This book makes advanced Flex 3 concepts and techniques easy. Ajax, RIA, Web 2.0, mashups, mobile, the most sophisticated Web tools and the coolest interactive Web applications are all covered with practical, visually-oriented recipes.

In this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Integrate Flex 3 with PHP, Java, JavaScript, and Ruby on Rails.
• Tune the performance of your Flex applications.
• Create mashups and collaborative applications using Flex 3.

What is Grooveshark?

Grooveshark is an online service that puts a whole new meaning to peer-to-peer networks when dealing with music.  Grooveshark allows you to upload and stream your music library right in your browser.  If you’re not fond of your personal library, you can simply create playlists from the existing library of music Grooveshark provides.

What is Grooveshark Lite?

Recently, Grooveshark has put a lot of time developing a sweet Flex Application called Grooveshark Lite. Grooveshark Lite allows you to tap into all the music Grooveshark has to offer.  With popular features like a playlist builder, auto-recommendation, and sleek interface, this fancy Flex application has a lot going for it.  Overall, Grooveshark Lite is how Grooveshark separates itself from other similiar services like Last.fm, iLike,  Seeqpod, Pandora, Simplify Media, and MediaMaster.

Overview of Grooveshark Lite’s Features

Additional Resources:

• Join Grooveshark
• Demo Grooveshark Lite
• Learn more about Grooveshark

What is the ActionScript 3 RIA API Guide?

This ActionScript reference for rich Internet application development provides an alphabetical reference for all native ActionScript APIs for the Adobe Flash platform runtimes: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR-as well as the Adobe Flex framework APIs.  The RIA guide has been recently updated to include the API changes effected by Adobe AIR 1.5, Flex 3.2 and Flash Player 10.

Additional Resources:

• Download the guide
• ActionScript 3 Language Reference
• Adobe AIR documentation

Alchemy Toolkit Released!

Last week, Adobe announced the release of Alchemy Toolkit which allows users to compile C and C++ code into Web applications that run on Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR.  Essential allowing users to use their exisitng C code and present it in a way that is accessible to all users with the Flash Player plugin is a huge step for the Adobe Flash Platform. 

Doom Meets the Adobe Flash Platform

With that said,  Michael Welsh from Newgrounds have been busy since Adobe released Alchemy to cook up a fully playable version of the epic classic, Doom.   The game will run directly in your browser and looks and feels like the real thing.  However, performance of it is somewhat dependent on the your computer’s performance, but who cares…it’s DOOM!

Additional Resources:

• Play Doom!
• More info on Alchemy
• Download the Alchemy Toolkit

Ryan Stewart talks to Matt Chotin about the new Thermo design and upcoming additions to the Flex SDK. Then he shows you FXG, a new graphics interchange format supported in Flex 4, code-named “Gumbo”.

If after watching this video gets you all revved up for Flex 4, then, head over and download the latest build of the Flex SDK.

Mike Chambers reports that the beloved open source Growl notification framework will be able to be leveraged by Adobe AIR applications.  If you are unfamiliar with Growl, Growl is a notification system for Mac OS X that allows applications that support Growl to send you notifications.

What is As3Growl?

As3Growl is the project behind this integration and provides an API for working with the new Growl functionality.  The project is hosted at Google code and already contains the complete API source, API docs, examples, documentation, unit tests and other information.

This is an exciting project and will only improve the user’s experience within Adobe AIR applications.  Thanks to Mike Chambers and all involved.

Additional Resources:

• Visit As3Growl’s project page
• Learn more about Growl
• Download As3Growl

Image of Analytics Flash Visual Component in Flash CS3 via Google

If you’ve ever wanted to track your Flash content over the web, then you’d know what a challenge this task entails.  In the past, Flash tracking was not provided out of the box, and every implementation had to be customized.

It is now safe to say that tracking your Flash content, has gotten much easier and more accurate.  With the assistance of Adobe and other third party developers, the Google Analytics team has developed and released Google Analytics Tracking For Adobe Flash.

What is Google Analytics Tracking For Adobe Flash?

This new Flash tracking code offers all the rich features of the current JavaScript-based version as it translates the current Google Analytics tracking code into the ActionScript 3 programming language that dramatically simplifies the ability to track your Flash, Flex and AS3 content.

Fun Times!!

Google Analytics for Flash Demo

Additional Resources:

• Download both Flash and Flex tracking libraries
• Visit the project page
• Read the implementation overview

Eco Zoo

As 3D Flash sites continue to hit mainstream, determining when, how, and where to use it becomes even more of a challenge.  As a Flash/Flex developer or designer it’s pretty easy to get carried away with creating 3D Flash sites for the sake of creating a 3D Flash site.

In this article,  Airtight Interactive will describe some of the technical constraints to be aware of when building 3D Flash sites, then will give examples of recent sites that they are doing 3D right.

The JW Desktop Player uses the Adobe AIR Framework to playback FLV, MP3 and MP4 files on your MAC or PC.  JW Desktop Player allows you to playback a video by simply dropping it on top of the display.

Also, if you are curious as to what is under the hood of this Adobe AIR Application, source code is available for your eyes to see.

Additional Resources:

• Download and install JW Desktop Player
• Download the full source code

Anytime you can extend your tool sets to fit a much more simplified work flow, the better control you have over the tool versus the tool over you.  Being able to store code snippets within Flash has been a feature that I am sure a lot of Flash users would love to have available.  You’d think a functionality like so would already to integrated within Flash, however until then you can focus your attention to ASExpander.

What is ASExpander?

ASExpander is a JSFL extension created by Keith Peters for Flash CS3/4 that allows you to integrate a ActionScript snippet functionality into your existing Flash workflow.  ASExpander allows you to store your existing or new ActionScript code snippets into an external file and then map it to a command of your liking.  There are no limits to the amount or type of snippets stored.

While the ASExpander does have its flaws like no interface to interact with it, it is a very nice alternative to a previously created snippets panel created Lee Brimelow.

Additional Resources:

• Download ASExpander
• More info on ASExpander
• How do I install ASExpander