Mike Chambers

As you may have noticed from some of my recent posts (here and here), I have been spending some time lately thinking about the ActionScript 2 to ActionScript 3 transition. I am working on some stuff to make this transition easier (especially for non-developers), but I wanted to make a quick post and get the community’s input.

How can we make the transition from ActionScript 2 to ActionScript 3 easier? I am specifically interested in input from anyone who does not consider themselves hardcore developers.

Post your input in the comments.

Darron Schall has just checked in some changes and bug fixes to the JSON support in as3corelib. Among other things, Darron has added a strict mode which allows you to specify how strict of a conformance to the JSON spec you want the library to follow.
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You can read more about it here, and download it here.

As you have probably heard by now, Adobe announced a number of layoffs yesterday. The layoffs were in response to the global economic downturn, and lower than expected sales of Adobe CS4 (due to the economic situation). You can find the press release for the revised revenue expectations and restructuring here (pdf). In total, about 600 people were let go.

Even if you have been through something like this before, it is still a big shock, and can be a difficult time. Unfortunately, it is one of the realities of our economic system.
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The title pretty much sums it up. Have you run into any new issues in Adobe AIR 1.5? Specifically, I am looking for anything that may have worked in AIR 1.1, which no longer works in AIR 1.5.

For example:
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We have just posted an updated PDF of the Flash Platform ActionScript 3 RIA API Guide. The new guide includes updated apis for Adobe AIR 1.5, Flex 3.2 and Flash Player 10.
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We will have some out each day at the Adobe booth at MAX.

fyi, I am going to mail some of these out next week (along with updated AS3 RIA Guides). Ill post more info next week on my twitter account.

We just released Adobe AIR 1.5. While this is a point release, it is a pretty significant update. You can find an overview of new features and updates in this article on the developer center, and in this blog post.

What is my favorite feature of AIR 1.5? Bug fixes! In particular URL clicks are now handled correctly (correct browser is opened, and links open in new tab in Firefox as appropriate).

You can grab the latest version here, or you will be prompted to update it the next time you run an AIR application.

If you are working on an AIR app, and will be attending MAX 2008 this week, make sure to stop by the booth to show us your app. We have a station setup called “Developer Spotlight” where you can come and show your app to AIR Team members and evangelists (as well as ask any questions you might have).

Anyone who comes by and shows us their app will get either a new ColdFusion or AIR tshirt (both created by eboy).

Ill be around Monday afternoon, but the booth will be staffed all of the time (Ben Forta is there on Tuesday afternoon).

See you at MAX.

One of the top feature requests that end users have been asking for from AIR applications (on Mac) is the ability for those applications to leverage the open source Growl notification framework on Mac. However, this was not previously possible due to how applications are required to communicate with Growl.

I am really excited to announce that Adobe has been working with the Growl team to add support to Growl for Adobe AIR and Flash applications. Among other things, this will enable Adobe AIR applications to leverage the Growl notification framework on Mac. The best part, is that it is implemented in a way that is not just limited to use by Flash and AIR.
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