Adobe has released a CS3 Update which now offers the ability to build AIR applications in Flash CS3. Now is the time, start developing some sweet AIR applications!
The Adobe® Integrated Runtime (AIR) update for Flash® CS3 beta 1 software will allow you to package and preview .air application files directly within Adobe Flash CS3; leveraging your existing Flash development skills to build desktop-enabled distributed applications and experiences with the Adobe AIR™ framework.
http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/AIR:Flash_CS3_Professional_Update
While working on a Flash project this week I came across a nice bug in the printing process. Basically you create a couple of shapes on the stage, call the print process and you get a printed page.. well thats how it is suppose to work.
However I found out that the local version of Flash doesn’t print the colors correctly and I did have one of my developer friends test this with the same results.
After a few hours wasted trying stuff I published the movie and went on with the rest of the project. Well today I tested it all live and found out the colors were perfect.
Local print results
Live (server) print results
You will notice I got a nice purplish blob and no V2 component label when printed locally. Just wanted to put this out there so you don’t waste time testing code like I had to.
While watching some movie trailers I stumbled upon a google tie-in with the Bourne Ultimatum. Now I haven’t a clue what that page holds because according to them I don’t have Flash… um how is that possible?
Well its simple really, this is the string I found in their Javascript sniffer.
var version = [9,0,41]
Unless they are using a feature in Flash that needs that version why would you want to ever lock the potential audience to a minor version number? Honestly I don’t have an answer because it makes no sense. What’s even more funny is the fact I actually have a newer version than requested.. now I didn’t look at the code too extensively but could they actually have locked the site to a specific minor version?
No Flash for You!
Adobe has indeed talked about compiler support for CS3 however it isn’t available at the moment. Well Grant (gskinner) Skinner has developed an AIRCompiler for CS3. It is (as he mentions) a little difficult to get running, but once you do you can compile and test AIR applications inside Flash CS3. Hats off to gskinner for putting this one together.
After getting about 50 (not kidding) emails and comments I have decided the contact form needs an update. At the same time I wanted to let everyone know that the contact form in the How To WOW with Flash book is feature complete and ready to go.. so go pick up the book. 
Back to the new form, not many details being discussed at this point, but here is a screen shot and a partial list:
- Changeable styles
- Dynamic form creation
- Captcha support
- AS3 compatible (in fact it will be in As3 exclusively)
- more details later
Please note this is ONLY being developed in my free time which as you may or may not know isn’t very frequent.
If you have questions or comment please post, I will be building this based on user response.
