Anyone who regularly visits Macromedia's Web site has inevitably seen the Red
Bull Copilot and Volvo V50 Web sites. These elegantly crafted applications
are perfect examples to make the case for Flash video: they combine the rich
user experience of a Flash application seamlessly with high quality streaming
video.
Macromedia purports Flash video to be a technology that is "outside the box,"
implying that it can be integrated gracefully with a Web site or Flash
application without a stale, uninspired video player surrounding it. Aside
from the other major benefits of video in Flash, such as Flash's massive
install base and cross-platform compatibility, this point should be well
taken. I've used the phrase "Outside the Box" prominently in the title of
this article because I believe that this development represents a sea change
in the way we deliver media to our users:... (more)
Open source must in some way present itself as a bit of a dichotomy to Adobe,
now that it has acquired Macromedia. It is generally accepted that open
source solutions foster innovation and adoption. However, with an open file
format and a free player, is it possible that some projects could eventually
challenge Flash's own role by creating competing tools?
Jim Phelan writes: In a major repositioning effort in June of 2005,
Macromedia - now Adobe - unveiled the "Flash Platform." The conception of
Flash, the company had decided, needed to change: Flash had evolved from a
tool for ... (more)
AJAX’s rise to stardom has caused IT managers, software architects, and
developers to give due consideration to enhancing richness and interactivity
in web applications. AJAX and its adoption by major web players gave us hope
for desktop like responsiveness on the web. Although AJAX is certainly the
culprit behind most of the hype, it’s certainly not the only game in
town.
In this session, Jim presents the Flash Platform as a viable option for
delivering enterprise grade web applications. Adobe Flex 1.5, Flex 2.0, Flex
Data Services, Flash Remoting, and Flash Media Se... (more)
Newly appointed Web Developer's & Designer's Journal Editorial Board
Member Jim Phelan writes: OSFlash, MTASC, FlashDevelop, Red5,
FlexUnit...This article from WebDDJ vol 3 no 5 looks at a welter of
initiatives that testify to the growth of the Flash Platform.
In a major repositioning effort in June of 2005, Macromedia (now, of course
Adobe, but then still an independent company) unveiled the "Flash Platform."
The conception of Flash, the company had decided, needed to change: Flash had
evolved from a tool for designers to an interoperating set of technologies
appropriate for Web... (more)
Not long ago developers and IT professionals looked at Flash with disdain.
The anti-Flash camp had contempt for its lack of accessibility, minimal
standards compliance, and of course there was the infamous back button
debacle. But things have changed. Large companies are embracing Flash for
rich media delivery. Developers are jumping on the bandwagon in swarms. In
the last year there's been an explosion in Flash development tools, including
several full-featured development environments and a homespun SWF compiler or
two. Flash video suddenly seems to be everywhere, and if you're... (more)
Jim Phelan, a member of the Editorial Board of Web developer's & Designer's Journal, is VP of Development and Chief Architect for Stream57, a New York City based firm specializing in communication solution development for the enterprise. Jim's expertise in creating solutions for consolidation and collateralization of business communications has allowed his team to create applications for the management and delivery of live and on demand rich media content. He is a strong proponent of the Adobe Flash Platform.
Scott Sellers
David M. Adler
Anthony Franco
Daniel Morris
Wayne Walls
Niki Acosta
Jereme Hancock
Oren Michels
Marvin Wheeler
Douglas Kim
Ken Guiberson
