And some people tipped some times, for which they have my gratitude as well.
Every enhancement has been implemented because I wanted it, or because someone in the community asked for it.
And now four years have passed in total.
The Present
Mimi Uploader remains a passion project that is at the mercy of my spare time and spare motivation. So I continue with maintenance and small enhancements every now and then.
I should also mention that in the intervening four years that march of software platform evolution has led to a plethora of ways to accomplish what Mimi does, further diminishing its utility.
The Future
I have no idea. What do you think?
Edited to add: This is not a call for feature requests. There’s already an extensive list of that.
New version of Mimi Uploader is out 🎉
The latest version of Mimi Uploader is out. Here’s what’s new:
Get it from the App Store!
A new beta for Mimi Uploader is about to come out. The main update is an improvement to the alt text editing workflow. Now, as you add text to each image in a batch, there’s some auto scrolling to make it convenient. Check it out in this video (also embedded below).
New version of Mimi Uploader is out 🎉
The latest version of Mimi Uploader is out. This one was a long time coming as the beta cycle started over two months ago. I just had several other things taking my time. Thank you for your patience.
Here’s what’s new:
Get it from the App Store!
Hey folks, another beta cycle for Mimi Uploader is now commencing. I expect this to be mostly bug fixes. First fix is for that annoying issue in the alt text editor where the text you’re editing goes under the keyboard 😬
Mimi Uploader Now Supports Alt Text for Recent Uploads 🎉
You can now write alt text for any image in Recent Uploads. Tap on an image. Write the text. Hit Save. This is attached to the export snippet at the time of export.
Also in this release:
Grateful to @maique, @pratik, @pcora, and others for help with testing and fixing issues in this release 🙏
Get it from the App Store!
Mimi Uploader beta is out with Alt Text support
Alt Text support is here in beta!
You can now write alt text for any image in Recent Uploads. Tap on an image. Write the text. Hit Save. This is attached to the export snippet at the time of export.
Notes about this feature:
Want to try it out before launch? Join the beta!
This has been a big one 😅
Upload images using Mimi.
Mimi Uploader now offers more options for image processing and exporting 🎉
You can find these in the new version that is out today.
I hope you like and use these features as much as I do. Let me know what you think 😊
P.S. Note that this release does not contain the support for Alt Text that I talked about a few weeks ago. I’m still working on that and should have that ready in the coming weeks.
👀 Another sneak peek of a new feature for Mimi Uploader. You will soon be able to change the upload image size and quality!
Tweet with video of this in action
Upload images using Mimi.
Sneak peek at upcoming support for Alt Text in Mimi Uploader 👀
As you can see, this also necessitated a redesign on the Recent Uploads screen to make it a lot more dynamic.
Mimi Uploader 2022.0 is out with new features for Recent Uploads 🎉
Recent Uploads used to show only the uploads you make from Mimi Uploader. With the new update it will also show uploads made to your Micro.blog account from anywhere else.
Mimi is primarily a batch uploader and that is my favorite way of using it. I like to make blog posts that have a set of photos, and making that process smoother was the motivation to create Mimi in the first place. As such, each batch of photos shows up in Recent Uploads as a set.
The other uploads to a Micro.blog account are only accessible as individual images and are shown inline with the sets of Mimi uploads in the same reverse chronological list. A badge is used to indicate one type or another. There are other minor UI differences between the two types in the list, e.g. Mimi uploads shows a count of images. On the top right is a filter button that lets you filter for one type or another, if you choose to do so. The screenshots below show the new interface.
Exporting still works the same way with a right swipe. Sets of uploads made from Mimi can still be deleted with a left swipe. As always this only deletes the batch from Mimi and doesn’t affect the uploaded images. Other uploads don’t offer the deletion because they are representing the images on Micro.blog and not an uploaded set.
I hope you like this update as much as I liked making it.
Upload images using Mimi.
Sneak peek at a new feature coming soon to Mimi Uploader
Recent Uploads currently shows the uploads you make from Mimi Uploader. After the next update it will also show uploads made to your Micro.blog account from anywhere else 🎉
Mimi is primarily a batch uploader and that is my favorite way of using it. I like to make blog posts that have a set of photos, and making that process smoother was the motivation to create Mimi in the first place. As such, each batch of photos shows up in Recent Uploads as a set.
The other uploads to a Micro.blog account are only accessible as individual images. So the UI challenge before me was how to show these other types of recent uploads. At first I started to make a new screen that listed all the uploads on an account but that wasn’t working, primary reason being that it was boring af. After mulling it over I came up with an interface that feels better as a part of Mimi, and that’s illustrated in the video below:
All uploads on the account show up inline with the sets of Mimi uploads in the same reverse chronological list that is in the current version. There are subtle UI differences between the two types in the list, e.g. the background color for each kind of post is different. On the top right is a filter button that lets you filter for one type or another, if you choose to do so.
Exporting still works the same way with a right swipe. Sets of uploads made from Mimi can still be deleted with a left swipe. As always this only deletes the batch from Mimi and doesn’t affect the uploaded images. Other uploads don’t offer the deletion because they are representing the images on Micro.blog and not an uploaded set. This may cause confusion but I currently don’t have a design to avoid that. Got ideas?
I should have a beta out by this weekend so you can try this feature out if you like. To get on the beta, sign up for it with TestFlight.
Contemplating making Mimi Uploader a free app, supported with ads. I would only do this in a way that those who bought it never see ads. All new users would see ads. I may still keep the Tip Jar.
What do you think of this potential change? Would love to hear from people who use it and those who may use it in the future.
Mimi Uploader 2021.1 is out with main screen layout updates and a tip jar 🎉
The new version features a new layout system for the main screen to better view your picked images. This layout scales to maximize your content for all screen sizes and orientations. As you can see in the comparison above, the same six photos are viewed with better detail in the new layout.
This version also features a new button on the main screen in the toolbar at the bottom. Toggling this fits or fills each image in the space available to it. The comparison above shows each state for six chosen photos of varying aspect ratios.
Also in this update is a new Tip Jar in the Settings screen. Mimi Uploader has always been offered at a one-time fixed price. The addition of new features and all upkeep is complimentary, so any tips to support that effort are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your support! 😊
Images uploaded using Mimi.
A new TestFlight beta of Mimi Uploader is out for testing with this Tip Jar. If things look good, I should be able to release a new version in a few days with the new layout and image display options, in addition to this.
Images uploaded using Mimi.
A new beta of Mimi Uploader will be coming your way shortly. This includes layout updates for the main screen for all screen sizes and orientations.
It also includes a new button to toggle viewing images in their entirety. Here’s an example.
On the left is the way images will show by default, but tapping the new button in the bottom toolbar scales the images so they fit in their available space, as shown on the right.
Try it out and let me know what you think 😊
Images uploaded using Mimi.
I’m trying out a new image layout algorithm for the main screen on Mimi Uploader. The idea is to utilize more of the screen real estate and to adjust the size of each photo based on the total number.
Here’s a before/after in the portrait orientation.
And here’s one in the landscape orientation.
I’m quite encouraged by this and already finding it useful in development.
What do you think?
Recent Uploads on Mimi Uploader
A new version of Mimi Uploader is now out with my favorite new feature in a while. You can now access your Recent Uploads for reference or export! 🎉
Recent Uploads can be accessed by the icon on the top left of the main screen. Once in there, you can see a list of your ten most recent uploads sessions. Each of those can be independently exported to get the URLs in Markdown or HTML. Now if you miss exporting right after an upload, or somehow lose the exported text, you can still get to it later. I hope you enjoy this feature and find it useful like I do.
This release has been a long time coming. Working on this app is another one of those things that’s slowed down in the pandemic. I’m hoping to give it more attention in the future and have a list of features and improvements that I would like to bring to you.
If you find Mimi useful, please let others know, and leave a rating and/or review. It is very much appreciated.
Thank you for your support 😊
Images uploaded using Mimi.
A new build of Mimi Uploader beta is out. In case you’ve been using this recently, let me know if you have any feedback, especially on the new Recent Uploads feature. Thanks!