Adobe Did It Right!

Flash Dance
Finally! Adobe has done what Macromedia never would have dreamed of!!
The newest version of Flash (Flash 8) has some of the best new features I never would have thought of adding AND (very important) the greatest features that were left behind in previous builds (famed v.5)!

Vector to Object
Why did Macromedia never think of this? For those of you who programmed in flash back in version MX and previous, you know what a pain it has always been to take an object and turn it back into a vector. For those who have no clue what I'm taking about, let me give you a quick idea.
Adobe Flash (once Macromedia Flash) is world renowned for being the most powerful web-vector-motion software available.

What is vector-motion?

You may ask... well, in the world of computing, there are really two types of video. Prerendered and Realtime. Prerendered video has been around for a long time, in fact, it could easily be equated to your TV. Someone far away makes a great show for you to watch and transmits that show to your Television.
Nice, huh?
So what's bad with that? Nothing. In fact, it's great; if not the best!
The problem arises when you can't send a video to someone for some reason (say, bandwidth limitations).
There are a number of solutions, Flash just happens to be one of those solutions. Flash allows you to send a video and have the computer create it using the flash player (very similar to the java runtime environment (jre) for java apps). You (basically) send the player compiled code (swf file) and it turns it into bouncing balls and flying text.
These vector graphics (another option is to compress your video, which is like a hybrid where your computer recodes the partially decomposed file (hopefully much smaller into its original state in realtime)) are just mathematical equations that form whatever shape you plan to make. If you know anything about computer images, you know the difference between a JPEG and Clipart. Clipart is generally made from vector graphics. Because Vectors are logical equations, you can resize them without distortion (Unlike a JPEG). Sadly, unlike a JPEG, a lot of detail is often left out for simplicity or filesize.
In flash, you can have both (which is good!). But for adding actions, you have to have objects (since vectors only hold shape, color and size).
Fine, so add actions to objects that are larger, use vectors for everything else. Well, with the new version of flash, you can "test" a vector as an object (all that text, just to say, "Yay!")

Script Assist
Finally back in flash is the wonderful "script assist". This is similar to the "simple mode" known in Flash v.3-5. For many people, this is the best way to program. With a language like actionScript, it's nice to know all the keywords and what types they take. Since Flash has to double as a design environment and IDE, it's best if the IDE is good (and now, it is!). I kept using Flash 5 when 6 came out simply because I hated the new actionScript editor. I could crank out code 10x faster with the older version, and there weren't many new commands. Macromedia really botched it up with Flash 6 and MX. I was pretty scared about Adobe buying out Macromedia, but now I know that they have the good hands (and deep pockets) that will take care of the developers.

Adobe Photoshop Now
Yes, We all love Photoshop. We love the toolbars, the blend modes... everything except for the price tag! Now Flash can do blend modes like photoshop. REALTIME!
Woohoo! Everybody do the bender!
This is a feature that is going to really start showing up fast (like, on my next project). Before, flash developers (like myself) had to load up photoshop, create the images, export them, import them and then work with the stale stagnant images in flash. But now, we can do a lot more than size and alpha transparency! This is a beautiful idea that only Adobe could bring to the table (since they own the patents on the photoshop blending modes).

Adobe Premiere Now
Heh, You know that Adobe had to spruce up the Flash video import features.
On2 VP6 is the codec of choice with the new player, and I have to say... the samples really show off what it can do (Check out the split-screen version at the bottom)!!
Also, you can apply alpha-transparencies to the video feeds realtime. :-D
Oh man, I know one little programmer who is going to be having a lot of fun soon!
;-)
Ah, yes. And this link is... Wow. If I were Apple Quicktime, I would start paying attention to Adobe and On2 VP6! I can see this being very easy to use on trailer websites... and since Flash is a web application with no real personal media player, it's nearly impossible to rip or distribute.

On2 VP6 can even stream full screen movies to you REALTIME.

In case you were wondering, "Realtime" is the "word of the day"

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
;-)

My new Website Idea

Copyright
It's really a funny word, huh? Copyright...
Hmmmmm... :-)
So... how far can you push an "idea" before it becomes a copyright infringement?
Here is a sample of my next website I'm planning on making.

"Do you like my Idea?"
"Of course," Microsoft says, "We thought of it first!"
It is kinda duplicating the "idea" from the next windows vista. I really love where Microsoft has taken this next build of windows. I keep meaning to upload images of it, but I left my HD with vista on it back in my dorm over the break. :-



Subtly is the key in current website design
As I was looking for ideas, I came across some strange things. It seems that web development trends are fading away from the "FLASH IN YOUR FACE" strategy, and pushing more towards the "Less is more" strategy.
I think the average web-user is sick of "hamster dance" websites and has begun to cry, "Where is the content?!?"
"Stop showing us what you can do, and start showing us what we WANT!"
I'm not sure if that's where the web truly is going, but designers are pushing it there. I believe that the paper-tiger (or in this case, the electronic-tiger) has morphed.
Companies who want to look like the pros are going to have to face the designer's nightmare... Beautiful Usefulness.

The List
Don't show all the 3D junk if it has no point.
Don't add a postcounter, no one cares.
Don't make a flash intro... people hate waiting.
Why use video, when flash will do?
Why use flash, when images will do?
Why use images, when clever CSS scripting will do?
Why use either if you can just use text?!?

The web has been transforming
and I am beginning to realize that I have a lot to learn! LOL
A good example is Google Ads. On my blog, I added the Google "adSense" on the right.
Is it a motioned flashy video/sound extravaganza?
No.
It's text, but it's useful content that is related to what I type.

The web is changing into a very interesting place to work
It seems that the programmer will soon (if not already) need to learn a little about art... or the artists are going to have to start justifying themselves to their viewers.

Eh, I was never a fan of the useless, anyway.
;-)

Yay for New Posts!

Hello!
Can it be? Is it true?!? Yes! A new post!
(and a bunch of goodies, too!)

First, things first,
I am sorry for taking so long to post. I was bogged down with school work/finals. I had five finals (One I didn't know I had until three hours before!) and an OS project due on finals week!

Now to open the box...
Pandora's Box, that is...
Pandora is a website that is dedicated to delivering music tailored to you! And it's written in Flash (woohoo!!). This means you get all the beautiful and crazy vector transitions you should expect from a professional graphic software/actionScripting language (I spent about 20minutes just pressing TAB on the login form).
How does it work?
Well, you sign up (free, unless you want the non-ad version) and start by telling it what you like to listen to. Pandora then creates a custom playlist. You keep listening, checking what you like and don't like until Pandora knows what kinda of music you like. It's very similar to mercora (for those of you who remember it before it sold out). Mercora had a great little program that you installed on your system and could broadcast your music anywhere! then they started charging their customers to listen (Oddly, I only used it to listen to my own music).
So why is it better?
Well, the best thing about Pandora is that you don't have to install jack! Nada!
Just go to the website, login, and listen! Also, once you get a great playlist made,
you can share it!
And your friends don't have to login to listen (wonderful idea!!). Also, you can "minimize" (I consider that confusing) the player to detach it from the current browser window and place it in a custom smaller window (and it does it all without skipping a beat in the music!).
:-)
A++ Software!

UNIX to Come
My next post will hopefully be on Pipes, Shared Memory, and Fork()ing in UNIX (yuck).
;-)