Is Flyer worth the hype?
April 30th, 2007 by Ryan Unger | 1,638 views
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.
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April 30th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Ciao
I understand your point but Nokia S60 3rd Ed FP2 should include FL2.1 and Python S60 (no details yet) and supposedly these devices are shipping by the end of the year.
An Open Source project that extend FL functionality is good to have. It’s always better to have different options then only one.
Also Python S60 is open source so it can be ported to other mobile platforms.
Alessandro
April 30th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I was not aware that Python may become a Nokia standard—that’s great news.
I agree with you that Flyer is good to have—infact I think that it is great. To be completely honest, I wish that Adobe would buy it and integrate it into Flash. Much in the same way that you can “publish for BREW”, you could “publish for Python enabled devices”.
My doubts spawn from a disdain with the lack of international standards between handset manufacturers—not from Flyer.
BTW, thanks for your thoughts.
May 13th, 2007 at 10:49 am
It’s exactly the question I asked after the eMeeting on Flyer.
Very interesting but too much prerequisites.
It would be great to see a J2ME similar stuff but it seems to be impossible…
or a mobile Zinc
May 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I would love to see a mobile Zinc/mProjector setup.
June 4th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Ciao,
Great points and great discussion! I’ve already finished a mobile pack that makes the Flyer installation easier on the mobile device and working on Flash Lite 1.1, Flash 2.x and Java ME CLDC devices.
Stay tuned for Flyer Framework 2.0.0! =D
June 5th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Hi Felipe. Thanks for everything you’ve been doing—it’s a big push for Flash Lite. I am glad that you understood my points about needing a simple installation method before seeing consumer-based adoption of this technology.
Ideally, a consumer would install a .SIS file and not even know that the Flyer framework was packaged within the installation.
Great work. Keep it up.