Flash CS5 : The Future of Mobile Apps

December 21st, 2009 1:01 am

One of the biggest problems facing mobile internet surfing is Flash based content. However, this is soon to change. Flash CS5 (code name “viper”) is now under development with features that will enable it to create applications for mobile devices using action script 3. According to Adobe Labs, new features will include:

* Applications for iPhone — Publish ActionScript 3® projects in Adobe Flash Professional to run as applications for iPhone. Learn more.
* New text capabilities via the Text Layout Framework (TLF) — Get unprecedented text control and creativity with projects created in Flash. Advanced styling and layout, including right to left text, columns, and threaded text blocks, let you work with text in Flash like never before.
* XML based FLA files — Manage and modify project assets using source control systems and enable teams to easily collaborate on files.
* Code Snippets panel — Choose prebuilt code that can be injected into
* projects to increase interactivity and also reduce the ActionScript 3 learning curve.
* Flash Builder™ integration — Use Adobe Flash Builder software as your ActionScript editor within projects in Flash.
* Improved ActionScript editor — Improve productivity with custom class code hinting and completion.

Tom says:

January 10, 2010 at 2:14 am

This is good news for Flash developers who want to get their games into the App Store without having to write iPhone-native apps themselves, especially because it allows them to reuse the same code on the web or on Flash-friendly mobile platforms. This might mean that we’ll see some of our favorite Flash time-wasters on the iPhone, too. There’s also the possibility that the App Store will be flooded with the same awful Flash games that plague the web now. Developing a lame Flash game for the web doesn’t have the same $99 pricetag that signing up for the iPhone developer program does, though, so that might keep the quality of iPhone game offerings from taking a huge dive.