Is Flyer worth the hype?
Felipe Andrade created Flyer for Flash Lite using Python for Nokia S60. The Flyer framework is great—it lets you access never before seen features with Flash Lite such as integrating with a mobile device’s camera, bluetooth, filesystem, (potentially) GPS, and much more. But is Flyer worth all the hype?
Flyer was built to extend Flash Lite 2.1 features with Python for S60. That’s quite a few prerequisites: Flash Lite 2.1 (the latest version of Flash Lite), Python (not preinstalled on phones), and a Nokia S60 device. I love what Flyer is trying to do, but I am reluctant to jump on the band wagon since the likelyhood of consumer adoption is low due to what is required to make this framework function.
When would I adopt Flyer? When it works on the current consumer standard version of Flash Lite. If your on Verizon, that would be version 2.1 However, Python for S60 is not synonymous with Python for BREW. And if your not on Verizon, that would be version 1.1.
My final thought is that I love what Flyer is doing—I just wish that it extended Flash Lite 1.1 and did not require a consumer to install Python and the Flyer framework (and yes, I realize that these are pipe dreams).
What are your thoughts? Vote, or comment on whether or not you think that Flyer is worth the hype.
Device profile update #1 for Adobe Device Central CS3 released
Bill recently announced that Adobe has made the first device profile update for Adobe Device Central CS3 avaiable.
There are 3 ways you can download the update (11.4MB):
- go to the direct URL in your browser from our new site, Adobe Device Central Online
- in the Device Central start window click the “device updates” button
- in the Device Central menu bar select Help > Updates…This update contains 39 new device profiles from all regions of the world, many released between January to April 2007, as well as updates to 7 existing profiles. With this update you will have access to 265 device profiles as part of Device Central with most of them for supporting Flash Lite content in addition to other mobile media types.
New Device Profiles
DoCoMo Fujitsu F903i
DoCoMo Mitsubishi D903i
DoCoMo Motorola M702iG
DoCoMo Motorola M702iS
DoCoMo NEC N601i
DoCoMo NEC N703iD
DoCoMo NEC N903i
DoCoMo Panasonic P903i
DoCoMo Sony-Ericsson SO903i
KDDI Casio Hitachi E03CA
KDDI Casio Hitachi W43HII
KDDI Kyocera W44K
KDDI Sanyo W43SA
KDDI Sony-Ericsson W44S
KDDI Toshiba A5523T
KDDI Toshiba W46T
KDDI Toshiba W47T
Nokia E61i
Nokia E65
Nokia N77
Nokia N91
Nokia N95
Nokia 6290
Reigncom iriver Clix
Reigncom iriver U10
SoftBank Nokia 705NK
SoftBank Samsung 707SC
SoftBank Samsung 709SC
SoftBank Sharp 910SH
SoftBank Sharp 911SH
SoftBank Toshiba 811T
Sony-Ericsson W610i
Sony-Ericsson W880i
Verizon LG VX8100
Verizon LG VX8300
Verizon LG VX8500
Verizon LG VX9900
Verizon Samsung SCH-A930
Verizon Samsung SCH-A990
Expanded/Improved Device Profiles
DoCoMo Mitsubishi D701iWM
DoCoMo Mitsubishi D851iWM
DoCoMo NEC N506iSII
DoCoMo NEC N701iECO
DoCoMo Panasonic P506iCII
DoCoMo Panasonic P851i
DoCoMo Sony-Ericsson SO505iInstructions on how to download and install the new device profiles are available on the device profile page.
We have released our Mobile Ocean ™ Flash Lite screensaver/wallpaper to Handago.com today. Mobile Ocean is the perfect cell phone screensaver/wallpaper for any marine lover. This product features seven tropical fish, four underwater scenes, and a digital clock.
Learn more about Punchkick Interactive’s mobile screensaver design capabilities.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.punchkickinteractive.com/content/handango/MobileOcean_DEMO.swf" width="176" height="208"/]
Detailed Product Features:
- Built using Adobe Flash Lite 1.1 technology
- Seven tropical fish swimming across four unique underwater scenes
- An ideal mobile wallpaper or screensaver
- Includes an AM/PM digital clock
- For maximum Symbian phone compatibility, five different .swf file sizes are included: 96×65, 128×160, 176×208, 176×220, and 240×320
Purchase Mobile Ocean here for $1.99.
Mobile Ocean is the property of Punchkick Interactive Inc. Copyright © 2006-2007. All rights reserved.
Adobe began shipping the much anticipated CS3 design and Web software bundles. Additionally, Adobe has added several software titles to Labs.
Amongst the new Beta software in Labs is:
- Adobe After Effects CS3 Pro
- Adobe Premiere CS3 Pro
- Adobe Soundbooth CS3 beta 3
- Flash Lite for BREW Publisher for Flash CS3 Professional prerelease
- knowhow (preview)
After Effects and Premiere have been long overdue. I am very excited to play with both titles. Soundbooth is great and new beta versions are always fun.
The Flash Lite for BREW Publisher is obviously needed. I am very happy that Adobe released this tool. The only thing they neglected to include was a Mac bundle (sigh). I am sure that there are other developers that will only use one licenced copy of Flash CS3 (in my case on my Mac), and will need to create Mod/Mif files from it.
I am also very happy to see the knowhow demo. It seems like a great panel to add to the CS3 suite.
knowhow is a technology preview that delivers single-click, contextual access to relevant help information from a panel in Adobe® Creative Suite® 3 software. knowhow gives users access to a wide variety of information—basic tool descriptions and short cuts, Adobe Help content, as well as community-generated tutorials, tips, and techniques on the web.
‘Flyer’ extends Flash Lite’s features using Python for S60
Felipe has announced the first release of Flyer. Flyer was built to extend Flash Lite features with Python for S60. Flyer is based on the Flash Lite 2.1 integration with Python for S60 and contains the following features:
- Take photos with device camera from Flash Lite
- Take device screenshots from Flash Lite
- Send files over a bluetooth connection from Flash Lite
- Get the contact entries in the default device database
Flyer is open source—if you use it please contribute to Felipe. It will help him to develop and expand the Flyer framework.
Future releases (May, 2007)
- Sound recording and playback
- File upload to a remote server
- GPS module to display latitude, longitude, satellite count, and time
- Record device screen!
Links:
Flyer
Felipe Andrade
Python for S60
For those gamers who haven’t seen it, the GTA4 trailer was released
Pointed out to me by PocketFlash:
How will GTA top San Andreas, with GTA4 of course. This video really doesn’t do it justice. The HI-Deff trailer is stunning. It’s a must see for any GTA fan. View in Hi-Deff.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/vOskZNJJII8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Via AllAboutSymbian and Biskero:
Nokia Video Manager offers you a simple solution for transferring your videos from your phone to PC or vice versa – smoothly, efficiently, and with complete ease. The application is a free add-on product to be used together with Nokia PC Suite.
With Nokia Video Manager, you can:
- Manage and transfer your video clips between your phone and PC.
- Save space on your phone by converting videos into formats optimized for mobile phones.
- Forget the extra effort: file conversion takes place automatically during video transfer.
- Rely on assistance when you need it: Nokia Video Manager guides you every step of the way
Read more at AllAboutSymbian.com
Download the Nokia Video Manager
First let me preface this by saying that this trick currently is only support by Flash Player. Flash Lite does not support PNG-8 files with alpha made with Fireworks (Note that it may be a handset issue and not a Flash Lite issue). If you want to petition for this feature, feel free to comment and I will pass the “signatures” along.
I understand that you can create a PNG-8 image file with alpha transparency using Adobe Photoshop. However, those files are far more inferior than a PNG-8 image that is created using Fireworks. I will demonstrate why a Photoshop PNG-8 lags behind a Fireworks PNG-8 in the follow paragraphs.
First off, PNG-24 looks better than anything else, but the filesizes are much larger than any other format. The ideal goal would be to create a PNG-8 with alpha that looks like a PNG-24—Fireworks comes close. Both Adobe Photoshop and Fireworks allow you to save a PNG-8 file with alpha, however, a Fireworks PNG-8 lets you combine color data with alpha much like a PNG-24.
To get a clearer understanding of what I mean, create a file with Adobe Photoshop and set the background to transparent. Next, create a new layer—fill it with content—then blur it to death. You will have created pixel data that has both color and alpha transparency. Use the “Save For Web” dialog and notice the differences between the PNG-24 and the PNG-8. The PNG-8 will be much smaller, but look much worse than the PNG-24. Click the image to see a larger version—it shows what I mean.
Next, take that PNG-24 and import it into Fireworks. In the “Optimize” panel, match the settings that I used and select File >> Export. You will be exporting a 256 color, PNG-8 with alpha transparency (you may not even need all 256 colors).
Finally, review the different options for image files that use transparency. As you can see, the PNG-8 created with Fireworks looks almost exactly the same as the Photoshop PNG-24, however, it is less than 1/3 the file size. This method of creating PNG-8 files with alpha will benifit any Web designer that creates Flash Web sites or banners.
SMS campaign demonstration. Feedback requested.
We are experimenting with sending phones SMS messages based on actions within a Flash Lite movie. To test this, we have implimented a way for our visitors to sample an SMS campaign—simply type your mobile number in the form located at the top right of our blog. Use the following format: 12165261544 (country code + area code + local number). Unfortunately, we have not been able to test this on all carriers or outside of the United States. If you do test this, please comment on the success or failure of the text message delivery by including your country and cell phone carrier.
Thanks for your help!
15 Minute Video: LG Prada phone complete interface walkthrough
Via Engadget and Ryan Block.
Engadget created a great 15 minute presentation of the new LG Prada phone interface. For those who are still interested in the iPhone (and it’s competition), this video is a must.
