New updates available for Nokia Design and User Experience Library

S60 touch ui

Nokia recently updated its Design and User Experience Library which gathers all essential aspects of design and usability into one. The library includes different kinds of guidelines, material about theme design, graphics design, and game design, as well as the basics of usability.

The updated library includes different kinds of guidelines, material about theme design, graphics design, and game design, as well as the basics of usability. Updates to v1.5 include a new section about designing and creating S60 3rd Edition themes.

You can also read other interesting article in this update about “Chinese markets or the state of mobile and service design in China” which is quite interesting !.

vivek

Video: Introduction to Adobe’s mobile packager

A step by step video tutorial of Adobe’s mobile packager for distributing your Flash lite content by Serge Jespers.
“you can now package your application using the Mobile Packager and distribute your application as an SIS-file for Symbian S60 or CAB-file for Window Mobile phones. Your users can now download and install your Flash based application on their mobile device just like any other application they install. What’s even cooler is that we also package a Flash Version Checker together with your application. As soon as the user launches the application, the Flash Version Checker is going to check if the Flash Player is installed and if it is the correct version. If not, it’s going to download and install the Flash Lite runtime seamlessly.”

Unfortunately this packager works only on Windows and i hope adobe may release Mac version soon!!!

Very cool.

vivek

Wow :) Flash Lite 3.1 distributable player announced, over-the-air (OTA)

Flash Lite player 3.1

Via Alessandro, Wow 🙂 this is something really great news from Adobe Max 2008 for all Flashlite developers. Now you can Create, Package & Distribute your Flash lite content easily and developers and content providers no longer need to worry about whether the device has the latest Flash Lite runtime.

The Flash Lite 3.1 Distributable Player is the first runtime provided by Adobe to developers for over-the-air distribution together with applications. Flash Lite 3.1 has the same functionalities as Flash Lite 3.0, such as support for Flash Player compatible video, with some enhancements including improved security model for SWF file access. Please note that at this time h.264 video is not supported. Adobe’s goal is always to provide the latest version of Flash Lite for over-the-air (OTA) download through the distributable player solution. Flash Lite 3.1 Distributable Player will work on supported S60 and Windows Mobile devices. The Distributable Player is integrated with Adobe AppZone.

vivek

Nokia 5th edition with New device API for Flash lite :)

nokia 5800 xpress music

Finally something must to be excited about for Flash lite developer, Nokia released new Device API support for Nokia S60 5th Edition where it can access to Phone features.

Developers of Flash Lite from Adobe applications benefit from the UI enhancements in S60 5th Edition, with more screen real estate and touch interaction enabling users to more easily and intuitively navigate Flash Lite content and applications. The on-screen keyboard also is available for text and data entry.
S60 5th Edition continues to support Flash Lite 3.0, with the addition of ActionScript extensions to take advantage of S60 Platform Services.

These extensions provide access to:

  • The application manager.
  • Calendar records.
  • Contacts records.
  • Log information.
  • SMS and MMS messaging.
  • The media gallery.
  • Device location.
  • Landmarks.
  • System information.
  • Sensors.

These new APIs enable Flash Lite developers to access device-application data, such as that held in Calendar and Contacts, as well as information on a device’s location.
Together, the UI- and platform-access enhancements enable Flash Lite developers to create a completely new breed of context-aware applications and services that provide users with information unique to their own experiences.

First device with S60 5th Edition is Nokia 5800 Xpress Music

vivek

SWF2Go v2.0 released

SWF2Go v2.0

SWF2Go Professional enables you to create rich, powerful and engaging Flash Lite applications rapidly by combining the power of Python for S60 and Net60. Making professional class deployment packages is now one-click operation with new redesigned and friendlier user interface.SWF2Go is a RAD (Rapid Application Development) friendly tool, allowing Flash Lite developers to deliver fast and on-time through simplified SIS packaging process.

Some of the key features are:

  • Easy to Use: The best and complete professional SIS installer and SWF launcher toolkit, now with new redesigned user interface.
  • Broad Compatibility: Support for all versions of Adobe Flash Lite Player (1.1, 2.0, 2.1, 3.0+) and all versions of Symbian S60 3rd Edition (9.1, 9.2, 9.3+).
  • Industry Standard: Produces Symbian Signed and Express Signed compatible SIS installers. Used and trusted by industry leaders as well as many small startup companies.
  • Advance Extensions: With support of Python for S60 and Net60 (.Net CF) runtimes, make powerful Flash Lite applications. Use existing Open Source frameworks or make your own customized solutions.
  • Intelli-Launch Technology v2:
    – Python for S60 background script launcher
    – Net60 (.Net CF for Symbian) background process launcher
    – Support for custom installation paths, including /private folder for better protection of Flash Lite applications
    – Intelligent detection and start of SWF with the latest on-device Flash Lite playerInfo-note with URL to download Flash Lite from Adobe’s website, if Flash Lite is not detected on mobile device
    – Support to launch multiple Flash Lite applications simultaneously
  • Make Try-Before-Buy: Make trial version of applications with one click. Show a splash screen during trial, and optionally open Buy Now link at end of each trial run.
  • Additional Features:
    – Option to export PKG and SIS source for making customized SIS installer
    – Option to keep temporary SIS source files for making customized / advance SIS
    – Optionally display of readme and/or license agreement during SIS installation
    – Embed other SIS files into main SIS (Flash Lite Player / PyS60 / Net60)
    – Supports build automation by XML project files and command-line compiler option
    – Express-Compile technology helps rapidly build SIS file(s) in seconds
    – Integrates with Windows Explorer to quickly compile SWF2Go Project files with right-click context menu

I use personally SWF2Go and i feel easiest way to package and distribute my mobile contents quickly. 🙂

vivek

Microsoft Challenges Adobe Stranglehold: Silverlight versus Flash Lite in the Mobile Arena

silverlight-flash

The Strategy Analytics report says, “Silverlight on Mobile will not catch up with Adobe’s Flash Lite in the foreseeable future, but Microsoft recognizes a great opportunity beyond providing an alternative to Adobe’s Flash Lite. This Silverlight strategic offering will boost Microsoft’s online and cross-platform ambitions in the mobile space according to analysts at Strategy Analytics.

“The Silverlight deal with Nokia gives Microsoft access to Nokia’s S60 licensees including LG, Samsung which is vital for competing with Flash Lite,” commented Sravan Kundojjala, Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “They estimates that over 1.7 billion Flash Lite-enabled phones will be shipped globally over the next three years alone.”

Stuart Robinson, Director of the Handset Component Services added, “Strategy Analytics believes cross-platform wars will likely heat up in the mobile space, an argument strengthened by Nokia’s Trolltech acquisition. And also believes that SUN Microsystems will join the fray with its JavaFX platform.”

Read more

vivek