Performance improvements to faciliate multi-touch and gestures on mobile devices
Improvements to mass storage device recognition and integration
Peer-to-peer networking
UDP networking
Ability to use Adobe AIR 2 to extend applications further with platform-specific native code.
For a more visual overview of what’s new in AIR 2, check out the Adobe MAX 2009 clip below featuring Adobe’s very own Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Lynch:
For more info on AIR 2 and to download the beta, visit Adobe Labs.
Flash Player 10.1
The new 10.1 beta release of Flash Player is now available for Windows, Mac and Linux. A beta is expected for Palm webOS later this year. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from the latest public beta of Flash Player:
Flash Player will be available on smartphones and other Internet-connected mobile devices, doubling the number of operating systems content can reach.
Performance improvements for graphic and video acceleration.
Improved rendering, scripting, memory utilization, start-up time, battery and CPU optimizations.
New global error handler enables developers to write a single handler to process all runtime errors that weren’t part of a try/catch statement. Improvements to application reliability and user experience by catching and handling unexpected runtime errors and present custom error messages.
Mobile-ready features including support for multi-touch, gestures, mobile input models, and accelerometer.
Expanded options for high quality media delivery.
New HTTP streaming and content protection features via Adobe Flash Access: Premium audio and video content can be securely delivered within the browser.
Machinarium is a visually outstanding point-and-click game developed entirely in Flash. The premise of this adventure game is to help the main protagonist, who happens to be a trapped, rusty robot, to escape from an equally rusty, metallic world of traps, danger and puzzles. The game was created by an independent Czech game development studio called Amanita Design.
Everyone loves a good banner rotator and everyone loves 3D, so why not merge those two concepts together? That’s exactly what Serbian art director and designer Stefan Kovac from ProgressiveRed thought when he created CU3ER.
It’s time for another round-up of Flash-related news from around the globe in another edition of News Flash!
When to Flash and when to Flex
Derrick Grigg asks the question “When to Flash and when to Flex?”, citing a perfect example of a company that developed a promotion entirely in Flex whereas Flash would have been the more obvious choice. Read more
Creating a Flash Facebook Application with the Facebook AS API
Self-professed Italian geek and programmer Emanuele Feronato provides a useful tutorial on how to create a Flash applicaiton for Facebook using the Facebook ActionScript API. Read more
GTween v2
Grant Skinner has announced the release of GTween v2. It’s a total rewrite of the GTween library focusing on size, speed, extensibility, and improving the readability of the code. Skinner declares that that the core library is “now just 3.5kb, and it’s 2-5X faster than beta 5 was.” Read more
ActionScript 3 Performance Optimization
Prompted by some of the work from Grant Skinner (in particular his FOTB 2009 session) and Thibault Imbert, Mike Chambers has been doing a lot of research lately into optimizing ActionScript 3 content. Not just how to make it run faster, but how to approach the process of optimization. Read more
Hype Update
We featured Joshua Davis’ HYPE Framework back in September on the ActiveDen blog, and today saw the release of a new, updated version. HYPE is a creative coding framework built on top of ActionScript 3. A major goal of HYPE is to allow newcomers to Flash and ActionScript to creatively play and express themselves while they are learning how to program. Read more
Sorenson Media Launches Sorenson Squeeze 6
Squeeze, the professional Flash video encoding leader since 2001 is now even better. Features a new, streamlined interface with notifications, automated review and approval workflow & automatic syndication and publishing options. Sorenson are also claiming performance speeds of up to 5x faster. Read more
The 20 Best Internet Flash Games
British newspaper The Telegraph have compiled a list of what they feel are the top 20 Flash games on the Web. I’m not sure they tried very hard with their list, but there are a couple of nuggets in there. Read more
Adobe announced huge news for Flash developers at the Adobe Max conference on Monday: Apple are now accepting iPhone applications developed in Flash.
Although it is still not possible to run Flash-based files in the iPhone Web Browser (Safari), it does mean that you can start creating and submitting files developed in Flash Pro CS5 directly to the Apple iPhone App Store. These official, standalone Flash-based apps will then run on the iPhone just like all current App Store applications.
We got a clue this would happen a few weeks ago on the FlashDen Blog when we took a look at the new Adobe Flash Platform Service which curiously cited the Apple iPhone as an available vehicle for the new platform service. We didn’t quite realize it would become reality so soon however!
It’s a new way to distribute Flash content and Flex applications.
You can distribute your content via mobile devices, online social networks or across user’s desktops.
Allows developers and advertizers to track use through an array of traditional and social analytic tools.
Allows applications to be monetized through ad-hosting.
Part of the distribution service is powered by Gigya whom Adobe are partnering with for this new service. Gigya is quoted to have 250 million unique users per month.
We’re always excited to hear about forthcoming Flash conferences and then bring them to your attention. Conferences are a fantastic way to not only learn about cutting-edge technologies, design and innovation pertaining to Flash, but they’re also a great way to socialize and interact with fellow Flash designer and developers who have the same passion for Flash as you do.
Flashpitt 09 Conference
On October 15 and 16 this year, Flashpitt will open its doors for the second consecutive year in Pittsburgh, PA in the USA, for interactive designers and developers of all abilities. This two day event features an entire day focusing on hands-on workshops and a final day of conferences by leading Flash developers such as Seb Lee-Delisle, Phillip Kerman, Scott Janousek, Jer Thorp and many, many more.
Small Class Sizes
One of the best things about Flashpitt that makes it unique compared to some other larger conferences is the smaller class sizes. Workshop class sizes are small with a maximum of only 30 people. This helps create the perfect environment for learning. So instead of trying to make huge profits on hundreds and hundreds of attendees, Flashpitt prides itself on teaching effectively to small groups of people.
Schedule of Events
Seminars and workshops at Flashpitt are split up into two days. The first day on October 15 is Workshop day where there are four workshops available. In the morning, you have the choice of:
Flash Video and FMS
Beginning ActionScript 3.0
And in the afternoon, you have the choice of attending:
Intermediate ActionScript 3.0
iPhone Development for Flash Developers
Day two meanwhile covers 11 wide-ranging seminars including:
Flash and Web Standards: Getting Along on the Playground
Brewing Non-PC Flash Experiences
Video Production on the Cheap
Creative Interactions: Flash Experiments
Developing MMOs on the ActionScript Platform
Conclusion
So if you’re looking for a short conference to develop your AS3 skills whether as a beginner or a pro in small workshops, but also want to engage in some awesome seminars by Flash experts, Flashpitt may be ideal conference you’ve been waiting for.
Acclaimed designer Joshua Davis and Flash coding legend Branden Hall have collaborated on a brand new project called The Hype Framework. The Framework is a visual framework allowing users to create their own generative art using Flash AS3 Objects/Classes, resulting in unique, interactive and animated compositions. Full details have not yet been released, but the resulting effects look very promising:
filterbitmapdatarepeater_01:
exitboxtrigger_02:
variablevibration_04:
soundanalyzer_06:
Hype Workshops
It seems like the first chance of learning more about The Hype Framework will be at two workshops this fall hosted by Joshua and Branden themselves. More classes may be on the way but for now, you’ll have to be quick to register at one of the classes below. With less than 50 tickets available for each seminar, you’ll need to hurry to guarantee your place in one of these intimate Flash classes.
Get Creative, Venice Beach, California, October 1st – October 2nd
Get Creative, Toronto, Canada, November 14th – November 15th
Bonus Hype!
As a little bonus to generative art fans out there, I thought I’d give a quick mention to Joshua Davis’ iPhone application called Reflect. This app allows you to create your own, unique generative art based on algorithms programmed by Joshua himself. Here are some screenshots:
It’s time for another round-up of Flash-related news from around the globe in another edition of News Flash!
10 Killer Flash Tips For Beginners
A great round-up of useful Flash tips for beginners. Tips include, how to make URL buttons in AS3, using the Tweener class or tween engine for motion tweening, and how to create a simple preloader.
Adobe Flash Accessibility: Best Practices for Design
It takes a special kind of designer, especially in Flash, to correctly design for accessibility.These best practices from Six Revisions will help improve accessibility awareness and standards in your Flash productions.
30 Flash-Based Photography Sites
Web Designer Wall have assembled 30 gorgeous Flash-based photography sites which act as a great resource of inspiration for gallery designers and photographers everywhere.
3D Pixel Fun
Not content with the way Flash renders 3D, Flash freelancer Kris Temmerman decided to build his very own 3D pixel engine. Do 3D isometrics get any cuter than this?!
Smooth your video!
This little tip from FlashGamer.com serves as a great reminder to smooth video when using video in your Flash projects. Oh the power of one line of code!
Page Flip 3D
There’s a new Flash-based Page Flip on the block and this time’s it’s 3D! Unfortunately, there’s no demo available yet that I know of, but the list of features on the PageFLip3D Web site sounds incredible. Full text search, search engine optimized, built-in media player (including video and audio), table of contents, fully customizable. But there’s more! PageFlip3D also promises a full set of analytic tools such as hot-spot tracking to see where customers are clicking most in your installation of PageFlip3D, geo locations of visitors and plug-ins to Google Analytics!
Flash, what is it good for?
Bit-101’s Keith Peters waxes lyrical on why
Flash still has its place when it comes to certain types of Web design/development. But what are those areas where Flash still excels over technologies such as JavaScript? Read on!
It seems like the Flash community have been reacting very strongly to a collection of articles on both the current state and future of ActionScript 3 this past week.
Pros & Cons
On the one hand we’ve got people arguing that AS3 development is more verbose than AS2 and therefore slower to code, there’s a complicated learning curve, and a plethora of ignorance from Adobe as far as acknowledging and fixing shortcomings and bugs with AS3. Meanwhile on the positive side, people have been defending how much better the object oriented approach to AS3 has enriched Flash development, especially with its similarities to JAVA development, and how much faster, lighter and more powerful AS3 is compared to AS2.
One thing seems clear – AS3 is here to stay whether it’s perfect or not, and AS2 will continue to fade away. So the sooner the switch is made to AS3, the better. But just how open will Adobe be to not only listening to the community’s feedback, but by addressing those concerns?
The Flash Community Have Spoken
Here are some arguments both for and against AS3 that are currently being aired in the Flash community that make interesting reading. Have a read and then let us know in the comments how you feel about the state of ActionScript 3 and how you think Adobe could make future improvements:
