Creation Audio Labs -MW1

The other day i went into the studio to check out the MW1 mad by Creation Audio Labs, this device can work as a DI and is also a great splitter for different levels of output of guitar signal and can be used to reamp guitars in the studio. we decided to run it to three different amps and give it a test run. the amps used were a small peavy practics amp, a peavy head out to a marshall 4x12, and then also a fender twin reverb. all of the outputs of this device can be found on the front and rear for easy access.

3D Environment Creates New Dimension for Flat Images

A brand-new Flash component from Flashloaded.com, allows developers give depth and perspective to groups of images or symbols/graphic objects using Macromedia Flash. Useful for web design and graphic design applications, it makes building attractive interactive Flash-based interfaces and displays easy as it requires no 3D modeling. Developers simply define the position of the objects within the three dimensional space using a user friendly interface. 3D Environment is available for purchase and download from Flashloaded.com

A group of pictures on a typical web page is a flat, lifeless grouping; web surfers can look at them, but not interact with them," said a spokesperson for FFF Web Media, the company behind Flashloaded and 3D Environment. "By using 3D Environment, the individual pictures can be rendered with depth and dimension making the pictures a key part of a 3D interactive world in your web design.

Designs employing 3D Environment let surfers interact with images and make their way through the 3D space, scrolling up and down, to the left and right and zooming in and out in relation to the images. Through depth and perspective, it creates the illusion of a three dimensional world. The end user can also rotate the 3D environment around all axes.

One design example they have on there site depicts a ride through the solar system," a spokesperson for the company said. "One click and people can travel from Earth to Mars. Each planet appears in relation to the next and on a backdrop of a star filled galaxy, creating the illusion of a 3D world.

Macromedia flexes flash muscle

Flex, formerly code-named Royale, allows developers to create scripts in common languages such as Java and .Net and to run them on top of Web applications. Flex breaks them down into a Macromedia dialect of extensible markup language (XML) that can be read by the Flash Player, the widespread Flash client commonly used to spice up Web pages.

Jeff Whatcott, a vice president of product management and marketing for Macromedia, said the main use for Flex will be to create compelling and attractive interfaces for Web applications, an area that often gets overlooked by developers.

"It's focused on enabling enterprise application developers to get involved in creating rich applications," Whatcott said. "Improving the user experience helps ensure the application actually succeeds."

Macromedia is in the midst of a broad effort to expand the Flash format, once mainly used to present blinking ads on Web pages, into a broad platform for delivering Web applications and content. The company has launched a Web conferencing service based on Flash, begun an experiment to run Flash applications outside a Web browser and added video and other multimedia capabilities to the format.

Flex extends the Flash campaign by allowing mainstream developers to take advantage of the format without having to learn Macromedia's Flash development tools, which use a timeline-based interface more familiar to graphics professionals.

"For people who typically program in Java or .Net, the tools didn't quite work the way they work," Whatcott said. "They wanted to be able to use their existing tools to program rich applications, and that's what Flex enables."

whitespace

The article I have chose basically goes in detail about the importance of having white-space in your composition whether it be a flash document or a simple print design. It over the differences being that normal white space is the major sections that don’t include text or captions, those are referred to as micro-whitespace due to the face that it is a physically small white space between the words or what have you.
The article also explains in detail how white space will effect legibility. By using very simple fonts it will create more white space “Micro whitespace” to help with the reading. This will also give a very clean look to your page. But as a general overview of the article, it strongly points out how the tiny “itty bitty” changes to a document like changing fonts or moving object around so that they look “well balanced” is the key.

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/whitespace

New Quiz Software that Uses Flash

We all know how popular quizzes and surveys are now in the ever growing population of MySpace, blogs, Facebook, etc. It's now the coolest way to let everyone know everything they did AND didn't want o know about you. An LA based company, Wildform, Inc., has created and released a program called Quiz Creator. This is a "standalone software program" that allows the user to easily create LMS compliant, customized Flash quizzes, tests, assessments and surveys in only minutes. All you have to do is come up with your content, preview and make any changes the BOOM! approve it and you're ready to thwo that baby on-line.

Some of the features this program offers are:
~it exports Flash quizzes
~the question templates include: multiple choice/single answer, multiple choice/multiple answer, true/false, fill in the blank
combine multiple question types in the same quiz
~you can create fully customized quiz templates by choosing design, fonts, navigation, time-limit, etc.
~ you can generate score reports
~LMS compliant – supports SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2, and AICC
Some of the additional outputs include HTML and projectors for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Quiz Creator is a user-friendly program that is able to produce quizzes in Flash format, which is now the most widely viewable multimedia format on the net. You do not need any special software inorder to see all the quizzes put on-line which is great becuase it doesn't leave anyone out and they play on all browser types and bypass all firewalls. The quizzes can be used by themselves on a website, distributed on CD's or DVD's, played on mobile devices, integrated with other presentations or connected directly to SCORM or AICC compliant learning management systems for online testing.

As of release (January 2007) Quiz Creator is olny available for Windowsand is an efficient and cost-effective way to create dynamic, Flash-based surveys and assessments without the need for any training and development time. The introductory price was $99, but list price is $199.

It's obvious that Wildform, Inc. has a finger on the pulse of youth today. You can hardly go anywhere on-line without running into some sort of "Have you ever... with your top 8?" or "220 things ALL ABOUT ME!" quizzes and surveys. Although most of the kids out there will have to beg mom and dad for the program since by now it probobly costs more, it's still a great was create and individualize your own unique surveys rather then use the generic ones already on-line. Not to mention, you don't need to know anything about Flash in order to do it! You get all the great features Flash has without having to go through and do it yourself.

In time I'm sure there will be more applications like thins becasuse it is my opinion that survey will never die, just like Elvis.

WildPresenter

There is a company based out of LA called Wildform that focus’s on presentations, video and animation software has just exstended the capabilities of the most robust flash and video software avaible. They just announced an update to WildPresenter Flash Presentation software. The name of this updated version has also been modified to Wildpresenter Pro. There are a lot of modifications to the software such as a new slide navigation player export. This allowing to view and navigate your data using a series of slides. More slide templates so u can easy create a complete slide layouts easier. They have also added better streaming FLV capability so now you can add live straming FLV’s to your WildPresenter Projects. This update will also include a new and improved flash to power point conversion and vise versa. This new software will free a free update for any WildPresenter customers and has been having great reviews during the testing.
I think this is a great tool to use if your in the office and like to give you’re presentations a little extra flare. Nothing like going over the top and adding some flash made files or movies and seamlessly incorporating them into powerpoint presentation. This will allow for more interactivity and keep the attention of the audience without putting them to sleep with the normal and basic power point.

scott

Flash On Mobile video devices

In this blog I am not so much talking about an article as a device. The device in question is the i-river clix mobile video player.
the player will be one of the first to support flash video files. Ironically enough it also uses flash memory. The i-river is not yet available in the united states in it's current incarnation. It is only available in Korea retailing for about $211.00 american dollars.
It has a wide range of file support beyond Flash video.

the need for these types of devices are questionable. With the i-pod and soon to be available i-phone, third party manufacturers need to think long and hard about where their products fit in the market. devices like the i-river are refreshingly less expensive than the i-phone but it is missing all of the additional functionallity like web browsing. The i-river has it's uses but is one of many video players now available. The one thing that sets it apart from the rest is it's ability to play a wide variety of file formats.

in my opinion the i-river is just another wanna be i-pod. I have seen many of them and this one is no different it is frugally priced but does not wow me or excite me in anyway. I think all of apple's competitors need to get into the mobile technology race as innovators not just followers. Competition is one of the biggest motivators of emerging technology. In this category apple needs some competition to help even out prices, and further the rapid advancement of technology

Time To Say Goodbye to Desktop Office Apps?

The article I chose for this weeks current events is an article that talks about web based programs replacing your regular apps such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. It is a web based suite of programs that Transmedia has come up with called Glide OS 2.0 and it is attempting to replace software on computers and allowing people to have them online. At the moment its expectations are far exceeding its ability to deliver. The suite offers a variety of programs such as a e-mail, calendar, contact list, chat, and file sharing, along with a music player, video player, word processor, a photo editor, a drawing program, a presentation program and a blog writing program.
All of the work you do is not stored on your hard drive but rather Glides servers, which allows you to access your work from anything such as a modbile phone to you desktop computer and everything in between. Only problem is that you need a fast broadband connection so it will work for home users but for people who need to work on the go wont be able to access it unless you are connected to the internet.
This article is important because it could be a reality very soon, although I dont feel it will be as effective as they hope it to be. Not everyone is going to want to have there programs online where they can't access them whenever they feel. Yes, it is nice to be able to access your files from any computer or mobile device but I don't think people will get rid of there actual programs. If I were to get this online program, I would keep my programs and just have the online features for certain things that I know I will be able to access when I have the internet.

article

Bridgette Blenker
4da
Flash
Article


The article I picked was on the new iriver clix 2. I found it on http://www.clixhere.net/blogicles/showentry.php?e=10 This Little divise is like the ipod just not as popular. But the clix has something that the ipod don’t. It has a flash based user interface. This helps the user navagate around without a mouse. This music player has also a AMOLED screen which makes everything pop out to you. Th clix also has anpowe r off or sleep mode. This player also plays video as well as music. It comes in 2G, 4G, and 8G coming april. This is the new ipod.
I think This is an awesome dives, it’s competion for ipod if it becomes popular but it has a flash based user interface.This is Imporatnt because flash is being incoperated in so much technology now a days. That’s awesome that technology has come this fare. I think that the clix will make it eventually.

EyeWonder Upgrades Their AdWonder Flash Component

EyeWonder, ome of the leading providers of rich media and online video advertising products and services, has upgraded their AdWonder Flash Component that is used by many top ad agencys for online advertisments. The new version, 8.1, is easier to use and also comes available for an immediate upgrade. This program is designed to help ad agencys reduce the time it takes to deliver vidoe and rich media ads to the public.
This component is a "full-blown Flash-based production environement." It was created to help revolutionize the agencies create and execute ideas for video and rich media ad campaigns. EyeWonder also is pleased to announce that in the three months since officially releasing the Component, eight of the top ten U.S. interactive agencies have already embraced it for the creation of multiple new video and rich media ad campaigns. AdWonder also works intuitively within the actual Flash program. This was desginers are no longer wasting time having to learn new platforms, figure out not so helpful tips and trying to use a labor-intensive API. Within 3 months of its release, thew version is being used by 8 of the top 10 agencies in the US and many of these agencies have said that production and approval times were cut by over 50%. These agencies are also creating better quality ads and videos because they have more time. The 8.1 version now enables users to import and export projects, as well as, share them among multiple users.
This componet was a genius idea and the fact that it has been so well received speaks wonders for EyeWonder. By cutting production times in half, it's no wonder that so many users are creating better stuff, not to mention more interesting. And by working within Flash itself only makes this program so much better. Not all computers can handle more then 1 open program at a time, and the tim eit takes closing and loading programs can be very detrimental to agencies. With better ads comes higher sales and in the end that is what agencies want. When they actually get the product to sell, especially if it works better then planned, companies are going to continue using that agency, not to mention that MORE agencies will come to them.
I think that EyeWonder is going to keep AdWonder up and running, improving as they go. This program is obviously very effective and it's possible that it will one day help to revolutionize the ad world even more then it has already. It's in my opinion that AdWonder will eventually be used by more then just ad agencies and that it will continue to effectively help it's users.

~Donna~

“How truly open is Flash? Do we need "Open Flash”

The article I read online was called “How truly open is Flash? Do we need "Open Flash”?” written on Wednesday, January 03, 2007, and posted by D. Nickull. It made some interesting points, about whether or not Flash is a proprietary technology.

Some of the basic points he made were the following:

“ 1. The Flash programming language (ActionScript) is 100% ECMASCript, a standard with multiple implementations and is open. You can script using ActionScript with a plain old text editor. Which what means that it makes it easier for anyone from an old user to a new user to use. They have made it easier and more versatile for more users to use.
“ 2. The internal Flash Player VM, “Tamarin” is an open source project run by the Mozilla foundation (donated by Adobe). It also helps people who use Flash for internet gaming or advertisements. It puts flash projects on the net faster.
3. The Flash file format, *.SWF is a published format.
4. The Adobe Flash Player (the reference implementation) is free. So are several others like the Gnash player.
5. The Flash Player is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Playstation, Nintendo Wii, Symbion, and many other platforms.
6. An SDK for building, compiling, debugging Flash applications is available for free on Mac, Windows and Linux
7. There are over 100 third party, free, commercial, open source and closed source products that produce, edit, generate, and otherwise manipulate Flash files, Flash Video files, etc.
8. There is a very active Open Source community around the Flash runtime. For better or worse (I do work for Adobe -;) many people take full advantage of the Flash Player without using any commercial products from Adobe (or anyone belse). See http://www.osflash.org/ to get a good view of this.
9. Flash itself makes use of several standards such as JPG, AVI, GIF and PNG's as outlined here.”

After reading the article, I feel that the author did a good job at addressing all the issues at hand in a fair and even manner, as well as all the points to be had.
While I can’t pretend to understand all of everything it talks about, I gather that this is a new debate, with people still weighing all the options. I myself am still in the process of learning Flash, so some of the above is vague to me. However, I still have faith in Flash and its abilities to create what I need.

Flash Enabled Mobile Devices Pass 200 Million

Adobe Press Release
02/12/07



This weeks article I took, once again, from Adobe’s Press Release. Just this past Monday Adobe announced the marker of 200 million mobile devices having flash on them. Today, more than 300 Flash enabled phones and consumer electronic devices have been manufactured, and more that 70 percent of all Flash devices now ship outside of Japan, forging new markets for Adobe. This opens up more avenues for flash developers to use. There are two types of mobile Flash programs: Adobe Flash Lite (for the consumer) and Adobe FlashCast (for the developer or client-server). With these two programs the amount of flash content will on grow. Adobe also has a new delivery service powered by FlashCast technology. They currently have 8 million subscribers to it.

The senior vice president of Mobile and Device Solutions Business Unit at Adobe said, “Japan was the early adopter of mobile Flash technology, but today it is a worldwide phenomenon with some of the hottest mobile devices. Adobe is banking on the creativity of FlashCast’s users. It basically depends on how the designer will take the technology and mold it. Adobe is currently giving training to companies like Nokia, NTT and Verizon Wireless to know how to fully use Flash Lite development content.

By using Flash Lite for our Shockwave Mini mobile game service, people like Shockwave can offer a unique selection of Flash Lite games to millions of Verizon wireless customers in the United States. The CEO of Mobitween, Philippe Chassany said, “As our mobile technology of choice, Flash Lite enables us and our partner developers to truly create rich and interactive games and application at unprecedented speed and reduced costs”. In a nutshell, Adobe is a nice little “monopoly” over the mobile software market.

This issue is very important to mostly to flash developers. It gives them hope in where to spend their time developing. If Flash Lite is the new things, people are going to develop more of it. This issue is also important to anyone who has or is looking to buy a phone. With this advancement in phone technology, you may want to keep your eye out for a nice flash-enabled phone.

My position on it is simple. I think Flash is ingenious. It is flexible, easy to modify, and fun to look at. With the Flash technology on getting better, it will be hard for any other program to surpass it. My only concern for Flash is that launches like the iPhone may shatter some dreams. Because phones seem like they are moving towards an “OS” to run on, more option will become available that may be better than flash.

Current Event 2

Only as of recently, Macromedia has teamed up with a digital broadcasting solutions leader of the market today, VitalStream, Inc. What this does for flash is it allows the company to deliver quick video-enabled flash content all over computers that support flash and that being over 600 million computers today with flash being installed. The partnership will allow companies to have high-quality, reliable, on-demand video in the fastest possible time without having to install and maintain streaming video servers. VitalStream also quotes “by working with macromedia, we are providing the infrastructure for companies to reliably deliver great user experiences that can scale to meet the needs of any size deployment.” Which brings up a good point of just being another support of an infustructure.
I think in general this is a great idea to help eliminate those messy Video streaming servers and allow people to come up with new and exciting ideas. Somewhat like what the Sundance film festival which is going to use this new service provided by VitalStream to their web site to provide a new and creative experience for the visitors of the site.

Flash as a delivery platform for the disabled.

Flash has some unique abilities, that when harnessed, can produce a highly effective medium to deliver communications with the disable or impaired. Some of Flash's standard features are now effective two-fold, not only in the conventional sense, but also in that of a new form of communication.

One method of doing this is "multiple ways of communication" through one flash document. For instance, you can have an image animate to show the message while text is captioned on the bottom, explaining in words, what is going on.

Another technique is the use of vector-based scalability. The flash animation/document can be enlarged infinitely for ease of viewing for those who may be visually impaired.

A third perk is the integration of the keyboard as part of the interactivity of the Flash document. Users dont have to have a super-refined motor control (using a mouse) and even for those who aren't impaired, browsing can be expedited via keyboard shortcuts.

Flash is a multimedia vessel for information. Text, sound, images, movie clips, and animations are easily usable and highly effective by being able to translate the same message into audio/visual forms.

One must keep in mind that all of these areas must be focused on for an effective product that is easy to use but does not make the user feel like they are at a disadvantage. This idea is a new one to me and I think that this idea is a fantastic one and has plenty of power to back it.

New Flash Lite 3

Flash lite hits the news again. This time it was the release of the new Flash Lite 3 which will allow for streaming video using flash lite. It will be released by april 2007. The new platform allows for the integration of media rich applications in the cell phone world as well as great online video delivery. This will also allow many more types of signal providers access to the spectrum of flash abilities. The use of Flash Lite will also reduce costs of implementation of video by 5 times.
This will help to bring the new mobile devices which are more like computers to the market. This allows for the mobile life completely. There is an ever growing need to have constant access to your digital life. This will allow the delivery of mobile media content effortlessly. Things like the i tunes revolutionized the music industry it is doing the same for t.v. Flash Lite is the logical choice for mobile content delivery.
In my opinion this is one step closer to the entire digital package which media providers such as comcast and verizion are striving to encompass. In the age of media giants shifting from theatres and the console tv to your ipod and mobile phone this can only help to create revenue and jobs for young designers like myself.This can be acheived through interactive screen savers custom home screens and game and video development.In summation the release of Flash Lite 3 will herald in a new age of Flash development and developers.

Flash Lite

Macromedia has launched a mini flash player application for cell phones. This application makes it able to view flash movies, work with flash maps, and view streaming cable tv shows. Macromedia is also avoiding creating windows mobile programs and is sticking with other mobile operating systems. The technology is mainly based in japan but will shortly come over to the untied states on select phones.
I think this is a great thing for a lot of mobile users, I mean think of a day where you could create your own flash application, export it in a format that can be read by the phone send it via blue tooth to your phone, and there you go your own mini application. I’m viewing this for mainly making little flash games you could send to your friends, or maybe even make a super compact flash portfolio to send in messages to prospective employers.
I don’t know too much about the future of this, I mean it could just flop because it isn’t adapted to windows mobile which most of this countries businesses have tried to build upon on as a lesser foundation for communicating. If this does happen to go as planed in macromedias views they are sure to have a certain success with this and a lor of consumers will enjoy this.

Mac vs. PC

Meredith Helms
January 29, 2007


The article I read, called “Apple revs up Mac attacks on Vista”
POSTED: 1:25 p.m. EST, February 1, 2007, explains how Microsoft has come out with “Vista” a newer vamped up version of windows, the first revamp in 5 years.

Apple is of course, amused, being that the features Vista brags about, Apple already has had, for quite a while. Ever since the dawn of both systems, Apple has stayed a step ahead in technology versus its Windows counterpart, always managing to be more innovative then Windows, and sighing as Windows tries in vain to copy everything they do.

The article explains how the latest sweep of “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” commercials has helped with the spreading of Apple brand. The commercials are simple, and hilarious, with the PC character constantly trying to outdo the Mac, who with ease and a smile, outdoes the PC every time.

Personally, sense I agree that Apples are better than PC’s any day, I’m curious to see how Vista compares to the newly emerging Leopard version of Mac OS. X.
Something tells me that my mind will never be changed, that Apples are the way to go, considering my field.

motionartist

Bridgette Blenker
Flash
4DA
“Flash Animation Software offers rapid prototyping tools”


The article I picked was Flash Animation Software Offers rapid Prototyping tools” This article was released January 26th of 2007 It talks about The Program Motion Artist 4. This program makes Flash animation easy for artist and businesses.
This program is released to windows programs, It is Inexpressive and easy to use. This program can help you Banner ads, digital photo albums, and websites, ECT. In this new version there is new wizards, templates new timeline, new browser preview, ECT.
To use this program you do not need any prior knowledge of web design.
I think this program is very special in that it can do what flash can do but in an easier way for everyone. I never heard of the program but it could be a very big success if given the chance.
I think it’s important because everyone wants things to be easier now days. When it’s easy especially in business it gets faster and less money the company has to spend. Plus cheap program very beneficial to the businesses, educations and artists to use it.
The program seems to come out February 1st 2007. So I don’t know what will happen yet with it but like I said I think it will be big or flash will sew it very bad.

Flash 9 Finalized for Linux

Adobe on Wednesday released the final version of Flash Player 9 for Linux, bringing its multimedia offering for the open source operating system up to date with Windows and Mac OS X. Linux developers can now build rich Internet applications using Adobe's Flex 2 SDK.

Flash Player 9 for Linux includes better memory utilization, advanced features for graphics, video and text, as well as ActionScript Virtual Machine 2, which Adobe recently handed over to the Mozilla Foundation for a project called Tamarin. "Now the Linux community has full access to the high volume of Flash content and applications available on the Internet today, bringing Linux developers and users to the forefront of the Web 2.0 experience," remarked Emmy Huang, senior product manager at Adobe.

Using Flash As An Online Video Delivery Application

Flash is now one of the top-most vehicles of online video delivery today. This is likely due to the fact that the Flash program itself has integrated tools that make publishing uber-web-ready videos, animations, advertisements and so much more, right out of the box. This makes it very simple for nearly anyone of any capability to upload a quality, easy to use video for literally the world to see.

Most videos placed online are in a format that is only conducive to straight playback with little to no user interactivity, much like watching tv. This provides a rather flaccid experience and is not really web-friendly. Users come to a website to have interaction, to choose what they view, not have it dictated for them.

A program named "Flix" has been released, making encoding video into a swf file easier than ever. Flix offers numerous compression and authoring choices for anywhere from a 56k modem to a broadband connection, from 1fps banner ads to full out videos. Flix offers a versatility and functionality unparalleled in today's market. However, the downfall of Flash, and Flix, resides within itself. An SWF file can only contain 16,000 frames, which roughly equates to just over 22 minutes of the standard 12fps. It's second downside is that it is not a streaming format, but rather is of the progressive download format, meaning it is not a good choice for live broadcasts.

Advantages are present as well; the ability to combine video/motion images with vector graphics, all though one program is a huge plus. Flash is capable of producing a high quality fusion of the two that is viewable on 99+% of browsers worldwide and therefore can reach a vast audience quickly, easily, and all while being user friendly.

I believe that Flash as a video delivery platform is a great idea and I see it more and more everyday. We are saturate with advertisements, YouTube, and an unmeasurable amount of Flash online games and movie clips. There is no way to deny Flash's usefulness or presence due to it's shear magnitude on the world wide web.

-Keegan

Adobe wins Emmy Award for Flash Video

Adobe Press Release
11/02/06



The 2nd article I found was straight from Adobe’s Press Release section. This article was on Flash Video and how it won Adobe a Technical and Engineering Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Science. Today, shows like Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy are being delivered online thanks to Flash Video, while the technology also powers the video capabilities of social networking sites such as YouTube and MySpace. The award is actually formally being accepted this month in Las Vegas at a CES trade show.

The president and chief operating officer at adobe, Shantanu Narayen, stated “Flash Video is fundamentally changing the role of video on the Internet, and this prestigious award is further proof of this technology’s profound impact on how broadcasters deliver their content”. All of the “Video Player Websites” now rely on Flash to stream video content of all types. Narayen went on to say, “Winning this Emmy is deserved recognition for our engineering teams and Adobe’s continued commitment to innovation in dynamic media”.

Flash video is used by companies to stream video content in a smooth yet secure fashion. The program that makes it possible it called Flash Media Server 2. It gives organizations a scalable and secure way to stream video content, and partnerships with leading content delivery network providers. Statistics show that over 700 million Internet-connected desktops and mobile devices currently use Adobe Flash Player.

This issue is very important just because so many web sites and web applications use flash as their front end content. With that said, you must have the flash player to view any of their sites. As designers, I find that we need to keep up with the trends of online content and interface. So it is important to know that successful landmarks that Adobe continues to achieve. We should be excited for them and encourage them to continue to put out quality and useful software tools so we may be better at what we do.

After reading this article, I have gained a little more respect for Adobe and how much they do. It is very cool to see that a software company that I frequently use, wins Emmy Awards. I now want to get involved with online video stream and learn more about it.

Flash On Phones

This week article concerns the growing use of a program called Flash Lite. It is a development program that exists for mobile phones that is in many ways like Flash 8. This Article focused on the Japanese users and their willingness to adapt to this new platform. The Japanese are far more about the use of their phones as personal statement rather then just for communication. On average the Japanese schoolgirl spends about $127.00 a month on downloaded content. That makes for a viable market for Flash Lite based applications. This opens the way for developers and freelance artists to tap into the mainstraem. Also it has become one of the new trends in Japan.
This is important because we can really create more user friendly cell interfaces. It also allows for the growth of an entirely new market. Here in the states we use our phone for pretty much just communication. However with the release of amazing new products such as the i-phone and other multi touch devices the idea of a personalized mobile device is becoming more appealing. The projected revenue of such development platforms is unimaginable.
In my opinion this is that it is nothing but a good and really cool thing. We as Americans are spending less and less time at home the need to bring our electronic lives with us is growing at a substantal rate. Its awfully hard to evaluate your stocks and investments and make changes to them when you are watching billy at his soccer practice. Think about it you could have a trading alert and it's sitting at home in your laptop on your desk. Oops you just missed out on 2% net gains. That is just one of many examples. The thing that makes Flash Lite the perfect candidate is that it conveys things in such a visual manner and is so interactive. The biggest thing that puts Flash Lite in the foreground is its ability to be personalized.

The Flash Gaming Network Takes the Next Step in Featuring Online Flash Content

The aricle I chose for my second current event talks about Flash Games. Mostly, how they don't get the respect they deserve and how Shawn Tanner, a flash game producer, has made a site that features these games. Not only does it feature the games but it also gives in-depth reviews, comparisons to other games, and gives full credit to all the flash animators that made the games. It is the first of it's kind, so to speak. Other websites such as small blog sites will review games, but not that many, nor do they usually have any idea what it takes to make these games.
I think that it is a good idea to have such a site because the amount of flash games coming out since the early 2000's is overwhelming, and only a select few are worth your time and "effort" to play. So now instead of sorting through all sorts of games and websites looking for fun addicting flash games, this site is pointing them out for you. Let them do all the work and let the designers and animators tell you how good a game is. Besides they probably know more than some 12 year old kid who puts up blog reviews on games.
This article I feel was important because I am a flash game player and to have someone out there doing the dirty work for you and letting you know what the best game is awesome. I'm sure im not the only one who feels this way either.

Sony to launch flash-based Mini-Vaio

Sony to launch flash-based Mini-Vaio
InformationWeek
Antone Gonsalves
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1970014888

In an article written just days ago (1/29/2007), Sony has made an announcement about launching their latest project. New from Sony is a flash-based Mini-Vaio, which is to be released sometime in February. This will be a flash-based Vaio UX Micro PC. a full-function, pocket size computer. This flash-based version will include the same features as previous versions: Inter Core Solo processor, wireless LAN and WAN access capabilities, a 4.5 inch touch screen and a keyboard that slides out from behind. There is one main difference between past versions and this one. This version will have a 32 GB flash memory drive. This means faster booting up speeds and accessing programs, plus you will be able to use the device for storing files. Another bonus will be that the flash memory will use less battery power than a spinning hard-disk drive. The UX Premium Micro PC will come in black and cost just around $2,500. It will also be available with Microsoft Windows Vista Basic. As of right now this is all the information Sony has released

With a growing world wanting smaller and quicker computers, Sony is smart to release the UX Premium Micro PC. Using a flash-based memory drive rather then the usual spinning hard-disk drive is genius. This pocket PC will run so much faster and be able to hold so much more. Not to mention the flash drive capability makes for even more convenience for its users. Although to most people $2,500 is a lot of money, for the target audience, most likely upper class businessmen and women, the cost is mere pocket change. This revitalized PDA will look like Fabio compared to the others currently out there. All the programs this thing will be able to hold and do just blows others out of the water. Not to mention to businessmen and the like, time is everything and with the flash-based memory drive, the time it takes to do things will be reduced greatly.

It’s in my opinion that this Mini-Vaio is going to be an instant hit for Sony simply because of the flash-based memory drive. If I could afford it, I would buy it, not only because of the memory drive, but also because of the touch screen and keyboard which is one thing not all PDA’s offer

Donna Shearer

Why Flash 9 for Linux is taking so long?

By "jzb"
11/30/06

The article I chose to read is a question all Linux users have on their mind right now, why did Adobe delay the launch of Flash 9 for the Linux operating software? Adobe seemed to skip over Linux when releasing their latest version of Flash 9. Linux currently only has a beta version of the program. There are actually a few reasons for this and all the answers were found by speaking with Paul Betlem, the Senior Director of Engineering for Adobe.

Betlem discusses several factors that have contributed to the tardiness of Flash on Linux. The first issue is the complexity of porting the Flash player to Linux due to differing libraries used for sound, video and type on different Linux distributions. Quoted from Betlem’s interview, he states: “Some distribution have different versions of libraries, and in a goal to provide compatibility across as many distributions and configurations as possible, we have to sort of reconcile all those differences and present a consistent cross-platform runtime, so that was probably our biggest challenge.”

Betlem then goes on to say that browser support is a problem. Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows builds of Firefox are different, and adobe has to factor those differences in when trying to port the Flash plug-in to Linux. The last issue for this dilemma is the testing of all the configurations and option may take a good amount of time. The article goes on to talk about the issue with 64-bit compatibility issues. 32-bit versions of Flash 9 is currently available, however, many users are anticipating a 64-bit versions. Adobe states that they are “committed” to creating one, they just don’t know when.

This topic is very important for different reasons. This issue may not affect Mac or Windows based users, but for the Linux users that use Flash on a regular basis cannot take advantage of all of Flash 9 capabilities. Linux systems are great for hosting large websites and commerce stores due to the simple and stable infrastructure. With this said, there are many web developers that find their workspace on Linux machines. Now that you can see, this issue can affect the whole global market of web design.

After reading this article, I actually gained a little more respect for Linux and their users. I sort of felt bad for them. Us Mac/Windows users take advantage of the ease of jumping on Flash 9 and being able to create rich flash projects. I now can understand the demand for software developers to create an equal opportunity for all OS that are used. I also learned that it is a lot of work to have to develop a program for each OS because they are built very differently. I have also gained respect for software companies and the developers that work for them. With all this said, I am proud to say I am a designer and I use the tools that developers make.

Macromedia Realeases Software Subscription Service

The article I chose was from February of 2003. It was when Macromedia announced that there software subscription service would give developers access to a broad range of Macromedia products for development and testing purposes, including licenses for both client-side and server-side tools, exclusive access to online tutorials and technical resources, extensions, utilities, and early access to product updates. There called DevNet Subscriptions.

The service operates similar to existing developer subscription services from other vendors, such as Microsoft's MSDN subscription program and IBM's Developer Toolbox. Macromedia's DevNet offers two subscription levels: Professional and Essentials.

The Professional subscription includes full, single user-license versions of all products in Macromedia's Studio MX Suite (Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, and Freehand) as well as the Contribute content management product. It also includes development-only license versions for Macromedia's server products: ColdFusion, JRun, Flash Remoting, and the Flash Communication Server.

The Essentials subscription includes only the DRKs (one per quarter) at a cost of $299 per year, per developer. The Essential subscription does not include any software licenses. To support the new DevNet initiative, Macromedia tapped into its online developer resource center, called DesDev. DesDev changed its name to match that of DevNet and became a portal that supports DevNet subscribers. Hale said that some resources and discussion groups would remain freely available to the public while others would be cordoned off for DevNet subscribers.

Finally, the company also announced the official MX version of Freehand. Freehand is one of the last products, and the last product in the Studio MX Suite, to be upgraded to the MX designation. According to a company press release, enhancements to Freehand in the MX version include user interface changes, new productivity tools and panels, better integration with Flash MX, and better performance on Mac OS X.

So basically what it comes down to is that Macromedia was having there products tested by developers to spread there ideas of the way they do things. It also gave developers a chance to experience the power of these programs without having to purchase the whole package.

first article/Apple Iphone

Sara Colvard
Apple iPhone
Mercury News
Now, `it's all about the iPhone'
APPLE'S LATEST PRODUCT OVERSHADOWS STRONG HOLIDAY SALES, PROFIT

For Apple Company The new Iphone was announced last week and the predictions for it are both good and bad there are many worries about the effect from it on other products to the effect on the company. The apple company was happy with the out come for the holidays with the sales of the Ipod.
The iphone isn’t expected until June but there are still very eager people for it. The company is worried about the effect on the sales of the ipod. Last quarter blew through the expectation on wallstreet. At a one hour conference the interest in the new iphone was the main topic but the company still ha few answers about it because it is still to soon,
The new phone is very new type apples first phone on the market it has been the first topic for apple lately. The shares for apple on Wall Street have both risen and fell. With the ipod making 1 billion in share over the holiday that was way above what was hoped. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected the company to earn 77 cents a share on sales of $6.42 billion.
The apple profit was 565 million for the shares. The investors though still have jitters about the shares. Apple sold 969,000 notebook computers in the just-completed period, up 65 percent from the same period a year earlier. Even more impressive, the company saw $1.46 billion in revenue from those sales, up 79 percent from the holiday quarter of 2005.

Alternatives to Flash Animation?

When looking for alternatives to Flash animation, one has two basic choices; stay in-house with Macromedia products and utilize Macromedia Shockwave, or utilize GIF animations. Sometimes Flash is not affordable enough for independent web designers and they will need to look at alternatives. Shockwave is widely used in the delivery of online mini-games and cartoons and provides a very similar graphic quality to flash-rendered animations, while a GIF animation is usually a shorter, choppier, color-depth lacking piece.

Shockwave is a powerful program and language but definitely also has draw-backs. Its strengths include the ability to deliver audio and video in an attractive and easy to use format. The quality of said visuals is on par with Flash, most would agree, but frankly, this is where the benefits stop. Nearly 100% of all browsers have the Flash plug-in but nearly none have the Shockwave plug-in. The install file for the plug-in is considerably larger than that of the Flash one and sometimes the web browser will confuse the two and try to play one file with the wrong extension. It is also “not optimized for web delivery” as the author of the article would put it. It is better at using local files, not ones it has to download or stream via Internet.

The second alternative is to use GIF images. GIF's can be produced via the Flash software, Adobe ImageReady/PhotoShop and some third-party software programs. At its core, the GIF is a series of images with adjustable playback rate and the ability to preserve transparency, thus allowing some serious flexibility for web use. Also, file size is relatively small and is able to be displayed easily on most browsers. The downside to GIF's is that the animation is rarely as smooth or rich as a Shockwave or Flash one, and there is a serious lack of color depth.

What this all really boils down to is this: although there are alternatives to Flash, none can come close to offering the flexibility, power, and eye-candy of Flash. The author of this article has an obvious bias towards Flash and I can fully understand why. With the closest competition struggling to keep close, Flash has a clear, unrivaled stranglehold on web development as the top media-delivery platform. Audio and video together, relatively small file sizes, and plenty of vector-style rendering grunt.

In my opinion, Flash should be even more widely utilized by web developers and pushed to the utter forefront of the “new” Web 2.0. I see this being the new wave in web design to deliver the ultimate of experiences for web users and designers alike.

-Keegan (the ONLY pc guy)

first article

Bridgette Blenker
Flash article 1
Current events
Mobile Flash Art: cell phone as artistic platform
1/18/07


The article I chose was Mobile flash art cell phone as artistic platform, on http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/11/29/mobile-flash-art-the-phone-as-artistic-playground/ . This article discuses how people in Japan are customizing their phone with flash lite.
Now what is flash lite? It is in definition is “Flash Lite is the Flash technology designed for mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. Flash Lite dramatically accelerates the delivery of rich content and browsing, and customized user interfaces” In short it is .a flash program used to make cell phone animation. At least that’s what so many kids and artist are doing in Japan. They’re making their art and illustrations know by using this program. You wouldn’t expect designers to use a create animation for little cell phones but they do. Know this seems to be amazing to us since we only take picture and play music on our cell phones but know where able to make animations and use them as wallpaper, screen savers, or calendars on our cell phones. That’s amazing.
This article is important because it is a new way flash is being used, and in a way that it can be marketed. Cell phones are already popular and everyone wants customized things know a days it’s the style and customizing your own phone with wallpaper, screen savors and calendar would be awesome. It fits in the palm of your hand and you can carry it around. This is something ready to blow up over here in the US.
I never heard of this but it’ sounds awesome I think if college and high school kids heard about this they it would become a new rave over hear as well as in Japan. This can be marketed to anyone especially designers. Like when the ipod came out the PSP, I can see this being the new thing.
Flash used like this is very interesting. And it being used like this can be very popular. I hope it crosses over to The US

First Blog

Meredith Helms

Subject: Flash from the Past, Helps Predict the Future

The article I found and read is called “Vision of Flash-based Web raises doubts”, and the subtitle “Flash Macromedia is lobbying for designers and Web-application developers to create entire pages in Flash. But detractors say such an approach could stifle innovation.” Explains the general gist of the article. Its an older piece, written April 1, 2002 by David Becker. Not the most recent of course, but I feel it is still relevant because it shows what was going on in the past, as compared to now days.

The article shows different opinions about the idea of creating entire flash-based webpages. Many people thought it would be a great idea, to eliminate having to refresh pages constantly, like it says “easier-to-use transaction sites with content that, through Flash-enabled browsers, can be updated selectively rather than having to redraw the entire page every time new data is submitted. Another pay-off is video clips that don't require a separate browser window.” But others disagreed.

I found it interesting all the different arguments. The strongest one I found was against the idea, saying
"If the Web becomes dependent on closed standards, be they Flash or RealAudio or Windows Media Player, then it becomes difficult for new browsers to be created, it becomes difficult to place the Web in embedded appliances, it becomes difficult to have any experience outside what those companies define," said Bruce Perens, a co-founder of the Open Source Initiative.
Which made sense to me. However, seeing as there are flash based pages out there, obviously somebody in a position to make such decisions thought it worth pursuing.

It goes to show that Flash, though a creative tool, is also a business, and has to be concerned with furthering its usage, to maintain its longevity. It’s a different perspective from the arguments of mainly creative standpoints; of whether it’s a good program, the best out there, and personal preferences. From a mainly business point of view, Flash is very successful. Seeing as in 2002, Flash was “Installed on more than 96 percent of PCs connected to the Internet, Macromedia's Flash player has become the de facto standard for running Web page animations, which in turn are generally created by Flash-conversant tools.”

All I all, Flash is a very useful and innovative program, and though not a recent event, I found this article interesting, a little flash into the past, if you will. It shows the growth and business behind the program. I have a feeling that Flash will always continue to grow and expand its presence on the web.

Adobe releases Flash Player 9 for Linux

This article talks about how Adobe has released Flash Player 9 for the Linux Operating System. It now gives the people who are running the Linux operating system a chance to view all of the media that Flash Player 9 runs.
This may not be of too much importance to people who run Windows or Mac OSX, but for those who run Linux are definitely feeling the benefits of this release. Now that the web has turned into one big YouTube and Myspace frenzy, Linux users now have the ability to view all the great homemade movies the web has to offer.
I think this a good thing for those people who use Linux but to me I could really care less, since I don't run Linux. I'm not sure why they didn't do this earlier instead of leaving Linux users to not have such capabilities. Also, since they can now create things that are compatible with Flash Player 9, I'm sure if there are animators or designers out there that use the Linux OS, they are pretty happy now.

An Epic Battle: Flash vs. HTML

If web designers had a crystal ball one thing they would surely look for is the future of HTML based websites. With Flash growing in popularity and the number of sites built completely in Flash, designers are asking themselves: What is the future of HTML? There are so many differences and similarities between HTML and Flash sites that it can be hard to predict which; if either, will come out on top. And that is what it all comes down to: what makes each way different? In Laymen’s terms: which one is ‘friggin’ easier?
In today’s design society there are two groups of web designers: the oldies who love the long lings of HTML code and then the new, younger crowd who see a future with Flash. Flash is able to do so many new things that HTML will just never be able to do some of the things Flash can. For example, Flash has much more freedom then HTML does and it is a lot easier to use. In Flash if you want to place a picture in a certain place, you just throw it on the canvas. With HTML you need to worry about absolute/relative placements, slicing graphics, screen resolutions, z-indexes and so much more. Designers are giving one of the main things they have wanted since the beginning of net: the ability to design with limited limitations such as different programming languages. And with Flash, a page will always and correctly render, no matter browser.
Flash also offers a lot more interactivity then HTML which is gong to keep the attention on users longer then a plain, scroll down HTML site. Importing sound and video is also easy not only for actual designers but for people just trying things out. It’s simple, but it is one thing HTML does not offer. And if you don’t want it, don’t add it. Flash gives you that simple option, as well as many more. Flash makes it easier for handling fonts and changing them easily. It also helps that with Flash sites, it does not matter whether or not the user has that font installed on their computer. It’s easier for everyone. Flash sites offer some of the same things as HTML sites do, such as replicating frames. In a Flash site, you can keep the navigation bar in one spot while everything else scrolls. But one thing Flash offers that HTML does not, is never having to reload. Browser buttons are a thing of the past in Flash and again: it’s so easy!
Of course there are those few cherished things that only HTML offer, the weaknesses of Flash. Without the Flash plug-in on your computer, every page you visit with Flash on it will pop up a little warning box informing you and telling you to go to this page to get the plug-in. Trust me: it’s annoying without that plug-in. HTML doesn’t need a plug in any way shape or form. Not to mention, video in Flash can be a problem with quality when you want to enlarge the viewing screen. In today’s world quality is important. Another downside is that 100% Flash sites do not show up on search engine sites. So if you make the best Flash site on Granny’s Chicken Soup, no one will ever find it when Goggle-ing yummy chicken soup. The world of web is streaming into so many different ways that many companies are coming up with ways for HTML and Flash to be compatible with search engines and text readers. CSS is a big example of this and people say that the day for equal harmony is coming sooner rather then later.
The world is growing and changing and I think that Flash and HTML both have a future and will one day work together in harmony. It’s like comparing it to the US and the UK. Hundreds of years ago were fighting each other, but now things have changed and we work together. I think this is how it will one day be on the internet, all we need is that one program that links it all together. Design, media and the WWW have already come so far so fast that it’s just a matter of time until it all works together. All we need is that one program that will revolutionize the world and bring sound, video, CSS, HTML and Flash altogether in one happy search-engine friendly little package. My thoughts? Adobe will be the ones to make this all possible.

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/csshtml-which-will-choose
Donna Shearer

Current Event Essay1

Scott Marchewka
News.com.com/2100-1012_3-5180486
David Becker

Macromedia released a new server product intended for expand the flash format and applying it to Web applications and interfaces. Flex which is formerly known as Royale is created to run scripts in different languages such as Java and .net to make the application to the web. What Flex will do in this case is break down the scripts into a Macromedia type of dialect called extensible markup language (XML) so that it can be ready by the flash player, flash player being one of the most common clients out there for web pages. Jeff Whatcott the vice president of the product management team at macromedia said “The use of Flex will be to create compelling and attractive interfaces for the web applications, an area that often gets overlooked by Developers.
Flash, once used to spice up ads on web pages is not moving into a whole new generation. Flex extends the Flash campaign with allowing developers to apply the many advantages of the format without having to learn all the macromedia flash development tools, which use a timeline based interface more familiar to Digital artists and graphic designers. Flex works with the leading java application servers today such as IBM, Websphere, BEA’s WebLogic and Apache Tomcat. The price tag for this though will run about $12,000 for the two sever CPU’s it requires to run on.
Macromedia in its own right wants to take advantage of this technology and is currently working on their own Flex-based development tool codenamed “brady”. Which is said to have everything from the simple notpad that comes with Windows to the very high end IBM tools. Macromedia is really looking help familiarize developers that are unaccustomed to the macromedia products with the benefits of using the Flex software to help tweak out their applications.
In my own opinion this is just another need they saw in the development tools to help with web based programs. I see why macromedia would like to create some software of their own but still allow the developers to use the tools that they already know and love. I support any software that helps make a task easier and create new cutting edge web based applications that take half the time, I just don’t see a down side. I am also really looking forward to see what steps macromedia takes in creating their own flex-based program and what additions they have made to it that take it a step further.

PointRoll

The article I chose to cover is about a company called Pointroll. Pointroll is located in Conshohocken Pa. (don't say Pa never producees anything). Yesterday Pointroll announced the release of their new Application Program Interface API for short. What an API Does is allow developers to use less time on the back end of the program and more time developing robust and georgeous interactive experiences for users. It basically simplifys the programming nessecary to achieve things like activities, Panel controls, and click tags as well as making it easier to manage and control audio, video, and streams.
This is extremly important to designers because we can spend more time developing the look of the website and getting the exact feel that the client desires. It will also help to improve efficiency and workflow. The biggest benefit from the standpoint of a development company is time saved in the development process which means bigger earnings.
Personally I think that the Pointroll API will be extremly useful in creating the next wave of Flash websites. We as a culture are very visually oriented. That helps to support the trend we have seen in the use of Flash based sites. The internet generation is on average 7 years old, and they have never known a world without the internet. Their expectations for the future of the internet are vast. The Pointroll API will allow for more vibrant and immersive web sites by allowing the designers time to be spent on design rather than programming.
In summary the Pointroll API system will be another of leading edge technologies that will allow designers of the new age to make more awe inspiring web sites. Besides it's up to us to help shape the future of the internet generation. And how they will view the world through it.

hi

hi seeing if it works hehe

Iran Cuts off Access to YouTube

The article that I chose to elaborate upon this week is titled “Iran Cuts off Access to YouTube Website.” The article goes on to explain how and why Iran has blocked access to TouTube.com. It is said that when users attempted to call up the video- sharing site on Tuesday, they were met with the message, “On the basis of the Islamic Republic of Iran Laws, access to this website is not authorized.” It was speculated that the site had been blocked for approximately 5 days. Supposedly the Shiite cleric-run government regularly blocks opposition Web Sites including blogs, and unauthorized messages.
It was said that there were videos from the Mujahedeen Khalq and other Iranian opposition groups have been posted on the site. The site also was housing pop music videos from Iran, which are frowned upon by the religious leadership. It was said by reporters in the Country, “censorship is now the rule rather than the exception”. They stated that the government is trying to create a digital border to stop culture and news from coming to Iran.
Iran is simply out of control in my opinion. Even the thought of this country, or any country for that matter, censoring websites that simply show videos is insane. After living in a country where freedom of speech is not only allowed, its encouraged, seeing something like this seems so foreign and makes little sense. But then again, Iran is a lot different then the United States. In my opinion, I don’t think Iran should even have the Internet. They don’t deserve it if they don’t like youTube.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0612060120dec06,1,3957375.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Hackers

Hackers attacked the computer network at the Naval War College in Newport, taking down the school's network for more than two weeks, including some e-mail services and the college's Web site. The Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command in Norfolk, Virginia, detected the intrusion around November 16 and took the system offline, spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Doug Gabos said. He said the unclassified network was used by students. A spokesmen wouldn't give an estimate on when the school's network would be back online. The Naval War College bills itself as the Navy's leading center of strategic thought and national security policy. Investigators were trying to determine the extent of the intrusion, Gabos said. They planned to upgrade firewalls and make other unspecified improvements. School spokeswoman Karen Sellers said e-mail worked on campus, but people could not send or receive messages from off-campus.

Myspace traffic redirects to flash

There is a new program you can download plus some extra hard working and some coding and you will be able to take the basic crappy myspace layout and send people that try to go to your myspace site to a different flash site of your own. First you need to download the Ming package with is an advanced library for generating Macromedia flash files.

after this is done you can go ahead and right the code in that will initially do the redirecting

"apt-get install libming-util

Now, in your favorite text editor, create a file with the following text:

getURL("http://www.example.com");

Substitute the URL for the site you want to redirect to in place of ‘www.example.com' above. Save this file as redirect.as. Now run the command:

makeswf redirect.as

This will produce a file called out.swf. Upload this file to a webserver where you can now fetch it from an external page.

The final step is to include the new flash file in your MySpace page. Include the following code somewhere on your MySpace page:

src="http://www.example.com/path/to/out.swf" quality=high
pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="200" height="200">
"

what this does is send em t a site you would prefer them to go to
I think this will totally change the myspace world. Now people will no longer have to suffer through tons of crappy layouts and junk when they can now go to a well done flash website.Through this I think myspace will also get more popularity cause people will sign up now just to get those to redirect tons of traffic to there better sites. This will also boost the popularity of flash just because people that may have been using HTML will switch to flash to be able to pull the higher amounts of traffic

To Preload or Not to Preload thats a good question

Written by Mike Truese.
Creative Director, Within Reach Concepts
http://www.flashmagazine.com/543.htm

This article discusses the importance of preloaders and the diferent methods available for creating one. The article says that one of the biggest criticisms of a flash based site is how long some of them take to load, but it also says it doesnt have to be this way it is quite easy to produce faster seeming site with a preloader. Writer Mike Truese explains that he likes to be involved in a process from stat to finish making sure that everything goes well.

While this article was not super informatitve i thought it was a good article to read because it showed readers that there are many different ways to use a preloader, it doesn't have to be just a little bar that moves across a screen. Most of us imagine a preloader as some type of graphic that represents a sites progress in loading but as this article explains it can also tell a story such as tell about the company while the site is loading or something like that. I never really thought about it that way and if i pulled one thing from this article i would have to say that it is that.

Universal says "Screw you Apple, I'm going home!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Okay, they didn't quite say it like that but they are concerned with the abilities of iTunes users to burn their movies up to 5 times and put it on up to 5 machines. They feel that it is way too much freedom and borders on piracy. They say that Apple should look at movies, TV shows and music as seperate entities.
I would have to agree to some extent, that is exept for the fact that if someone really digs a movie anymore, they aren't going to put it on their computer they will buy the DVD's for the now almost standard extra content. I think it seperates the shit movies that people will only want to see once and maybe show a friend and keep the worth while movies payed.
I love seeing big companies( music studios, movie studios) get screwed by the firm hand of justice. I like knowing that studios could be trembling in there smelly white suites about having to actually coming up with a good idea for there next film or else the movie will be raped from the start and word will get out out that their 2 hour crap fest.
In the end I don't care. I just like sleeping at night. And I sleep better knowing rich people have problems too.

study cellphone

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2006/12/study_cellphone.html



Using a mobile phone is not linked to an increased risk of brain cancer, researchers have said. The largest study of its kind found no association between mobile use and the most common type of brain tumours. But the research, published in the British Medical Journal, warned that mobile phones had only been in widespread use for about 10 years. Therefore the long-term effects are still unknown.
The latest study involved 966 people with glioma - the most common type of brain cancer - and 1,716 healthy volunteers who acted as a comparison. The two groups were interviewed about their use of mobile phones in the past. The researchers, from the Universities of Leeds, Nottingham and Manchester and the Institute of Cancer Research in London, found that those who regularly used mobile phones were not at a greater risk of developing glioma.
The researchers did find a significant increased risk between the side of the head where people said they held the phone and where their tumour occurred. However they believed those with cancer were making their own link between phone use and their tumour, making them exaggerate the number of calls on the affected side.
Professor Anthony Swerdlow, head of epidemiology at the Institute of Cancer, said the short time mobiles had been used made it impossible to predict long-term effects. It might take 30 years or more to show up any link.Although mobile phones have been available in the UK since 1985, they did not become widely used until the late 1990s.
More than 40 million people in the UK are thought to use mobile phones, including many children. Last year Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, called on parents to ban children under eight from using mobile phones.
Scientists believe youngsters are at greatest risk from the potentially damaging health effects of mobile phone emissions. A team from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), which advises the Government, said it was important to take a "precautionary approach" to using m

GM likely to launch new plug-in hybrid

Original Article


General Motors Corp. will likely unveil a prototype plug-in hybrid at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Plug-in hybrids are gas-electric vehicles that can recharge their batteries with an extension cord and a normal wall outlet. Unlike a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid will run 90% of the time on batteries or until they are too low to move the vehicle. Then the gasoline or diesel engine would power the vehicle the remainder of the duration.

With the introduction of a plug-in hybrid with a battery range of 100-120 miles, a driver could cut down other their fuel costs by a large percent. For those who need more then the battery range, the vehicle could travel the rest of the way under the power of it's smaller internal combustion engine.

The cost of operating an electric vehicle would be like paying 60 cents a gallon for gas. I for one would welcome this much smaller price for my daily driving.

SONY DEBUTS DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN GAME SERVICE

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2068538,00.asp

On Tuesday, following Microsoft, Sony launched a download-to-own gaming service for PSP handheld consoles which will feature the games, Cool Boarders, Crash Bandicoot, Hot Shots Golf2, Syphon Filter, and Tekken 2. Additional titles will be available later this month.

However, PSP owners have to try this new feature in a more "round-a-bout" way. In order to download these games, they need to be PS3 owners as well, for they have to download the them from the PlayStation Store through PS3 and then transfer the games to the PSP console.

This is nice if you own both the PSP and PS3, but what if you only have the handheld console, and don't have the money to buy a PS3, let alone even want one? Some are just satisfied with the older PlayStation version and don't want to upgrade, so shouldn't this feature be available for all versions, including the handheld? What's the point of being able to download games for that version when many people won't be able to access them, especially with all of the mixed feelings about the recently released PS3. I just think this is one more way of trying to market the PS3 and getting more consumers to buy it and boost it's ratings since it released with a rocky start. But what do I know? I don't own any PlayStations.

Cell phones don't raise cancer risk

It has been a long time belief that using your cellular phone would cause cancer. Well, just like the myth about your cellphone causing the filling station to blow up while you are pumping gas, this silly myth has been debunked. And they used the entire population of Denmark to do it.
Researchers collected data on 420,095 Danish cell phone users. Some of those users were tracked since they started using cell phones in 1982… two decades worth of data. Data collection ended in 2002 and the results are in…
"We were not able to identify any increased risks of any cancers that could be related to the use of the cellular phones," John Boice, a cancer epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University who worked on the research.
Out of the over 400,000 people tracked, only 14,249 were cancer patients. That number is much lower than what one could expect for that number under normal circumstances.
The popular idea is that cell phones emit some sort of radiation that causes the cancer. According to Dr. Boice, the radiation attributed to cellular phones cannot damage a person’s DNA or cell structure… “there's no biological mechanism that would suggest that even this type of exposure could cause cancer or DNA damage," Boice said.
So the long and short of it is that cell phones simply don’t cause cancer.
Boice did point out that there is a great danger with the use of cell phones. "There is, in fact, a hazard from the use of a cellular phone that we have to all be concerned about," added Boice, but it is not cancer-related.”
The great threat that we need to worry about is not cancer. According to Dr. Boice that danger is, " using a phone when we're driving an automobile".
That my friends is a completely different story.

Link To Story

Flash Passes Quicktime gaining on WMP

Flash is quickly becoming the top media player of choice for many important companies such as the New York Times. The adavatages include speed of loading, and cross platform compatibility which is a growing concern. By putting something WMV file you are limiting the amount of people who can view that file and if you are a business that relies on reaching as many people as possible this becomes an issue. To quote the article "Part of the appeal of Flash has been its cross-platform availability. Although it is a proprietary product, the Flash Player can be found for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. It got a head start on QuickTime, which works on Macs and Windows PCs, and Real, which runs on all three operating systems."

Personally I think with the growing useability of flash and ease of uploading we will see a major shift from traditional media players to flash based ones. However I don't think that we will limit the cross platform issues completely because companies like microsoft want people to solely use their products so I'm sure they will find a way to use flash technology and still make it so you have to use windows media.

Mac fans clamor for 'iPhone'

Original Article


Since the introduction of the iPod, Apple has sold over 67 million units world wide and dominated the market for portable media devices. And now Apple may be setting up for a release of the long rumored Apple cellular phone iPhone next year.

However when asked about the rumored product, Apple did not comment.

If Apple does release a cell phone with the features of an ipod and cell phone, they may be the first company to successfully create and sell the idea. Motorola released a cell phone with a simplified version of itunes but was quickly dismissed as consumers found that the phone could only hold 100 songs.

With a strong base of iPod dedicated consumers Apple should be able to create a realistic hype for their phone and easily market it. The future does indeed look bright for the Californian company.

PS3

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/games/0,72137-0.html?tw=wn_technology_10



All day we have been posting stories, rehashes, articles and news on Sony PlayStation 3 pre-launch in america, well it is officially 12 midnight on the east coast and Playstation 3 is officially out.
What does this mean, this means many things it is a day to be remembered. PlayStation 3 has joined the ranks of XBox 360 in the next generation race, leaving only one system to launch Wii on sunday. On sunday Playstation 2, XBox, and Gamecube all officially become past generation and what we have been calling "next gen" becomes current gen.
Long lines, preorder chaos, endless waiting, mouth watering graphics, gentle let downs, huge pickme ups, and happy buyers is what this day is all about. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the PlayStation book all across America those who lay there hand on the scarce 200,000 PlayStation 3’s let out a sigh of relief. This however my friends is only the beginning, set before us is a road.
This road may lead to one of the worst crashes in console history leaving PlayStation 3 as a mistake, or lead to the continuing dominance of PlayStation 3. Sony has officially entered the fray and taking there gamers with it. The lines are beginning to move, midnight launch doors flying open, and some stores prepping for morning chaos. This is what Sony fans have been eagerly awaiting.
The future is unsure for PS3, and Wii and PS3 alike seem to be such a coin toss that 360 has momentarily been out of the picture in this battle. From prototype to final completion PlayStation 3 has launched. Enjoy SixAxis, enjoy PlayStation 3 here’s to a another prosperous generation for the PlayStation line. What will come from Sony this gen only father time knows

Zune MP3 player is a dud

On Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Microsoft released the Zune player… its answer to the iPod. Sales were less than spectacular. Stores were stocked but nobody was buying. The all-mighty Zune, Microsoft’s “iPod Killer” came onto the scene with a whimper. People passed it over. Walked right by the flashy colorful displays that welcomed them to join the ‘Social’. Why did the Zune fail? Simple.
The Zune’s target is the iPod market. Twenty-something year olds… teens… people interested in music and good times. People who want to go to a party. A PARTY. When was the last time someone used the term ‘social’ to describe a ‘party’? I’ll tell you when… 1953. Who does the market research for Microsoft… Ward Cleaver?? No self-respecting young person is going to attend a social. And another thing… what’s the deal with the colors?
Brown. What fun and exciting things are brown? None, that’s what. Man oh man, I can’t wait to attend the social with my brown MP3 player in hand. I would certainly be the cat’s meow if that were the case.
Microsoft’s answer to this sounds more like an excuse than a rational and believable explanation. They say that they never intended on becoming a major market leader in the MP3 player market, but merely a small competitor… someone who can offer an alternative to the iPod. I call bullshit. They wanted to dominate the market with their iPod killer and they failed miserably.
Basically what we have here is Microsoft trying to tackle a market where they had no hope of succeeding. They tried. They failed. Now they are scrambling to recover from their colossal mistake.

Link to Story

Nissan Expands Ad Deal with MSFT

http://www.imediaconnection.com/news/12544.asp

As more people are using the internet for resources, the demand for online advertising is increasing. Therefore, Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) has decided to expand their web advertising. Starting with their recent ad campaigns which feature interactive webisodes such as the "7 Days in a Nissan", Nissan is now working with Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions to deliver to their target market through PCs, PDAs, mobile phones and even Xbox systems.

Web advertising is so big right now that it seems that many electronics are adapting to fit the needs of the internet and broader connections. We don't just see advertisements on billboards, magazines or the television anymore . . . not even just on our computers. Now we're able to get the latest news on new products sent right to our phones or video game systems. This doesn't just seem like a small trend that will die out early, for major companies are looking to these other options as a way to expand their business by reaching out across the world and drawing in new costumers. In order to stay in the competition, they must change to fit the consumers needs, and today, the consumers want it through the internet.

Advertising has become an exciting world for costumers and digital designers alike. Not only do we get to work with more and bigger companies/brands, but we get to publish fun and visually mindblowing media from video to interactive designs that get the consumer running back and thirsty for more. They want to see if we can top what we just did. With a field such as digital design where technology is advancing every day to fit our needs and give us new ideas, we almost always can top our designs shortly after each breakthrough.

Zune blows

The article that I decided to post about is titled “Zune Hits Stores, Nobody Notices” by Jeff Gamet. The article is short and sweet and to the point. Basically the article is about the introduction of Microsoft’s new “Ipod killer”, the Zune. The Zune was introduced to consumers a few days ago, and the sales were rather unimpressive. The article goes on to explain how consumers are not showing much interest in the new mp3 player. The state the Best Buy in Manhattan sold about 20 units in the first 3 hours. They also state that many stores do not even have to units but it’s not a big deal, because no one was asking for them. IDC Analyst Danielle Levitas commented, “Apple will not feel any bit of discomfort from Zune, certainly this holiday season and a good part of next year. According to the article, however, the Zune is not expected to stop production anytime soon. Microsoft is still firm in its position to try to dislodge Apple’s top-dog position with the IPod. Apparently Microsoft is going to put a lot of time and money into the Zune, much like they did the XBOX. She claims that it’s not about the first generation.
The article also mentions the fact that one buyer of the Zune simply wanted it because it was not an apple product. These are the kinds of people who are most likely going to buy the Zune. They are anti-Apple, want a nice mp3 player, and don’t care about other things. Since the number of people who like IPod's far outweigh the amount of people who simply dislike Apple, this shouldn’t be a problem.
I think that the Zune could not have come at a worse time. After viewing multiple websites featuring articles about the Zune, it appears as though no one is really interested in it. As of this time, Apple has such a firm position in the market that it would be hard for anyone to dethrone them from their position. If Microsoft would have released this mp3 player earlier when the IPod was just introduced, they may have had a chance. As for now, the IPod is just too popular and keeps getting better. Microsoft may have a few loyal users of the Zune, but in the end, the IPod will reign supreme.
If Ipod isn’t already ahead of the game, the best part is they soon will be. I believe that Apple will introduce a newer IPod that, unless someone makes a big mistake, will be that much better than all competition. Apple knows exactly what people want, and they know how to deliver in the mp3 marketplace.






http://www.ipodobserver.com/story/29236

The World Isn't Slowing Down

Do you know why they stopped making VHS cassettes? Because somebody at the company found out that I liked them that’s why. It was the same thing with audiocassettes. One day I walked into the music store and saw that I could have Metallica in two options: one was the beautiful way I have already been aquatinted with for years: a tiny rectangular case, or another then-unheard of way: a perfect flat square. I didn’t even know what the hell I was even looking at. It reminded me of a miniature version of the records my brother once had. I image that my feelings at the time were similar to ones my brother felt whenever he realized he would have to replace all his records with cassettes.
I stayed with my commitment of refusal when it came to the compact disc takeover until the day I had to concede. Eventually all of the cassettes were gone (with the exception of out-of-date country classics like Roger Miller’s King of the Road or expired collections of the best of Red Skeleton). It was suitable at first until I wanted to upgrade my listening pleasure to a larger stereo I was unable to listen to any of my existing cassettes due to the fact that it would not support tapes. So what I had to do was go out and purchase my entire collection again if I ever planned to listen to anything I liked.
This same problem would arise years later with the introduction of DVDs. I had to re-purchase all my VHS titles once again. After awhile, I began to accept the fact that CDs and DVDs were significantly better than VHS and audiocassettes. It seems almost laughable today with what we once considered acceptable quality. With old VHS tapes the threat of the tape being consumed, manually adjusting the tracking, and not being able to listen to the Terminator in anything less than golden THX surround is a bit of a laugh.
The reason any of this is relevant is with the oncoming battle between Blu-Ray and Hi-Def DVDs. This brings into consideration that I will once again have to purchase everything one more time. What I’m hoping for in this battle is for the technology to just go away, or be reduced to a lower standard. Does anybody remember SACD? I barely do. People were just so happy with Cds, they refused to pay five hundred dollars for a player that would heighten the experience by just a hair. Could this possibly be the new trend with Hi-Def, or are we going to have to empty our pockets to buy the same things again? I’m pulling for the latter, but then again I’ve purchased almost everything I own twice already, and some of them I’ve purchased more than once on DVD after the studios decide to release a special edition after I already bought it once.
So the progression of technology is a great thing that is if it’s adequate technology and is not filled with asinine ideas geared at money spending collectors by money collection big wigs. So companies I’m begging please: if it doesn’t revolutionize my life I probably don’t need it, and I’m sure nobody else does either.

My Space

Myspace is one of the most popular websites on the internet today. The site is visited even more than google. It is exciting to see that the market has recently grown to oversea countries such as Germany, Britain, Australia, Ireland and France and expecting more in the future. The expansion of Myspace featured in other languages, resulted in more competition for the company. Other companies such as Studivz.net in Germany and, orkut.com in Brazil are also sites of global communication, used often in those countries. Even though Myspace is growing it is still not the number 1 use of global communication. Cell phones and instant messaging are used everywhere, especially in the United States. Even though Myspace is expecting to be number 1, they know they are just getting started. Other countries have argued that Myspace is too well-known, and doesn’t have much of a local company feel. Some also say that it is bad design. The thing that most United State users prefer about Myspace is their use of music. Music is huge in the United States, and Myspace is a way to search for local bands, and concert events. It is a great way to personalize music for them selves.

Drag and Drop FLASH

Some site administrators where getting a little angry about having to rewrite code to put flash ads or documents into there site so they added this feature to Contribute. This feature will now make it much easier for site administers to update there site. They wont have to worry about the work involved for that and think more about the content then the work to put the content up. Contribute 4 now supports the dragging and dropping of many file formats flash is just one of those that they have now included. So now if you want to update the title bar that has been at the top of your site you don't have to code the flash design into it you just drop the file into that area and it works.

Contribute 4 now also is integrated with Microsoft office so that people can single click now to add Excel word and many other programs right into there website. Along with this Contribute 4 supports changes to multiple servers at one time so you can be changing what's on your home website and also your portfolio website at the same time this will easily clear up the time it takes to update websites.

even though the price is 149 dollars i think with this new integration of drag and drop features the price is rather reasonable and if I was a b ig user of contribute I would be willing to pay for the upgrade.

http://www.flashnewz.com/flashnewz-5-20061006AdobeIncludesDragandDropFlashSupportinNewContributeRelease.html

x-box offers video

Microsofts hit gaming plattform , x-box, is soon to be offering video through x-box live. Its said to have rentable movies and popular television shows that can be downloaded to your tv. Microsoft announced Monday that beginning Nov. 22, Xbox Live users with the latest console will be able to choose from shows such as "South Park," which airs on MTV Networks' Comedy Central, and CBS's "CSI"; and movies including Warner Bros.' "V for Vendetta" and Paramount Pictures' "Mission Impossible III." Pricing was not disclosed but, its said to be in terms with companys such as I-tunes, Movie Link, Amazon, etc. Microsoft hopes consumers will watch the shows on their TV sets rather than on computers or portable digital devices, the standards for most of the competing services. Microsoft does not think the new service will steal much business away from Sony Corp.'s market-leading PlayStation franchise, but the consensus seems to be that it will help Microsoft remain competitive. The service will begin a little less than a week after Sony's PlayStation 3 video-game console goes on sale in the United States.

Zune

Zune is a music and video player that Microsoft will launch in the U.S. on Nov. 14 for $249.99. Other countries will have to wait until next yearThe initial version will sport a 30GB hard drive, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3-in. screen (320-by-240-pixel QVGA viewable in either portrait or landscape mode), an FM tuner that will display song information from stations that broadcast a Radio Broadcast Data Standards signal and a built-in nonreplaceable lithium-ion rechargeable battery that will probably deliver about 12 hours of music or about 3.5 hours of video on a single charge. It won't last as long as the iPod, but it will charge faster.
Zune will connect to an iTunes-like music store called the Zune Marketplace, which will offer millions of songs, according to Microsoft. Music will be available for 99 cents per song," $14.99-per-month subscription package called a "Zune Pass." Movies and TV shows will become available on the site sometime next year. Marketplace will work with the Microsoft Point program, Xbox users can spend Points on Zune media and vice versa.
Best of all, Zunes will be able to connect to one another wirelessly, letting people share songs with up to four other simultaneous Zune users within Wi-Fi range. Recipients of these shared songs will be able to play them three times for up to three days free, after which they'll have to pay to listen. Songs received wirelessly can't be shared. At least in the initial release, Zune's Wi-Fi won't connect to a network. It's peer-to-peer only.
The Zune PC connection software requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista. No Mac-specific version has been announced. The Zune will also connect to TVs, home stereos and Microsoft Xbox game consoles and play music or videos through them. Zune software will import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC formats; JPEG photos; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 formats. Microsoft has hinted that it will support other media formats, but hasn't specified which ones. Zune will import songs from Apple's iTunes "as permitted by the online service from which it was purchased," according to Microsoft.
Users will be able to choose a "ZuneTag," which is a unique user name that others will see on a kind of "buddy list" when they connect via Wi-Fi. The device will have a "Community" menu from which users can select an item called "Nearby" to display all Zunes within range.
Microsoft will sell three Zune bundles: a $79.99 Zune Car Pack will ship with a car charger, a $99.99 Zune Home A/V Pack will come with cabling and wireless accessories for connecting to televisions and stereo systems, and a $99.99 Zune Travel Pack will feature high-quality earphones, a remote, a carrying case, and a cable for PC synchronization. The company will also sell separate output cables, chargers, docks, upgrade headphones and other accessories.