Archive for category Mobile Content
AIR 3 Native Extensions
Posted by Mark Doherty in Adobe Mobile Client, Creative Suite 5, Flash Player, Mobile Content on September 7, 2011
Yesterday we pushed out the first Release Candidate of AIR3 and Flash Player 11, and with that, we’ve outed another new feature of AIR – Native Extensions. This represents a further opening up of the Flash Platform in that you will finally be able to add new features to the runtime.
History of Native Extensions
The origin of Native Extensions actually goes back all the way to Flash Lite in 2005 and were in fact part of my first engineering project at Adobe. Back then we had the idea to enable a man machine interface (MMI) to the Flash Lite runtime to enable complete device interfaces to be built in Flash, the Samsung D600/D900, LG Prada, LG Cookie etc were the result of that effort .
The feature later evolved to become part of an OEM runtime called Adobe Mobile Client which was integrated into the BREW MP Platform to enable low-end devices to be produced with advanced interfaces and at much lower cost.
More recently we started working on “StageCraft”, the code name for a project to bring AIR/Flash support to the TV ecosystem. With the first iteration it was apparent that remote controls were all different, it would be impossible to create a completely consistent API for all of the various pieces of consumer electronics out there. With that, Native Extensions were reborn and redesigned to enable OEMs to build these custom APIs with ease.
Which brings us to today’s announcement, the opening of the Native Extension feature for all to use.
What are Native Extensions for?
From a high level this feature enables you to:
- Achieve deeper integration with target devices
- Incorporate legacy native code in your applications
- Achieve maximum performance for critical code
As I see it, we built the Native Extension feature originally to enable access to platform or device specific features that don’t form part of the platform today. Just to give you some context here, we always have debates about adding new features in the runtimes, many are community sourced, some OEM focused and some are internal like Flex etc. Imagine what happens when the Acrobat, Photoshop and Runtime engineers are free to finish their pet projects 
Here are some thoughts on deeper API possibilities for devices today:
- Notifications
- Gyroscope
- Bluetooth
- Advertising
- NFC / Payments
- USB Accessories
- Media FX/Encoding
- Text to Speech
- Contacts
- Calendar
- Alarms
Of course let’s not ignore the various possibilities that are now open for desktop developers that want to access provide new interfaces for legacy products.
The benefit is that now customers conversations shouldn’t end with “Can you support XX with AIR on XX platform?”, from this point on the answer will always be yes, assuming you have the technically capability to implement it, or can acquire the extension from someone who can.
Using a Native Extension
From Actionscript, the use of an already built Native Extension couldn’t be simpler. In the example below you can see the first iteration of the Native Extension that I’ve been creating for Android Tablets with multiple displays.
import flash.external.ExtensionContext;
if(!extensionContext)
{
extensionContext = ExtensionContext.createExtensionContext("com.android.MultiDisplayInfo", "");
return extensionContext.call("getInfo","getCount") as int;
}
Get Started
$200k – Adobe AIR App Challenge for Sony Tablets
Posted by Mark Doherty in Creative Suite 5, Flash Player, iphone, Mobile Content on July 12, 2011
This summer seems like one for Flash and Mobile, so it’s great to be able to tell you that Sony, one of our long term partners in mobile, are joining the Open Screen Project and will be a platinum sponsor of Adobe MAX in LA.
Today we’re announcing an exciting new Adobe AIR App Challenge for two upcoming Sony Tablet devices. It’s available to those of you in Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and USA.
There are lots of prizes ($200,000 USD) available for various categories of applications, as well as early access to the devices and Adobe AIR 3, and a paid-up trip to Adobe MAX for finalists. All that and more for optimizing your applications for Sony’s new devices.
Let’s take a look at the devices..
Sony Tablet
Both tablets come with Sony quality design and hardware, most importantly, with incredible quality screens. Each of the devices has a Tegra 2 chipset from NVIDIA and will be “PlayStation Certified”, so expect some of the best quality games seen on the 1st-gen PlayStation and Xperia PLAY smartphone.
The tablets will ship with Flash Player pre-installed, but interestingly the Sony Tablet devices will ship with a new Sony Web browser. With that, we can expect better performance for Flash and browsing the web, compared to the stock browser.
The Sony Tablet S1 (codename) which has a stunning curved body designed to feel lighter in the hand, like when you fold a magazine. It comes with a 9.4 inch display, so will be great for Entertainment and reading. As many of you have heard me say, 10″ screens feel too big for my little Irish hands, so it’ll be interesting to see what it’s like.
Sony Tablet S2 (codename also) is quite different as it comes with two screens. The underlying technical specs are identical between the devices, but this device is going to be great for building applications that long for unique interfaces that make use of the dual-screens. I’ve got my sights set on a mixing deck idea, but it’s also going to be a nice way to play games; Battleship anyone?
The Challenge
Adobe and Sony are challenging developers and content publishers to build breakthrough mobile apps optimized for the Sony Tablet S1 and Sony Tablet S2. We have a panel of some amazing judges, both Sony, Adobe and industry experts picking finalists and winners across four key categories.
Each category has a cash prize of $20,000 USD and promotion on the Sony Tablet devices, with a $100,000 USD Grand Prize awarded for the best overall application.
- Entertainment
- Lifestyle and Community
- Gaming
- Business and Productivity
Our team of judges will be reviewing applications throughout the process, and will look favourably at applications that span across different platforms. Maybe your application works on Sony Vaio PCs, or Sony Televisions with GoogleTV?
If you get in early enough, before September 16th, you’ll have the chance to be one of the 10 MAX Award Finalists. So get in early and you can get a free trip to Adobe MAX in LA!
In addition, $10,000 USD will be awarded for the following applications:
- Most Innovative Application
- MAX Public Favorite – awarded by community vote
The top 80 finalists in the contest will get pre-release access to the devices for a 4 week period, the Adobe AIR 3 runtime, and access to the very latest tooling to complete your application. You’ll be on the leading edge of Flash development and innovation.
Adobe AIR 3 Beta
You will use Adobe AIR 3 Desktop Beta, released soon for the desktop to optimize your applications for both devices. So you can start to consider how your existing or new applications would make use of the dual screen, be as novel as you like! (cough, mixing desk, cough)
For the Sony Tablet S2 you will use the upcoming Native Extension feature in AIR 3, one of the most exciting features in the upcoming release of the platform. Native Extensions give us an easy way to optimize applications for dual screens, that’s because we can now access any API on a host Operating System!
All applications should support both the Sony Tablet S1 and S2.
Key Diary Dates
- Sept 16: Deadline for MAX Showcase App prizes
- Oct 1-5: MAX Public Favorite Vote & MAX Showcase App winners attend Adobe MAX
- Oct 10: Deadline for Entries
- Nov 11: Final App Submission for Finalists to the Android Market
- Nov 17: Winners Announced
Submit your app or app project now at airappchallenge.com
EU – Adobe Mobile Challenge
Posted by Mark Doherty in Android, Flash Player, iphone, Mobile Content, Palm, RIM on July 12, 2011
This summer we’re running an Adobe Mobile Challenge for developers, designers and agencies around the EU territory. What’s really exciting is that you’ll get the chance to win a trip, including flight and hotel, to Adobe MAX in LA this October. We even have a few copies of Creative Suite 5.5 and Flash Builder Premium 4.5.1 for runners up, so lots of you will have a chance to win big.
We’re looking for applications that reach across different mobile platforms and that are published widely, on the Apple AppStore, Android Market and of course the Blackberry AppWorld for the PlayBook.
You’re application can be a game or branded content, anything goes really as long as your application is available in each store by the deadline below. Here’s my colleague Michael Chaize to tell you more, with his cool French accent..
DEADLINE: September 1
Meet the Playbook – J’Burg and Dubai
Posted by Mark Doherty in Flash Player, Mobile Content on May 20, 2011
It has been a while since I have had time to update you all on the amazing traction that we’re seeing for AIR across devices. I’ve spent a week touring with Motorola and next up it’s RIM, for Meet the Playbook.
I know that many of you have already attended the Western Europe events, and given the cool apps that are starting to pop up on the App World, it was certainly worth the effort! The whole Evangelist team have Playbooks now, and we’re working on our own apps to show off the platform.
Check out the video, incredible performance. Laughing in the face of HD video..
Next up, I’ll be joining Sanyu Kiruluta and the rest of the RIM team in Johannesburg and Dubai. These are two of the most exciting dates on the calendar for this half of the year.
Hopefully I’ll see you there, in the baking 40 degree heat
Scaleform – Mobile World Congress
Posted by Mark Doherty in Flash Player, Mobile Content on February 15, 2011
Yesterday at the Imagination stand we spotted Brendan Iribe from Scaleform, one of the most amazing SWF rendering engines available. I actually heard of Scaleform about three years ago through our Korean team, it’s taken this long for us to connect.
Above, you can see a 3D game using the Unreal engine and looking great. What’s interesting is that the control system, which floats in the air in 3d is actually created in Flash Professional. The power of the Scaleform tools means that these SWFs can be tessellated (vectors to triangles) and run directly within the 3D engine.
It just makes so much sense, why on earth wouldn’t they use Flash to create this type of UI? I’m also starting to wonder just how much more Flash content is created out there and played back on a “custom” SWF Player.
Update – Scaleform announced that they have been acquired by AutoDesk.