第二日又黎喇~ 精神都算唔錯~
今朝o係 marriot 食早餐
原本諗住會同會場的有 difference
但係都係食o個 d 野…
生果… 硬飽… 奶… 茶… 果汁…
比較好o既係果汁係樽裝~ 可以拎走飲~ 仲要係 tropicana~ 正

朝早上 Flex testing o既 session
之前寫 Flex application 都比較少考慮 testing
呢個 session 對我黎講都幾重要~
不過上完之後就會發覺 testing 唔應該係事後先去做…
而係要由 Day 1 開始每寫一 part 就要寫返相對應o既 testing module…
基本上工作量係 double 或者 triple~ 因為除左 unit test 仲有 function test, etc…
講真… 有幾多 company 會考慮到同埋 afford 得起呢…

下一個 app… 如果我有時間的話我都想認真的做一次…

跟住就係 General Session 2~
一開始由 Flex Builder product manager Tim Buntel 講解 Flex
講講下突然之間部機好似比人 hack 左咁~
之後有一個神秘人 The Chief (Kevin Lynch) 話依家 computer field 有好多問題出現~
要 Tim Buntel 諗辦法去解決~

之後燈光一暗~ 音樂響起~ 開始播片~
感覺係非常超人特攻隊~ 然後進入左秘密基地 The Agency~!

多位 Agent 就位~ 包括 Agent B (Tim Buntel) 同 Agent F (Ben Forta)
之後開始介紹各種 The Agency o既最新科技

包括
- 利用 Adobe AIR 控制家庭電器
- Adobe Photoshop CS4 o既 content aware scaling
- Adobe Photoshop CS4 o既 3d texturing
- Adobe Flash Catalyst
- Cold Fusion 下一代 IDE code name Bolt
- Adobe Flex Builder 4 with Theme Library
- Flash content search engine indexing
- Adobe Flash Media Sever 3.5 with dynamic streaming

而最矚目o既就莫過於 Adobe Alchemy 同埋 RTFMP

Adobe Alchemy 係一個 convertor
能夠將已經存在o既 C / C++ library 直接 convert 做 Flash o既 library
最有機會用到o既地方就一定係 encryption o喇~
ActionScript 一直都無 encryption library~
透過 Alchemy 就可以唔駛 ground up 寫就做到 encryption
同場仲即時示範利用 Alchemy convert o既 Quake 同 Super Mario (emulator)
絕對係令大家感到非常震撼~!!

RTFMP (Real Time Media Flow Protocol) o係 Adobe 新既 communication protocol
主要係令到多個 Adobe Flash Player 之間能夠直接做 communication
完全唔需要透過一個 server connection

最直接o既用途就係單靠 Adobe Flash Player + Web cam 就可以做到 video chat
係~!! 完全唔需要 middle server~!! 而且係絕對 smooth~! 開幾十個都無影響~!!

最後由 Ted Patrick 接棒介紹 Adobe Groups
Adobe Groups 係 Adobe 一個 official 而 centralized o既 community network
透過 Adobe Groups 就可以知道全球幾百個 user group / community o既一切動向
香港o既 Flex user group (FxAIR.org) 亦都會搬入 Adobe Groups
但 setting 比較繁複~ 希望能夠趕及農曆新年前完成~ 請見諒

* 關於所有 technology o既 information / URL 已經整理好放左o係呢度

http://vicker.cubeforge.net/blog/adobe-max-sf-summary/

第二個 general session 完左~
食完飯又繼續聽各個 session~

Evening 就到左大家都好期待o既 sneak peak session
不過… 我自己就覺得非常失望…
兩個字去形容就係 “倉促”…
好似趕時間咁~ present d 野又比較亂…

Anyway~ 大致上o既 sneaked items 如下

- RTMFP (上面已經介紹左)
- Nitro (Adobe AIR o既 widget controller)
- Durango (Adobe AIR o既 runtime application component mash up tool)
- Photoshop Image Compositing (自動將 imported image 去底)
- Content Intelligent Toolkit (Media library 包括 video 同 image o既 analysis)
- Dreamweaver Web Widgets (直接o係 Dreamweaver insert web widget~ 而且可以直接 live preview~ 完全唔需要開 browser)
- Infinite Images (利用一 set photo 去做出無限 zoom in 同無限 zoom out effect)
- Live Cycle and Creative Services (利用 Live Cycle 去 streamline collaborative Premiere Pro workflow)
- Meer Meer (Online service~ 自動 detect 一個 Dreamweaver web site o係唔同 browser 之下有無 display differences~ 仲可以用 onion skin o黎直接 compare
- Server-side ActionScript

o係 Adobe 正式 post video 之前
大家不妨去 YouTube search 下~ 好似有 HD version tim…

夜晚同 Way 行左去 Japan Town 諗住食返 d 好o既日本野…
饑寒交逼~ 行左成粒鐘去到~ 點知…
奉勸各位… 去到美國食 hurger, salad, 西餐算喇…

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 1
2. Adobe MAX SF day 3
3. Adobe MAX SF pre day 1

同一時間 Adobe 亦o係 Adobe Developer Center 發表左 SWF searchability FAQ
裡面除左有耳熟能詳既 marketing slogan 之外

The openly published SWF specification describes the file format used to deliver rich applications and interactive content via Adobe Flash Player, which is installed on more than 98 percent of Internet-connected computers

亦有提及到背後既原理
以及 Yahoo! 都會於稍後 update search engine

的確~ 咁多年以黎 Flash 都比人彈 SEO
每一次我幫人做 project analysis 既時候
第一句都係問 “application base” 定 “content base”
今次呢個 news 的確幾吸引~
但係問題係唔係就咁就解決呢?!?!
我地係唔係唔再需要寫特登寫 XHTML version / XSL / 一大堆 supportive AS?!?!
言之尚早~!

At least… Munsang Biology web d content 仲未 index 到~ 哈哈

Anyway~ should be a great start!

詳情:

Improved Flash indexing by Google Webmaster Central Blog
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/improved-flash-indexing.html

SWF searchability FAQ by Adobe Developer Center
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/swf_searchability.html?devcon=f1

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 2
2. Adobe MAX SF day 1
3. NEW TECHNOLOGIES KEEP ON COMING…

但係估都估唔到… ActionScript 3 都可以 MultiTouch…

Click here to view the embedded video.

然有 d 窒下窒下~ 但係都叫做 work~!
有時真係好想可以參與下呢種唔係用錢字行頭既 development

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 1
2. Apple… 你今日食左未…
3. COMPLETION of MY FIRST OO FLASH APP

var t_file_ref:FileReference = new FileReference ();
var t_url_request:URLRequest = new URLRequest ("some_path/some_file.type");
t_file_ref.download (t_url_request);

但係原來o係某 d 情況佢係會 malfunction 既…
而且係你估都估唔到~ 加上玩足你幾個鐘…

為免大家中招所以寫左呢個 example

Click here to view the embedded video.

睇落好似無分別~就算 click “這個不能下載” 都出現左下載畫面但係當你以為 download 左既時候…
你會發覺乜都見唔到…其實問題係在於 FileReference o既 instance declaration method如果o係 function
裡面 declare 既 temporary variable當 function 完成之後 FileReference instance 就會o係 select event 之前消失結果… download 左個桔…
解決方法係將 FileReference instance 放o係 class member variable

public class some_class
{
    private var _file_ref:FileReference;
    function some_function ()
    {
        this._file_ref = new FileReference ();
        ...
    }
}

其實呢個問題… 都幾荒謬… 不過可以玩謝好多 developer…Adobe o既 Technote 有詳細解釋~
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=3637d5c3&sliceId=1

English title: How to download a file in Flex using FileReference

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 2
2. Flex FAQ #5: 點樣做 Full Screen Application
3. Essential ActionScript 3.0 and ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns

兩本新書係 Essential ActionScript 3.0 同 ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns
唔知道由幾時開始鍾意左 design patterns~
以前明明最憎 OO… (唔… 心照… 唔夾就係唔夾…)

Essential ActionScript 3.0 真係好有貨~ 成千頁… 又有排睇
比起上一集厚左好多~ 好快咁掃左 TOC 好詳細~ 似係由淺入深~
比較起 ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns 就好似深好多~ 有好多少聽既 patterns

Flash, ActionScript 同 Flash d 書愈黎愈多~ 唔知幾時先睇得完…
(Chocobo 你幫我睇埋佢啦~ 哈哈)

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 2
2. Flex FAQ #3: 點樣用 Flex FileReference 下載檔案
3. Adobe Certified Flex 2 Developer Examination 合格~!

上年十月誤打誤撞之下破天荒得到 FSE 同 CS 一齊資助我去左 Las Vegas Adobe MAX conference
其實真係十萬個榮幸… 講到底o個時我已經唔係學生… 又只係一個極低層員工… 有得去真係好珍惜~~!!

搭左十幾粒鐘飛機… 再加上 Las Vegas d 的士司機既 “厚待”…
再再加上o個邊 d 消費指數… 當時真係想即刻返香港…
(今年 MAX 2007 o係 Chicago… 去唔去好呢…)

講返個 conference~ 外國 d conference 真係好正~
頭 3 日朝早都有 Keynote session~ 好似做 show 咁~
個 stage 又大又 pro~ 音響又勁~ 入場已經好有 feel~
而且場場都 dem 好多正野~ 特別係 last day sneak peek~ 睇到呆晒…
content 就唔講喇~ 差唔多半年前既 sneak 依家先講咩 =.=||

一個香港人無啦啦咁過去… 除左 John 之外我都唔知同邊個講野好…
始終自己都係 d 唔會主動攪關係o既人… 唔… 點樣改變下好呢…

o係 John 介紹之下識左 Tekono 既 Kazumichi-san
日本人做野都係比較特別既~ 又或者只係 Kazumichi-san 比較特別
佢同我既理念差唔多~ 就係寫 d user 鍾意用既 application~ 錢?!?! second priority…

“比 Dad 聽到實激死佢… 不過我都o係得o個種諗法~
人o係滿足完基本生活需要之後~ 好應該做 d 自己想做既野~
並唔係話滿足於現狀~ 只係唔需要盲目咁去追求…
回望廿年… 自己好多利益都唔係強求既~ 係好自然地從自己喜歡既生活裡面凝聚出黎~
同 Dad 既問題 “未解決”… 遲 d 再講… 只係一講到錢… 又會諗起佢…”

Kazumichi-san 好好人~ 佢支持我寫 FLABER~ 開左一條新既 product line – FLABER Mobile
日本人用手機 d app 用得好盡~ 所以應該會幾受歡迎~
不過我依家就辛苦 d 喇~ 個腦裝晒 AS2 同 AS3 d class… 頭都爆…

Related posts:

1. I am going to Adobe MAX to MIN (Blog Entry for MAXUP)
2. Adobe MAX SF day 2
3. Adobe MAX 2006 Scheduler

Well… The title seems stupid but the actual meaning is not. I am going to Adobe MAX to learn more from the conference and from the other participates. (Of course I will share, in case I am not the least knowledgable one in the event) With that knowledge I can develop even more applications (mainly open source~ nah), so that all the users can minimize their effort, their pain, their time in making great works. That is why I am going to MAX to MIN~

Okay~ Is time talking back the application that I have done in previous year. My application is called FLABER (FLAsh-based web BuildER), it is a pure Flash RIA scripted in ActionScript 2 with PHP as server support. In short, this application allows web owners to easily build a website using Flash technology even if they don’t know how to program in Flash. We have done a testing that even a 10 years old girl can make up her own Flash web site.

Originally this project is started as my final year project in City University of Hong Kong. (in other words… homework…) Since the first public release in SourceForge, I received many great feedbacks from the public. That is why I made FLABER now as an open source product so that everyone can benefits from it.

Okay~ too many words… here comes some screenshots.

The following shows a web that I made using FLABER.

Actually it looks like a normal web page but it have on stage controls.

For larger images and details, please do a visit to the FLABER Wiki

Of course a live-demo is also available here.

1. 時光倒流第三集 – Adobe MAX 2006
2. Adobe MAX SF day 2
3. Adobe MAX 2006 Scheduler

reg 完之後第一件事就係要用佢地 provide 既 scheduler 黎排 session
唔睇都唔知… 差唔多有一百種唔同既 session 可以 reg…
由 acrobat -> breeze -> dreamweaver -> flash -> flex -> xml
再由最簡單既 get started -> intermediate -> advanced
總之就乜都有咁啦~~!! 揀到我傻傻地….
排完之後感覺係…. 仲慘過上堂…. 哈哈~~
當然啦~ 上 Flash-related 既野點都精神好多既~

依家既 schedule 如下

Combining Flex with PHP and Open Source
Best Practices for Developing Flash Applications
Building RIAs with Flex Builder
Improving ActionScript 3 Performance
Design Patterns in ActionScript 3
Understanding Security in Flex and Flash
User Interface Design with Flash
Delivering RIA solutions with Cairngorm 2
Getting Started with Apollo
Techniques for Integrating Flash contents and Flex applications

其實仲有兩個月~ 所以都仲會有好多變動~~
總之今次就一定係好好既學野機會啦!!
聽朝再講 MAX Event 既 inter-network application

Related posts:

1. Adobe MAX SF day 2
2. Adobe MAX SF day 1
3. Adobe MAX SF day 3

Last week Andy have given me some wiki references on AFLAX. Having some research on different kinds of technologies and development methodology, the following is my little comparison on them.

PURE ACTIONSCRIPT

• ECMAScript-based programming language
• control Macromedia Flash movies and application

Advantage:

• flexible and can perform all of the functions in Flash
• able to have more rigid linkage between the objects inside the movie and the objects’ class
• only Flash player (free) is enough to use the compiled SWF file

Disadvantage:

• not easy to learn
• the tier concept is not clear, where Flash is both the control and presentation tiers

MACROMEDIA FLEX

• application server which can compiles Flex mark up language (MXML) and Actionscript to binary SWF file
• built in functions and interfaces, e.g. dragNdrop, charting, animation effects

Advantage:

• easy to learn because user dont need to learn Actionscript and also the drawings inside Flash
• clearly defined presentation tier for Flash
• having standard user interface which increases usability

Disadvantage:

• it costs much (US15000 per CPU quoted from Wikipedia)
• not flexible enough, cannot use the full power of Flash

LASZLO
- presentation server which conpiles LZX to binary SWF files
- built in functions and interfaces like Macromedia Flex

Advantage:

• the same as Macromedia Flex with an addition that it is free

Disadvantage:

• again cannot use the full power of Flash
• installation of the server is necessary which it is not always possible for those who pay for web hosting

CONCLUSION
In order to make the product more portable, i.e. can allow any user who have a web space can use it. Pure Actionscript is the best choice. Furthermore, some more powerful Flash functions can be used, e.g. the new Bitmap class in Flash 8 which allows the export of every pixel inside the movie.

Related posts:

1. Essential ActionScript 3.0 and ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns
2. 時光倒流第三集 – Adobe MAX 2006
3. 時光倒流第二集 – Thanks FLABER

I have used Flash 8 Trial version for quite a while. The feeling is that there are much enhancement in graphic section. Let say one of it is the Bitmap class. This Bitmap class is capable to export the current Flash’s content pixel by pixel to other application~~!!

This morning I have read the Macromedia Edge Newsletter which announces another two great products – Macromedia Flex 2 and ActionScript 3.0.

Oh my god… Should I try them in my FYP when they release?? Arrr~~~!! Such a hard decision…

Related posts:

1. Google 同 Yahoo! improve Flash indexing
2. Adobe MAX SF day 2
3. Adobe MAX SF day 1