Sony Ericsson release Flash UI Components in AS2

A few days ago the team at Sony Ericsson released their first set of UI components for the Flash Player on mobile devices.  Written in AS2 and fully integrated with Adobe Flash Professional CS4.

Each of the controls are fully customizable use the Component inspector, enabling you to change the look and feel for your applications.  Everything from background colors to text values and icons are supported across the components, it’s ridiculously easy to make them fit with your apps look and feel.

The beta set includes 8 new components ready for you to use:

• Checkbox
• List – Single Row with Icon
• List – Two Rows with Icon
• Progress Indicator
• Push Button
• Radio Button
• Softkey Bar
• Wait Indicator

Once you’ve downloaded the MXP file here, you can install the components by simply double clicking on the file.  The Adobe Extension Manager will install the files and add them to the Components Panel in Flash Professional, you can open it using the Window Menu within the tool.

New Fireworks CS4-Flash Catalyst Integration

One of the sore points in working with Flash Catalyst is the lack of support for importing Fireworks PNGs into FC. Fireworks has long been a workhorse in the prototyping stable, so this “issue” was quite a sore subject for many. So today on the Adobe Flash Platform Blog, Ryan Stewart announced that they have released a script to aid the transfer from Fireworks into Flash Catalyst.

If you’re a Fireworks user you’ll be happy to know that the team has been hard at work improving the FXG export feature so you can more easily take your designs from Fireworks and use them in Flash Catalyst. The new script is available over on Adobe Labs and includes a ton of fixes to the old FXG script as well as some new functionality based on a more finalized FXG specification:

• lineHeight for Text element was always exported as %, now its exported based on value selected in Fireworks ( % or exact)
• Tab indention was not correct for elements which were exported as bitmaps
• Exporting invisible bitmap elements caused script error
• Updated Rectangle primitive object to export transformation matrix and roundness value.
• Modified / Added Application Private Data for all elements (d:userLabel , d:type etc)
• Exporting effects applied on Groups and Symbols

So fear not Fireworks users, Flash Catalyst may not have native file format import for you, but you’ll still be able to use the tool you know and love and bring those designs easily into Flash Catalyst with the “Open from FXG” feature.

Flex in Action: Weds 50% off promotion

Manning Publications is having a one day (Weds) 50% off promotion for the upcoming Flex 4 In Action. This give you access to the early edition of the book (you get access to the draft chapters as they’re written, and then the final book when complete).

http://www.manning.com/ahmed2/

Enter promo code: twtr0729

Microfunding for artists and more …

From a co-worker, 

Kickstarter is a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers…

What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a new way to fund ideas and endeavors.

We believe that…

A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide.
A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.
Is Kickstarter an investment mechanism?
No. People who use Kickstarter to fund their projects (“project creators”) keep 100% ownership and control.

New Book: AdvancED Flash on Devices

Friends of Ed have a new book that is just about to be released entitled, AdvancED Flash on Devices: Mobile Development with Flash Lite and Flash 10. It is written Scott Janousek, Elad Elrom , and Thomas Joos.

More information on the book can be found here. My copy is on order.

Speaking at SandCHI – August 11

Come hear me speak on a panel about prototype development at the August meeting of SandCHI.

Websense Inc. See Google Map
10240 Sorrento Valley Rd
San Diego, CA 92121

Parking:
You can park in visitor parking (marked Websense) directly in front of the main building (on the left as you enter), or in the parking lot across the bridge. Do not park in front of Samsung next door please.

How to find it:
Walk up to the main building. Instead of walking in the front door, go around to the right and enter through the patio between Websense and Samsung. Next to the coffee kiosk is a back door into the Atrium which should have a SandCHI sign on it.

Flash Player Multi-Touch: Confirmation from Kevin Lynch

At the Adobe Analyst Summit, Kevin Lynch gave some clarity around Flash on mobile devices which included news that Flash Player for mobile will have support for multi-touch and accelerometer features.

If you’re interested in the Flash Platform and multi-touchDaniel Dura is going to be doing a session at MAX covering some of the advancements in the Flash Platform and multi-touch. It should be an interesting session.

My past two prototypes have been touch-based user interfaces, and would love to have more native support for multi-touch and gestures.

O’Reilly’s InsideRIA Summer of Flash Podcast

Adobe has been busy and this summer we have seen some changes to their Flash Platform and some new tools for working with it. In the new Summer of Flash Podcast the panel (Garth Braithwaite, Stacey Mulcahy,  Zach Stepek, and Leif Wells) will be discussing their experiences with these new tools, and how they will impact RIA developers’ workflow.

In this episode they discussed Flash Catalyst and their experiences working with it. They highlight how it has changed as it came to the public beta and what they are expecting and hoping from the final release.

Flash/Flex PureMVC Training to San Diego, CA – July 15, 2009

RMC’s principal Samuel Asher Rivello will bring an exclusive night of training to San Diego, California.

Rivello Multimedia Consulting (RMC) focuses on four services for Adobe Flash CS4 and Flex 3; software architecture, consulting, development, and training.

RMC will offer one premium night of training. Send an email to reserve for the night and bring payment to the event with your reservation confirmation.

Reserve your seats now!

DATE: Wednesday July 15th, 2009 7PM START

DURATION: Approx. 3.5 – 4 Hours.

PRICE: $99 USD Per Person

LOCATION: Broadway & 6th Avenue, San Diego, CA, USA (Directions & parking info will be emailed to confirmed attendees)

THANKS
This session is brought to you with the assistance of Demian Borba of San Diego’s EFM- http://www.efactormedia.com

$10 Thursday

Each Thursday, a selected friends of ED eBook is made available for just $10. The title below can be purchased at the discounted price for a period of 24 hours starting at 12:00am PST—that’s 8:00am in London, England; 1:30pm in Mumbai, India; 7:00pm in Sydney, Australia—wherever you are in the world, be sure to check back every Thursday and see which title is on offer!

Today’s deal is Foundation ActionScript 3.0 with Flash CS3 and Flex By Sean McSharry, Steve Webster, Todd Yard. This book covers all the essential techniques from the ground up, allowing you to get up and running quickly and easily. Starting with the fundamentals, you’ll learn about using ActionScript objects, manipulating sound and video, and harnessing the power of regular expressions and XML.

The book concludes with two case studies to consolidate what you’ve learned and to introduce some more advanced techniques. This will give you a good grounding in the new and exciting world of ActionScript 3.0 and show you how it all fits together in larger applications, allowing you to go on and build your own professional sites.