I am sure this is interesting both for those that were there, and those of us that couldn't attend (so we can google at some of the cool gadgets that were shown, and all the other stuff that went on during the conference).

Robert Hall links to Additional Pocket PC Summit Coverage

Phil's initial work on a Flash RSS reader has spawned another great Flash based RSS reader.

Ming Chan has made a Multiblog Flash RSS Reader, it allows you to read three weblogs at a time, save your three favorite weblogs using the Flash MX shareobject, and refresh the feed to update the newsfeed.

Ming says he will be working on adding automatic refresh of the feeds every x minutes, UI enhancements like rollover effect that shows actual external links, font sizes, colours, font types etc. And the ability to delete your saved settings (reset to default setting).

Ming is also working on a Win32 executable version of the reader. I think he should make a Mac version too, after all - its not much work to make Flash MX projector files.

Another thing I think he should add is the ability to actually add RSS newsfeeds to the RSS reader, that way the user would have access to any RSS feed out there, though the RSS reader. But overall this is great work, I am sure there are many that would love to have this tool as a projector file to run on their own computer.

Sometimes I am so bad at spotting news. :-) I featured Stuart Schoneveld's web site illogicz.com not long ago, and found some of his cool projects there. Amongs them, his Flash Rich Text Editor

But it took Jon Udell, then Dave Winer, then John Dowdell and finally Chris MacGregor to point out how cool it was before I got that its actually news. (Yeah, I am slow).

There are some interesting links to add to this story however. Tim Appnel is adding some thoughs and questions - that I hope Stuart will be able to answer.

This search has lead me to consider the possibility of using Flash. Flash 4 added forms support. Flash 5 added XML support. With MX, the latest version of Flash, Macromedia has added interface components and more robust scripting. With these new features and its widespread deployment across multiple OSes and browsers, I theorized that a replacement component may be possible. Just I recently came across Stuart Schoneveld's promising Rich Text Editor that seems to validate my theory. There is no source or documentation to know to what extent the control could be pushed but I find this encouraging based on my cursory knowledge of Flash

Jon Udell adds to it and John Dowdell answers. Great to see these conversations happening. I hope Stuart will have time to give his 2 cents too.

The ability to use Flash MX as the interface towards CMS systems and weblogs is really interesting. And will in my mind solve a lot of the issues other such solutions have today. The IE ActiveX control is VERY platform dependent, and for that reason I (and many more with me) have stayed far away from using that as a solution, even though it adds a lot of functionallity on the platform that is supported.

I have been involved in a project that Jensa at Flashmagazine has been working on, a very usable Flash based publishing system that is already being used by a number of clients, and will be used for version 2.0 of Flashmagazine.com (due this fall).

I raved to him about the cool Flash MX based UIs for text and graphics when I got back from FlashForward in San Francisco. At FlashForward Branden and Sam showcased a very cool Flash application with drawing, and a text tool. And with a GUI totally like a normal windows application.

So when I saw Stuart's implementation that looked a lot like the ActiveX editor I have seen/used for Internet Explorer (Windows), I immediately sent Jensa an e-mail telling him about it. Something like it will really take that publishing system to the next level.

It never dawned on me that it could be used as plug-in editor to any weblog tool. It should be possible to plug it in as an editor for tools like Radio, MovableType and a whole of others. As well as normal HTML/server based CMS-systems.

I hope Stuart releases some more information about his editor, and keeps working on it. I know I am amongst the people that would pay for a component such as this.

Just thought I would take a minute or two to address the curtesy of link backs. Most of the time I refer to what other people have written or found, and I try my very best to link back to these people. (See the [Via ] links at the bottom of the posts).

I try to make sure that I honour the work other people have put into collecting information, and make sure that those that actually do the hard work get some recognition for it.

Once in a while, not very often mind you, I do a little hard work myself. Digging up a story, finding a new cool resource that others haven't mentioned etc. When I do the "hard work", I also expect others to have the curtesy of linking back to me on the story. Most often this happens, but some weblogs out there seems to mostly ignore linking back to the source. Be it me, or someone else.

My opinion about link backs is that its the decent thing to do. Its about showing appreciation for the work of others. People who help us all find usefull information. And in a way its the "pay" for time these people have put into their weblogs. After all, most of us aren't paid to keep our weblogs updated, so linking back to the originator of the information is the least we all can do.

To the those that have weblogs and don't link back to the source, I would like to say: Start doing it today. Start showing appreciation for the information you get to share with others. Taking credit for other peoples work isn't good karma, and shouldn't happen.

Thats my whining for today. Have a nice day everyone, and link back! :-)

Mozilla 1.0 is finally released after 4 long years of development. The Open Source project produced a good browser, but I have to say that it took some time.

The release party will be held at the DNA lounge in San Francisco on the 12th of June. There will also be satellite parties at other locations around the world