Oct

19

Preview of Flash Lite 2

October 19, 2005 | 3 Comments

Saw this over on JD’s feed: Jonathan Duran (other JD coincidentally) from Macromedia’s mobile and devices unit has published an article on DevNet outlining the features of Flash Lite 2.0. Apparently they were announced at MAX as well, but I wasn’t able to attend this year (real work called – for Macromedia even).

Really exciting stuff there. No more using Flash 4 slash syntax. Use Actionscript 2.0 and classes. This really fits the mobile development landscape so much better. Because of AS 2, XML parsing is now possible. Loading images dynamically is now possible, means better memory use and management. Video display is possible. And of course the biggie, local persistent data storage!

The potential for Flash Lite is huge. Carriers and OEMs should take notice.

Oct

19

Macromedia and Qualcomm issued another press release yesterday with a little more detail about how Flash Lite will work with BREW. This is kind of what we figured with the last press release announcing their partnership. Flash Lite and BREW seem like a good fit. It is an exciting opportunity, but still no word on how Flash Lite developers can monetize their content through the BREW network, other than to sign up to be a BREW developer and pay the high licensing fees for their applications. Considering the development community around Flash Lite this may be a tall hurdle to clear.

Because Flash Lite, and most mobile technologies used for building content and applications, are in their infancy stages, the majority of the R&D is being done by little guys, mostly even independent enthusiasts and start-ups. VCs take note. This simply means no cash to use to pay high licensing fees. The potential is there to sell a lot of games, etc. but the barrier to entry is the cost. Obviously some firms are larger than others and have more backing and can afford the BREW cost structure and the Symbian cost structure, etc… But really for the masses to participate the cost to entry is going to have to come down.

Hopefully Macromedia can work out some kind of a cost structure with Qualcomm that will benefit Flash Lite developers so they can start to offer their applications and content on the BREW network. Without it I’m afraid that this great opportunity is not going to get the adoption numbers it rightfully deserves. Qualcomm, I think, understands that Flash Lite can deliver a much better experience, so hopefully they’ll see the value of lowering the costs and allowing Flash Lite developers to join their community. The strength in selling the technology to the carriers seems to be the potential at this point, and the more development community you add seems to reason the more potential you have for someone creating the ‘killer app’ for your network. I hope the carriers see it that way. They’re spending millions on upgrading their networks, they’re going to have to start looking for ROI soon, and they’re going to be disappointed if there is really not much content to choose from. Just like walled gardens limited the scope of content, high licensing fees are doing the same.

Oct

3

Sometimes you hear of other people’s stories and you just can’t help but think “I have absolutely no idea how I would cope with that, or how I would go on.” No words can express the sympathy, etc… One of those types of stories has recently been sent my way by a very dear friend.

My wife and I moved back to our hometown two years ago, after being awarded the opportunity to work remotely for both our companies. The main reason for moving back was so our son could grow up around his family (i.e. grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc…). Another very close reason was the possibility to re-connect with friends. One of those such friends is someone I knew in high school, Jeremy. He and his wife, Erin, are very amazing souls, extremely generous, amazingly artistic, and have a brilliant little girl, Olivia. My son and Livy really enjoy playing together. We are very fortunate. However, Jeremy has sent me a story of friends of his and his wife that aren’t so fortunate. Below is his email:

Hello friends,

I wish this was a happier email and I apologize ahead of time for the news it conveys, but I need to spread this information and am asking for some help. I need you to imagine.

Imagine you are a newly happily married to someone you have loved nearly your whole life and have a beautiful, smiling son who brings happiness to most people who meet him. You start a new business and business is good. You then find out you are having a baby girl, just 17 months younger than her older brother, life is still good.

But then you learn that your son is special needs. That even though the doctors can’t figure out what exactly is wrong with him, you know he is not the same boy. He stops feeding himself, stops walking, won’t sleep, make eye contact and cries a lot. You spend months with doctors and hospitals trying to figure out what is wrong and then your beautiful baby daughter comes and brings more joy to help tender the increasing frustration and pain at not knowing what is hurting your boy.

Imagine that your are going through this, having been laid off and your spouse is a new business owner and have no insurance. Imagine the frustration and fear that comes with words such as autism and in utero stroke.

Now imagine being at Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for a week because your son is having trouble eating and learning that he doesn’t have autism and hasn’t had a stroke or cancer or anything…curable.

He has Batten’s NCL, a genetic disease that attacks the brain cells and effectively shuts them down. Imagine that Batten’s is so rare that only one doctor at Riley’s has had any kind of knowledge of the disorder. Imagine watching doctor after doctor come and go, no one knowing what to do or what steps to take. Imagine finding out that the disease has become so aggressive that doctor’s are telling you to put your affairs in order, he may have a few months, if they can get a G tube, feeding tube, to work and provide him nourishment. Imagine your life insurance carrier dropping you because genetic diseases are “pre-existing conditions”.

Imagine watching your 21 month old son fade from you.

Imagine the surgery for the G tube not working the way it should and now morphine is the only relief your son has from what has become his life. Imagine thinking it can’t get any worse than living through the worst a parent fears, when your healthy, happy daughter suddenly needs emergency surgery. Her colon has receded into her intestines, causing massive blockage and bleeding. Imagine watching her little limp form heading into surgery and wondering if you will see her wake up. Imagine the surgery being successful, but now waiting to see if the toxins leaked from the blockage has damaged her liver beyond repair and that there is nothing you can do, but hope the medicine helps and that her body is strong enough to fight the infections, while you worry about your son, crying at home.

I wish this was the soap opera it sounds like, but sadly, maddeningly it is not. It is happening to two of our dear friends. Two people who give others whatever they can, who can’t get a break. As a parent, I can’t put into words how sad I am, I can’t describe how I feel for them, but I can show you a heart breaking.

I am not writing this to be morbid or vent or spread their story needlessly, I am asking for help. At the end this email are attachments from their local Angola area newspaper with stories about them and benefits upcoming.

I am asking that, if you have time, attend one, or if you can, donate to the foundation to help pay for their medical bills. The need has gone beyond great. And if can’t donate or attend a benefit, please, at the very least keep them in your thoughts and whatever prayers you might have.

Right now hope is their only solace and knowing that people care.

The family has set up a foundation for donations if youâ??re interested.

Zane Lewis Foundation
Wells Fargo Bank
2204 N. Wayne St.
Angola, IN 46703
260-665-9484

Thank you for reading, thank you for helping in any way you can, thank you.

Jeremy and Erin

I can’t possibly even remotely understand what these people are feeling. I wouldn’t cope well, and might not have the strength to go on. My son, prays for Zane every night. It seems like such a small thing to do considering, but really what else is there. My wife and I are surely going to contribute funds into that foundation account, but again, it seems like such a small thing.

I’m sharing this simply because these people need everyone pulling for them. If you’re reading this hopefully you can keep them in your prayers as well. If modern day miracles really do exist, I would say they qualify and could use one right about now.

Oct

1

If you are developing for Flash Lite 1.1, you probably have times where you can’t remember how something was done in Flash 4 syntax. Maybe you are using it for the first time. Regardless, now you have an online resource. I worked with Macromedia earlier this year to put together an Actionscript language reference, much like those available for Flash 5 and greater. It’s an invaluable resource. It’s included with Flash 8, and I just checked and it has also been launched in the Livedocs. If you are developing for Flash Lite 1.1. I would suggest bookmarking this.

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