We rarely have ActionScript 2 based projects these days at Dreamsocket, but a few still pop up now and again. Most of the time when they do it is because the project had some limitation that required it to be ActionScript 2. Recently we had two projects that had this type of limitation. One was using ScaleForm, a C++ Flash implementation which is typically used to create UIs for games (on platforms like the PS3, XBOX, etc). In our case we were creating a UI for a set top box platform. The other was for a random banner ad that needed to play nice in foreign environments. In both cases we turned to our as3for2 framework.

What is as3for2?

The moment ActionScript 3 came out, it was clear the new language was much simpler and cleaner to work with. Having a lot of large ActionScript 2 projects at the time that we wanted to port, we created a framework that wrapped ActionScript 2 to emulate the new ActionScript 3 objects and interfaces. It enabled us to slowly port chunks of code over to the point we just had to change a few syntax points and the code was now running atop ActionScript 3. That definitely was helpful but it was more of a short term transitional usage of the framework. Where it has been invaluable are projects like the ones mentioned above where we have to step back in time because of limitations that won’t allow us to use ActionScript 3. The sad thing is we’ve sat on this code base for about 5 years without sharing it. I guess it is better late than never. So today we are releasing the framework under an MIT license for anyone who still has to dabble in ActionScript 2.

What is in the framework?

- AS3 style event framework with bubbling, priorities, scoping, phases, formal events
- display package with DisplayObject, Graphics, Sprite, Stage, etc that hold the same AS3 APIs
- NetStream, NetConnection, SoundTransform
- Timer

Where do I get it?

All the code is up on https://github.com/dreamsocket/actionscript-as3for2. So go grab it now! It may be something useful on a project, fun for a stroll down memory lane, or educational as you port things over to JavaScript.

The tablet seemed to be a niche product until Steve Jobs came along and said the iPad was the most revolutionary computing device since the personal PC. Most of the vocal web responded with shock in thinking Steve and finally fallen off his rocker. Had he finally come out with a flop for Apple? or was he on to something?

If you step back for a moment and look at what the tablet represents, you realize it is definitely the next step in casual mass web consumption. Why do I say that? Take your average Joe Somebody internet user, he is very different than your vocal web user. Your vocal web user, which is probably you if you are reading this entry, publishes the web, they don’t consume it. They use their computer heavily to enter complex data and interact with everything digital. Joe Somebody on the other end consumes the web. He just uses it to view content. Though he may publish content to it as well, it is simple content (email, video, photos, etc.). Therefore Joe doesn’t need a complex device to interact with what he consumes or publishes. In fact, the simpler the device and more convenient the better. A tablet is much easier to use than a lap top. It is smaller, it doesn’t have to be opened and situated on a surface, and it is simpler to interact with. Try using either in a small environment like a plane (in Coach) and the differences will stand out dramatically.

Here they come

Even though the vocal web was somewhat dismissive of the iPad, device manufacturers understood what was going on.
The message is simple – Mass markets will ditch their PCs and laptops for tablets once they realize the convenience.

In Q4 of 2010, we are now seeing what the device manufacturers are responding with. The tablets are coming in like the waves of a hurricane. So we are all left to sift thru device after device wondering which one will be our initial purchase. A devices true success over another completely depends on what it feels like to interact with it versus another. Joe Somebody doesn’t care what software is running on the system or what runs and what doesn’t. He just wants it to be a beautiful experience. The better the device feels in his hand, the smoother/faster it appears to run, the more of his content that he can consume, the elegance of the interface and how easy it is to use all play into this experience. The device that does it the best will win.

iPad vs the competition

The iPad is nice, Apple focuses on experience first and they were the first to really put their stamp on this space so they have a lead. However, it all boils down to experience. If someone beats Apple at this game they win. With a ton of competition sitting in the distance, will someone come along and grab the pie? Android tablets are marching in like a CGI scene in Star Wars, but the Android OS still feels like a nerd put Linux on a touch screen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a nerd, I like the under pinnings of the OS, but PLEASE Google use your $ and get some serious UI and interaction designers. Oddly, the one that seems to stand above the others is BlackBerry’s Playbook. You have to ask yourself, really? I mean BlackBerry the BlackBerry who seems primarily focused on business? Oddly enough, yes. The device is smaller, thinner, faster, and its interface seems like a visual motion masterpiece. You can read the specs and it seemingly dwarfs the iPad, but at the end of that day that doesn’t matter to a mass market. Probably the only specifications they ever read are on food containers. Point blank, it seems like a nicer experience. Sitting across from Martha Stewart at a conference who could probably be a decent gauge for for Sally Somebody, her reactions seemed to agree. When the Playbook was presented, her interest peaked and her questions went flying. Consumers want pretty things that are a joy to use. Apple gets it, now even the suits at BlackBerry get it. Given the amount of mobile and tablet work we are doing at Dreamsocket, you can bet we’ll have a stockpile of play toys. It is fitting that the Playbook tops our list for the most anticipated device. However, in the end only time will tell and the device that feels the best will win.

The meeting starts at 6:30 and is at
Echo Eleven’s offices
3525 Piedmont Rd NE
Building 7, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30305

The meetup site has more details. Definitely come out if you can, it looks to be a great meeting! If you do, make sure to RSVP as it looks like the list is pretty large right now.

Anyone that saw our earlier post on the as2api source code changes, some of the capabilites that allowed us to selectively clean up the ActionScript 2 code base are in that post. Good times .

Stay tuned for more goodies!

Long story short, we posted the Cartoon Network and Jetstream video players we developed to our solutions page. Though these applications are about 3 years old, they still tell an interesting story. When first developed, they utilized Windows Media through an abstract bridge in Flash. The conversion to Flash video was actually seamless in that we didn’t change code, we replaced the internal “playback”.

The presentation is slated for Thursday April 23 at 10:15.
You can find all the details here.

It should be quite interesting presenting at NAB, since the crowd is so different than a lot of the places I speak. It also marks my first attendance to the event, so I’d love to hear feedback from others that have attended in years past.