Lovely Charts: When Any Old Flowchart Simply Won't Do
"I wish I could make this flowchart look better" is a common complaint that pops up around ReadWriteWeb - and throughout offices around the world. So whether it's mind maps, wireframes, or flowcharts, we're always drawn to test new diagramming tools - just to see if they can help us create more aesthetically pleasing depictions of the concepts we're trying to diagram. So you can only imagine our willingness to try a Web-based application called Lovely Charts.
Lovely Charts is a new diagramming application that focuses on making your charts look better. In our opinion, there are two keys to doing that: first, provide visually appealing icons and second, provide ways of making sure those icons are in alignment.
Lovely Charts delivers on both fronts. It offers a series of icons beyond the traditional circles and boxes. What's more, because it's built with Flash, all of those elements are easy to resize and manipulate. Lovely Charts also provides the alignment tools we've come to expect from desktop diagramming applications, allowing users to select multiple items and force them into proper alignment.
But that's not all. Lovely Charts boasts a very intuitive composition mode, where users can easily clone items on the canvas by simply dragging and dropping them. The "Create & Connect" mode also provides a nice targeting feature that allows users to make sure the diagram lines are connecting the intended targets.
Lovely Charts was very easy to use. We were able to throw a diagram together - and a good looking diagram at that - in a matter of seconds. So easy, in fact, we were surprised that the demo lasted 15 minutes.
While we were pleased with the functionality of Lovely Charts, there was one particular issue that sullied our view of the tool. While the service boasts being 100% free, it's actually a limited version of the application that's free - one chart with limited options. If you need more charts, want to save revision history, or share them with anyone, you're going to have to pay. What does that subscription buy? Plenty. Unlimited diagrams, collaboration features, the ability to share diagrams, version history, commenting, and email alerts of changes.
To be clear, we have absolutely no qualms with application developers charging for their services. That's completely reasonable. What isn't reasonable is being told the application is 100% free and then being asked to pay €29 to use the full application. That's a bit off-putting. Which is too bad. Because we really liked the application.
Would we pay €29 a year to use the application? We might. It makes diagramming easy and the extended features seem well worth the price. We liked the application - just not the marketing of it.
Long story short, Lovely Charts is a simple and intuitive tool. If you don't have a charting tool, it's well worth taking Lovely Charts for a spin.
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That's a kick ass service! It seems everything is moving more and more browser based. I guess this only encourages Firefox 4 and the grand vision of blending browser to OS.
This is a pretty neat service, I wish you could upload additional images to be used in the charts though.
Nice, but a better model might be €1 for 3-7 days use. A lot of people only have occasional use for drawing software of this type, which makes it a perfect case for a 'pay to use' model. Hopefully providers will move towards standardising on a 1-click platform for access rather than having to sign up at each one (could Amazon supply this???).
For me, it's going to have to displace Omnigraffle / Keynote (also not paying the Flash tax on my battery . . . ).
Hmmm. You would have to be making an awful lot of charts to make this a compelling choice over OO.o Draw, which is free. Also, just charts? There are other, more comprehensive offerings out there for similar cost. Zoho, for instance... and most of those features are free if you're not a power user. Maybe I'm wrong but I think their marketing plan needs some adjustment.
Hopefully providers will move towards standardising on a 1-click platform for access rather than having to sign up at each one ( Muhabbet ) could Amazon supply this.
Wow, I just used this app and I love it! It's perfect for making the occasional diagram when busting out Illustrator would just be overkill.
This looks like a great program. I’m definitely interested in checking it out. If anyone is looking for a charting solution in a larger org. situation you might take a look at this video about 1OrgChart. Check it out!
http://www.digitalforumtv.com/.....y_702.aspx
Great comments, I love that people are willing to try various programs to find one that meets their needs. http://www.gliffy.com changed their service early this year so now all accounts (basic and premium) provide unlimited diagrams. Cheers everyone!
debik at gliffy dot com
Hi Rick,
thanks a lot for that gorgeous review and the points raised.
I think you have raised some good points that need to be addressed, and I think I would agree with you that the "100% free" button you picked is probably a bit "too much" in that it can be misleading to disappointment.
Point taken, sorry for it, I'll adjust that in a near future.
But now for my defense, let me also add that while the free version is indeed limited, it actually DOES let you create as much diagrams as you want for free!
Sure, it is limiting and uncomfortable for professional users who don't get versioning, can't save revisions etc etc, but Lovely Charts nevertheless offers students, hobbyists, and all other occasional users a free solution to what's after all only an occasional problem to them.
So, somehow, it IS completely free. Granted, that's given you are only using it very occasionaly, but it's not like if you only had a very limited set of functionnality, or if you had huge watermarks covering your diagrams that made them unusable...
But yeah, I guess I'm getting a bit too rethorical here, as I said before, I understand what you are saying, and at least partially agree with it, and will act upon it :)
That all being said, thanks a lot again for the fantastic review, have a great weekend !
J.
Shuld be lovely ... but,
why they do not use https ( secure web protocol )
to collect my gmail password at "Register for free" time ?
Let me know
Luca G.Soave
I know that there are several tools similar to LovelyCharts, like Gliffy, EDraw, etc. But not so long ago I run across one tool - Origramy (http://origramy.com/origramy.html). It seems to me that it differs from other tools, but I don't understand quite clearly. What do you think, which will be better to use on a website? Thу answer is important for me as I'll need it in my job.
Thank you!
I found this application to be overly simplistic, and lacked the functionality I was looking for. It was frustrating as I contantly had to manually resize boxes as it continuously tried to make decisions for me...I can't recommend this for anything other than the simplist charts.
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