adobe air overview
DESCRIPTION
Overview of AIR, the APIs you get access to and how to build a simple Flex and HTML application with it. From there we will explore some of the tools available to make AIR development easier and faster. We’ll finish up with a few important usability guidelines and real world case studies of AIR projects.TRANSCRIPT
About Me
Andre Charland
Co-Founder/CE0 @ Nitobi
Usability & RIA Focus
Author, Blogger, Skier
Monday, February 4, 2008
About Nitobi
Ajax and Flex Components and Services
Founded in 1998
Revenue funded
Over 1000+ customers worldwide
12 Employees
Vancouver, BC
Monday, February 4, 2008
Customers
Monday, February 4, 2008
AIR?
Cross OS Runtime
Web developers can build desktop apps
Supports: Flash, Flex, HTML, PDF, JavaScript
Totally Free
OS Level APIs
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AIR APIs and Features
File I/O
Native Windowing
Menuing
Online/Offline Detection
Chrome Control
Local Storage
System Notifications
Auto Updates
SQL Lite Database
Background Processes
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Neat Things...
Call ActionScript directly from JavaScript
HTML content in Flash
Badge Install
Air Aliases.js
Use ActionScript Libraries
Keyboard Shortcuts
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Technicalities
Flash 9
WebKit (Safari) - Not a Browser
Windows, Mac (Linux Coming Soon!)
Not a Plug-In
AIR is not Flex, Ajax, Flash...it’s a run-time
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How To’s
Flex Builder 3
HTML/Ajax
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Application Descriptor File
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <application xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/air/application/1.0.M6">
<id>samples.flex.HelloWorld</id> <version>0.1</version> <filename>HelloWorld</filename> <initialWindow>
<content>HelloWorld.swf</content> <visible>true</visible> <systemChrome>none</systemChrome> <transparent>true</transparent> <width>400</width> <height>200</height>
</initialWindow> </application>
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File I/O• Setup a File object
var myFile:File = File.appStorageDirectory;myFile = myFile.resolve( “contacts.xml” );
• Instantiate and FileStream objectvar myStream:FileStream = new FileStream();
• Setup the appropriate event listenersmyStream.addEventListener( Event.COMPLETE, doReadData );
• Call FileStream.open() or FileStream.openAsync() with the appropriate modemyStream.openAsync( myFile, FileMode.READ );
• Call the appropriate read and write methods• Close the file using FileStream.close()
myStream.close();
Monday, February 4, 2008
Windowing Create a new Native Window
var options:NativeWindowInitOptions = new NativeWindowInitOptions();options.systemChrome = NativeWindowSystemChrome.STANDARD;options.transparent = false;var newWin:NativeWindow = new NativeWindow(options);
Window Size:
var maxOSSize:Point = NativeWindow.systemMaxSize;var minOSSize:Point = NativeWindow.systemMinSize;
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Service MonitorInclude the external SWF Library<script type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="servicemonitor.swf"></script>
Check for the availability of a particular URL
var monitor;
function checkURLStatus(url) {! var req = new air.URLRequest(url);! monitor = new window.runtime.air.net.URLMonitor(req);! monitor.pollInterval = 5000;! monitor.addEventListener(air.StatusEvent.STATUS, showStatus);! monitor.start();
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Snitter
http://snook.ca/snitter/Monday, February 4, 2008
Scrutinizer
http://about.stompernet.com/scrutinizerMonday, February 4, 2008
Analytics Reporting
http://analytics.boulevart.be/
http://analytics.boulevart.be/
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Opportunities
Companion Applications
API Libraries
File Libraries
Advanced features – syncing, etc..
Casual games
Downloadable games
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Usability Gotchas
Keyboard shortcuts (tab, enter…)
Throbbers / Activity indicators – no spinner
Allow text to be copied
Add functions for minimize, move, resize, close when ‘chromeless’
Mouse hints, invitations, tool tips
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Limitations in 1.0
No support for hardware acceleration (3D games, video compositing tools, video encoders, etc)
No access to native libraries (DLLs, etc)
Cannot connect to devices (other than web cams and microphones)
Accessibility support is limited
Printing support is limited
Limited localization in 1.0
Monday, February 4, 2008
Questions:)
http://blogs.nitobi.com/andre
http://www.nitobi.com
Monday, February 4, 2008