Review XN mobile Android - first impressions, one request

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Kai Schwarze
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Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2026 12:41 pm

Review XN mobile Android - first impressions, one request

Post by Kai Schwarze »

Device: Google Pixel 9a, Android version 17

Today i started with XN-View for Android. Mostly i think it is great, but one and two half disturbences i did find:

Installation process without any problems

Almost the first start of the app ist remarkable quick.

First view is in Albums in the DCIM folder. My 18 subfolders are all displayed correctly. Well done! Folder name und number of files are shown. Great!
What is missed? A menu concerning the complete folders with tasks like rename, delete, move, copy, sent ….

After opening a folder (=Album) I tap on an image and have a full-screen view with some meta-informations. Nice! But no option to hide these infos. Could be nice, to see just the picture on black background.
Double tap opens max zoom, second double tap leads back to full image view. Clever!

Swiping upwards gives the full range of meta informations, wow! Swiping downwards gives … nothing. Ups. This downswipe should lead back to the previous situation (full-screen-view)

the „…“ dropdown menu has everything what is with sense imaginable. Painting and marking works great, saving is possible without any troble.

So on the whole: You folks did make a great job! Congraulations!! :D

So, please think about the „downswipe“ and my be it could be an idea to have optional pop-up hints, what can be done, how does it work, that will help new users.
But probably, there are only two types of users – those who work and think by themselves - these will find out the „how-to“ easily – and the other 3 quarters of mankind how say, why the hell shall i think with my brain, if i could have an AI-solution …. senseless, to give them hints.

Sincerly – yours Kai
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xnview
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Re: Review XN mobile Android - first impressions, one request

Post by xnview »

Kai Schwarze wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2026 1:01 pm What is missed? A menu concerning the complete folders with tasks like rename, delete, move, copy, sent ….
Sorry but what do you means? you have the menu when you select some files
After opening a folder (=Album) I tap on an image and have a full-screen view with some meta-informations. Nice! But no option to hide these infos. Could be nice, to see just the picture on black background.
A long tap show/hide overlay
Swiping upwards gives the full range of meta informations, wow! Swiping downwards gives … nothing. Ups. This downswipe should lead back to the previous situation (full-screen-view)
currently it's a tap that returns to fullscreen, but i'll check to have it too
So on the whole: You folks did make a great job! Congraulations!! :D
Thanks!
my be it could be an idea to have optional pop-up hints, what can be done, how does it work, that will help new users.
But probably, there are only two types of users – those who work and think by themselves - these will find out the „how-to“ easily – and the other 3 quarters of mankind how say, why the hell shall i think with my brain, if i could have an AI-solution …. senseless, to give them hints.
I need to think about it
Kai Schwarze
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2026 12:41 pm

Re: Review XN mobile Android - first impressions, one request

Post by Kai Schwarze »

xnview wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2026 1:10 pm
Kai Schwarze wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2026 1:01 pm What is missed? A menu concerning the complete folders with tasks like rename, delete, move, copy, sent ….
Sorry but what do you means? you have the menu when you select some files

What I mean ist a menu related to a complete folder. Not the files inside the folder.
For example, if woluld like to delete a complete folder. Or rename the folder. Or sent / share a complete folder with somebody else. I hope, i could explain, what i meant.
After opening a folder (=Album) I tap on an image and have a full-screen view with some meta-informations. Nice! But no option to hide these infos. Could be nice, to see just the picture on black background.
A long tap show/hide overlay -
Ah, got it! Good idea. Just not obviously ... may be: An icon at the right side of the screen is easier to find?
Swiping upwards gives the full range of meta informations, wow! Swiping downwards gives … nothing. Ups. This downswipe should lead back to the previous situation (full-screen-view)
currently it's a tap that returns to fullscreen, but i'll check to have it too
Tap is a possibel solution, but not the logic way ... swiping in and tapping out is like getting in through the door and leaving through the window. Same way in and out is in my opinion more logic.
So on the whole: You folks did make a great job! Congraulations!! :D
Thanks!
...it is said with pleasure!
Kai Schwarze
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2026 12:41 pm

some more aspects:

Post by Kai Schwarze »

Something else:
If I open the details from a picture i see only a image section. I can't enlarge or shrink this section. I would prefer to see teh overview/complete image. or even better, have the possibility to enlarge / shrink the section.
Why? I often take some pictures from slightly different viewpoints or with differing focus. If I see only a section, i don't know, which picture out of this series i do see actually.
This ocures much more, if I use XN mobile with a tablet (Android).
An other point using a tablet is, that the size of folders should be flexible. In landscape format we have only three folders in line - but only two rows to be seen. On a smartphone screen ok, but on a 10" tablet screen not so awsame.
Yes - and i found my answere almost myself: - using "style" i can change the number of folders per line. It is a little bit hidden. I would suggest to put this feature some more in the "front".

I hope, these ideas help yo to continue making XN- viewer for Adroid to the best Android viewer of all!
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B.Douille
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Re: Review XN mobile Android - first impressions, one request

Post by B.Douille »

Tap is a possibel solution, but not the logic way ... swiping in and tapping out is like getting in through the door and leaving through the window. Same way in and out is in my opinion more logic.
I agree, though of it for some time as a more logical gesture to leave the detail view.
I would prefer to see teh overview/complete image. or even better, have the possibility to enlarge / shrink the section.
Agreed as well, already requested here viewtopic.php?p=217380#p217380
Daniel, happy user for 20 years, to manage photo and videos and share them in slideshows (Windows 11, Linux Ubuntu and Android)