Flash Speaks Actionscript

Until now Google Maps via the Flash platform hasn’t been available unless you’ve been using the the UMAP component from AFComponents. As you may have heard, Google has opened up its API to the Flash and Flex community. This is huge as it offers more possibilities for Rich Interactive Applications and Google Maps. To find more info on Google Maps for Flash, check out Google’s official blog.

Check out the these examples using the new Google Maps for Flash API:

Video Sync Map
A map pans and updates while a synchronized video shows footage from the city highlighted on the map.

Photo Flip Map
Locations in Las Vegas are plotted on the map with a small photo showing up inline; the view can be “flipped” to show a larger photo without the map.

Local Searcher
Displays a Flex UI with ComboBox, Button, and TextField that are used to perform a local search with the AJAX Local Search API.

Custom Campus Map
Creates a custom map by extending TileLayerBase to load in USC image tiles.

Form Geocoding
Shows how to take a user-entered address from a Flex TextField, geocode it, and display the result as a map marker.

Control Options
Shows how to customize the display of MapTypeControl and OverviewMapControl using their associated options classes.

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UMAP: Live Maps Meets Actionscript 3.0

Advanced Flash Components updates their Google Maps powered AS3 component. If you are not familiar with this UMAP, it is scalable component model that allows you to create rich maps with interactive data layers. Its features are impressive and it now even supports Microsoft’s Virtual Earth along with Google Maps.

Latest Features Include:

• InfoWindow has been completely rewritten for better extendability.
• KMLLayer generates OverlayEvent.READY once all markers and linked KMLLayers have been loaded.
• autoInfo parameter is added to the Layer to control the automatic Info Window appearance
• BaloonStyle property has been added to the Marker Manager.

Also, you can expect this version not only as an Adobe Flash component but also as a Adobe Flex component. Check out the latest update of UMAP!

Live Preview

Resources:

• Download UMAP
• UMAP Tutorials

For more information on this release, you can view the UMap 0.9 Beta Release Notes.

AFC Announces All 14 Actionscript 2.0 Components as FREE!

This a very impressive list of Flash components. The original value of all of these combined are over $310. As of today, you can find them all free at Advanced Flash Components. Enjoy these great tools and make sure to spread the word.

Also, don’t forget to thank the guys over at Advanced Flash Components for this great opportunity.

Flow List

Flow List Component loads external images and creates a 3D flow animation. Flexible API makes it easy to integrate this component into your web application.

Media List

The Media List component is an adaptable list that can be used as a navigation for a variety of media. It allows you to easily scroll to, and select items in the list, with a clear indication of which item is selected.

Tooltip

Tooltip Component is the perfect tool for displaying text and image tool tips in Flash. Enhanced functionality, easy to use interface and scalability makes this component a valuable tool for every flash developer.

IMG Loop

IMG Loop Flash Component creates continuous image scroll. Component supports XML, RSS 2.0 as well as direct data input. All of the component properties can be modified to seamlessly integrate with your project.

FLV Player

The FLV Player component provides standard user interface controls (play, pause, stop, etc) for Flash video playback.

Map

Map Component displays geographical locations and polylines, allowing for easy map navigation. Component uses Equidistant Cylindrical Map Projection and Longitude and Latitude position data to display location points.

MP3 Player

Easily load and play MP3 files inside Flash using MP3 Simple Player component. Player supports XML and RSS 2.0 Podcast Feeds.

IMG Gallery

IMG Gallery Flash component is a fully customizable and scalable tool for displaying dynamic slide shows. Component supports XML, RSS 2.0 as well as direct data input.

IMG Thumbnail Gallery

IMG Thumbnail Gallery Flash component is a fully customizable and scalable tool for displaying dynamic slide shows. Component supports XML, RSS 2.0 as well as direct data input.

FLV Gallery

FLV Gallery Flash Component is a perfect solution for playback of multiple flash video files and can be easily integrated within any flash application. FLV Gallery supports XML and RSS 2.0 feeds and is fully customizable through component properties.

FLV List Gallery

FLV List Gallery Flash Component combines extensible functionality and easy to use user interface for multiple flash video files playback. FLV List Gallery supports XML and RSS 2.0 feeds and is fully customizable through component properties.

IMG Loader Blur, IMG Loader Pixelate, IMG Loader Tint

The IMG Loader component is a container that can display external image files (JPEG/GIF/PNG but not progressive JPEG files) with Flash 8 Blur Transition, Flash 8 Pixelate Transition, and Flash 8 Tint Transition; respectively.

Source: Advanced Flash Components

Take a look at how Advanced Flash Components, also known as AFC, has tightly integrated the Google Maps API into an Adobe Flash environment. This wonderful piece of work is called UMap.

UMap , previously known as G Map, is the Universal ActionScript 3.0 Mapping API integrated with Google Maps. The scalable component model allows you to create rich maps with interactive data layers. This flexible API enables developers to build fully-customized solutions.

• Support for custom map tiles and providers
• Updated loading algorithms for faster tile loading
• Flash / Flex versions
• KML Support
• Advanced content layering
• FLA-Based Map Controls
• Vector shape overlays
• Extended Info Window styling

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