We would like to announce that Down the Foxhole will be taking a “holiday hiatus” over the festive season and will be back in 2010. The wait will definitely be worth it however as we’re going to be changing the format of all our blogs in the new year. Meanwhile, site news and announcements will continue to be posted right here on the existing blog.
Flash Farewell
On a personal note, I would also like to announce that this will be my final ActiveDen blog post. I’ve been blogging here on ActiveDen pretty much every week day for the past 8 months and it has been an absolute honor, I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it! I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by and read each blog post, commented, written to me and liaised with me personally, and supported the blog during my residency. I also want to thank ActiveDen site manager Lance for the opportunity of blogging for ActiveDen, it’s been brilliant working with you, Lance!
My favorite part of the blog has always been writing about and promoting all the outstanding files you guys produce and sell on ActiveDen: Features such as Under the Radar, Author Salute and the ActiveDen Files of the Week roundup. It’s also been awesome to get to know more about authors via the interview series we also ran on Down the Foxhole. Hopefully, these type of articles have helped promote and expose your terrific work a little more.
Farewell fellow Flash fans, and Down the Foxhole will see you again in the new year! 
What’s an “API”? A Pink Igloo? A Pig Itching? Not quite.
The Marketplace’s Application Programming Interface (API) allows the development of applications with access to a range of data from all the marketplaces such as the most popular and latest files. More sensitive data such as your account balance, recent sales, and monthly statements can also be accessed securely using your individual API key!
So what? I’m a designer – why should I be interested in geeky code interface stuff? Well, using the API you can develop apps/sites for your mobile, your desktop, or even your blog. Did I mention you can even design and style your applications however you want? Now that’s pretty cool, right?!
Since the Marketplace API was released about 6 months ago, several authors have jumped in feet first to develop some outstanding contributions for the community.
Let’s see what’s been going on…
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The last 9 months we’ve been working hard on the financial parts of our system. During this time we’ve been building a better, more bulletproof accounting system into the app. It’s the kind of super important work that for the most part nobody notices, but ensures everything is working as it should. Along the way we’ve also been working on some other aspects which WILL be noticeable, and I’d like to tell you about three of them:
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We realize that our current asset library is looking a little old. Revitalizing the asset library is always a good thing to do as it provides new ways for you to present your ActiveDen files and also gives customers something fresh and different to look at.
New Assets!
We’re delighted to announce that we have some brand new photo assets coming to ActiveDen very soon! However, to whet your appetite, we’re going to show you some of the awesome photos we’ll be adding and give you an early opportunity to download them and start using them in your brand new Flash files!
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Since the freshly redesigned Envato marketplaces went live, one of the popular new features members have embraced is the ability to “Follow” authors. “Following” authors allows you to keep abreast of the latest files uploaded to all Envato marketplaces by your favorite authors. So for example, if you go to an author’s profile page and click the “Follow” button, you will start to follow an author.
New Feature: "Follow Me" Link
A brand new feature released in the last 48 hours is a personalized link that you can add to your own personal Web sites, social media Web sites and/or e-mail signatures etc… that allow other Envato members to “follow” you immediately, with just one click! Here’s how to create/add your own link:
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For just over three fantastic years FlashDen has been the jewel in Envato’s crown. It is our longest running and most active community, and thanks to the amazing authors who showcase their work here, has become the largest Flash marketplace in the world.
This week Adobe asked us to change our name and URL so that it would no longer contain the term ‘Flash’, which is a registered trademark of Adobe. And so here at Envato HQ we’ve been busy thinking up new names and we think we’ve found a great new home for our community.
As of Monday 19th October, FlashDen.net will be changing its name to ActiveDen.net.
The new name amends the use of the word Flash, and it also opens up the marketplace for the future. In the last year we have added a budding Flex library and we now look forward to listing other interactive products like Adobe Air and maybe even Microsoft Silverlight!
We realize some members may have concerns about this decision, and to be honest I know I am always going to feel a little wistful about our old name, but we feel strongly it’s the right choice for FlashDen and will serve us in good stead for the future, allowing us to focus on what we do best – providing the very best marketplace for selling digital goods online.
As of Monday, the URL FlashDen.net will redirect to the new ActiveDen.net site. Everything will stay just as it always has been – we’ll just have a nifty new name!
I am sure the community will get behind us during this period of transition, and we’ll do everything possible to ensure it’s a smooth one with plenty of redirects in place to make sure no traffic, links, and especially buyers, are lost.
Thanks to everyone at FlashDen for three years of amazing growth and community, and here’s to many more as ActiveDen!
Just a few days ago, Envato’s very own WordPress ninja, Derek Herman, released a new “Envato Marketplace Items” plugin for WordPress. Now, with only a few minutes worth of work, you can display your recent files, popular files, and even files according to a specific category on your site. Not only that, but you can additionally attach your referral id to each item and earn 30% of your referred user’s first deposit!
In only a few steps, I’ll show you exactly how to implement this plugin into your own project.
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A lot has happened within the last twenty four hours, and, understandably, there’s a lot to take in! If you have a few moments, why not view this screencast and learn about some of the new features in the marketplace redesign that we’re all really excited about? When finished viewing, don’t forget to leave a comment, via the forums, and let us know your thoughts!
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Last week, we gave you the opportunity to win one of two tickets to Flashpitt 09! Well, the competition deadline has passed, we’ve reviewed all the entries, and I do believe we have winners!
Congratulations go out to Javier Fadul and Matt Perrin!
Javier blinded us with the science impressed us with his clever genetic algorithms and admittedly, we felt Javier was our only hope of preventing the FlashDen community from become slaves to the machine, so well done, Javier!
Matt meanwhile impressed us with all three entries (whether intentional or not!) and sheer desperation to attend Flashpitt, and the attempt to emotionally blackmail us with the picture of your charming children really paid off, so well done, Matt!
Congratulations! You’ve each won a ticket! The Flashpitt organizers will be in touch with you very soon with prize details.
Thank you so much to everyone who entered and we hope our winning contestants have a fabulous time in Pittsburgh!
FlashDen has a always had a great affinity with stock audio sister-site AudioJungle. For those that don’t know, before the specialized audio Web site was created, all audio used to be available on FlashDen! But just over a year ago, AudioJungle bid farewell to FlashDen and blossomed into its own dedicated Web site. And what a site it has blossomed into!
Music Milestone
AudioJungle is currently celebrating a very special milestone this week, they’ve reached 10,000+ audio files in their library. That’s right: Over ten thousand pieces of audio that you could be using in your latest Flash projects! Sound effects, audio logos, loops and full music tracks at amazing prices.
Sharing the Love
As as special thank you to all marketplace members who not only create the AudioJungle music but also purchase it for Flash, Video, Podcast, Game, TV and Radio productions, AudioJungle are inviting all Envato marketplace members to enter a free giveaway to win some awesome Apple iPod prizes!
See the official AudioJungle announcement for full details, but basically, you simply have to leave a comment revealing your favorite piece of music on AudioJungle. Super easy! But you’ve got to be in it to win it! Competition closes later this week on September 24, 2009 so hurry, don’t delay!
Congratulations, AudioJungle! And good luck to all Down the FoxHole readers who enter the giveaway. Do your best to represent FlashDen!
FlashDen Music Competition
Finally, as we’re on the subject of music, don’t forget that our $2,200 Music template competition is still open! The quest to find the best Flash-based Music Template uploaded to FlashDen during the competition period (you have until October 31, 2009) is well and truly underway! We are excited to see (and hear!) what you guys come up with, you’re such a creative bunch! Good luck!
