Flashmagazine released the 'beta' of their new site today, Flash has been substituted with HTML in the implementation of the site. Even with Flash MX the text flow options just wasn't there to make it possible to make a good publishing system for the site. Sad really, since the site was one of the few examples of a content site implemented in Flash.
Even though Flash is no longer the format in which the site is published, the main topic is still going to be Flash and vector graphics and keeping the Flash developer community updated on the latest news. Expect the site to be updated with more interesting content very soon.
For now, feel free to leave your opinions about the new design and the choice of ditching Flash in favour of HTML as the presentation format.
Seems like Samuel Wan also had some extra time for experimentation yesterday, he has posted a lot of interesting projects today:
Local Connection is the tool for getting rid of all those pesky fscommands headackes in Mac IE and Netscape. Sam has made available source code and a demo, and links to more information about local connection.
I'll let Sam introduce it:
Local Connection kicks ass, and totally relieves the headache of fscommands in netscape, mac IE, and other broken browser platforms. I've created very short demo file which shows you how easily you can use local connections in less than 5 lines of code.
User interfaces frequently employ beveling techniques to distinguish one section of an interface from another section. Traditionally, beveling in Flash took a lot of manual labor to draw each vector rectangle. Fortunately, these two bevel panel component allows you to create beveled rectangles quickly and easy
Sam also took the time to post a tutorial about variables and OOP:
This tip is probably old news to some Flash programmers, but for others, it'll hopefully clarify an often misunderstood aspect of OOP. Variables actually work differently, depending on whether you're assigning a primitive data type or an object reference. The difference is subtle, but it can cause confusion when you start passing lots of data between different parts of your code.
Branden used the holiday (4th of july) to do some research on shared fonts, the result can be seen today in his Shared Fonts Redux article. This is very useful information for anyone wanting to deal with shared fonts in Flash. Could someone make sure that Branden gets some more vacation time please? *g*
Here is what Branden writes about it:
I spent a good chunk of time during the holiday yesterday taking another look at shared fonts. That research has resulted in a lot of information on exactly how to make shared fonts work in the real world
Chris MacGregor's excelent site Flazoom has been off the web for since wednesday now. The site has not been shut down, but it seems that his hosting provider isn't exactly living up to their name. (Valueweb). Sad to be without one of my favorite sites. If you feel like me, let them know.
This is a cool application for everyone making Pocket PC presentations. FlashAssist Pro allows you to make Flash presenations for the Pocket PC as full screen installable Pocket PC applications, with advanced features not available when using the regular Pocket Intenret Explorer to view Flash content. Using a simple wizard interface you can make Flash applications Pocket PC ready in 1-2-3.
Flash Assist Pro also includes a Flash XML server that allows you to store and retrive XML data to a Picket PC file using ActionScript, and adds ActionScript that allows you to control the Pocket PC input panel and system volume.
Plenty neat. To see the power of FlashAssist Pro, check out Ericd's FlashForward2002NYC guide or Bill Perry's (PocketPCFlash) Pocket PC Summit Guide (You will find many more fullscreen applications on Bill's pages)
[Via Guy Watson]
Sean Voisen of Eat Orange has released Eat Orange Blogchat Version 1.0.
The Flash based Jabber application is made with his Flash JabberConf API (see previous posting).
He has also made available the source code needed to make your own Flash frontend for Jabber, you will need to set up a Jabber server to run chats on your own domain.
Interesting Google resource - Zeitgeist, it gives insight into what has been on peoples minds in the way that it shows what people have been looking for at Google.
[Via Mario Klingemann]
