Marco Casario | RIAvolutionize the web

Future of the Web is mobile devices

Via CNET|NEWS an article that will  make FlashLite developers happy :

Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a driving force behind the creation of Berkeley Unix and Java, among other technologies, said the explosion in devices like cell phones, PDAs and other wireless gadgets connected to the Web is radically changing the technology industry.

He calls that phenomenon the "here" Web, because the Internet is always "here, because you access it through a device you always carry." Joy, now a partner with the venture capital firm of Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, made his remarks at Technology Review's Emerging Technology Conference here Thursday.

It's been more than five years since Joy originally laid out his model of the six ways people interact with the Web, ranging from the "near" Web (a PC at arm's length) to the "D2D" or device-to-device Web, where systems arrange themselves into mesh networks.

"The here Web will be the most important, going forward," Joy said. "People have many devices."

Joy also speculated that such an extended Web will favor companies such as Google that are betting on the Web as the future platform for the most interesting and important software applications.

Read the entire article.

I've also found an article that talks about RealNetworks that will offer its music, video and games contents to consumers on their mobile phones.

Read the entire article.

Fireworks 8 Mobile UI components for your FlashLite contents

One of my best new Fireworks 8 features, is the Halo Lite library user interface components.
You can find them under Edit >> Libraries >> HaloLite.
It's a set of  mobile interfaces with bitmap interface components that you can quickly use in your FlashLite applications.

Finally I will be able to create more sophisticated and clear FlashLite mobile user interface without asking anything to my designer (joking, i need him ;) ).

Creating a Game for the iRiver U10 using FlashLite 1.1

The Macromedia DevNet section has been updated with new cool contents and a great article on FlashLite development by Jonathan Duran :

Creating a Game for the iRiver U10
Examine a mobile game running in the Flash Lite 1.1 player to see how it works.

The article uses the iRiver U10, a new flashlite enabled portable media player and shows how quickly you can build a game using Flash 8 and FlashLite profile !

Have a look at DevNet section for other updated contents :

Flash Media Server 2 Public Beta
Download the public beta of the next version of Flash Communication Server.

The Making of Flash 8
Follow the excitement in the final hours leading up to the biggest and best release in the history of Flash.

Performance Improvements in Flash
Player 8
Learn about several under-the-hood optimizations that boost performance in Flash Player 8.

Migrating from Flash MX 2004 to Flash 8
Familiarize yourself with the new features in Flash 8 and get ready to migrate your existing projects.

Welcome to Merrimack: An Even Better ColdFusion MX 7
Mac OS X support, enhanced tag functionality, and new functions: Read all about the update.

Programmer's Guide to Fireworks Commands
Customize your Fireworks environment by creating your own new features, tweaks, and modifications.

Creating Your First Website with Dreamweaver 8
Create your first website with Dreamweaver 8 using these tutorials.
Part 1: Setting up Your Site and Project Files
Part 2: Creating a Table-Based Page Layout

Small-Screen design tips for FlashLite applications

This is a simple but must-read list of advices to make small Devices Look Great (via Opera Dev Community) :

1. Design with document order in mind
2. Design the small-screen version for maximum readability
3. Only use images suited for a small screen, hide the rest
4. Be careful with the use of colors, font sizes, and alignment

If you're a FlashLite developers I'd add :

1. Be careful to add complex animation
2. Reduce the use of loadMovie command
3. Make available the use of a back button
4. Reduce to the bone menu items and screens
5. Exit, About, Select and Help should appear on the first screen
6. Handle battery and connection warnings
7. Be careful to use sound
8. Do not exceed frame rate to 15
9. Use vector graphics rather than bitmaps
10. Use device fonts and check the 'Use device Fonts' box in the Property Inspector

FlashLite @ MobileMonday

MobileMonday is an open community of mobile professionals fostering cooperation and cross-border business development through virtual and live networking events that share ideas, best practices and trends from global markets.
The next MobileMonday Italy will take place in Milan on the first Monday of October.

DATE: 3rd October from 19.00 - 21.30
VENUE: Casablanca Cafe, Corso Como 14, Milan

I'll be one of the speaker and I'll tell about about applying FlashLite technology in mobile success cases like KDDI and DoCoMo (FlashLite is everywhere ;) ).

We will speak about Mobile End-User Relations.
The moderator of discussion will be Emanuele Preda from SMS.it

Other fantastic speakers in the next MobileMonday are :

Filippo Renga from Politecnico di Milano will tell about success
stories from the mobile customer relations and advertisement world.

Ari Laurila, the R&D Director from Quickclic Finland will tell about
QC Finland's success on the Finnish health care business.

Ornella Fouillouze, the CEO of NETikos and Etnoteam's General Director
of Telecommunications and Media will discuss ideas and experiences in
the field of Mobile CRM.

Many thanks to Jaana Heikkilä the event Manager to give me this opportunity.

This is some story behind the MobileMonday event :

MoMo is a Finnish concept which started from  Helsinki in 2000, from where it was later copied to everywere in the world.
MoMo Milano was first a Tokyo-MoMo inspired event initiated by Mobix, but thanks to the common contacts, the MoMo Rome organizer found MoMo Milano organizer already before  the first Milano event, just to arrange the first MoMoMi together.

The Italian MobileMondays are organized every other month in Rome and every other in Milan by NETikos and Etnoteam.

DoCoMo develops Mobile Handset for DigitalTV

via DoCoMo press release :

NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries a nnounced today the development of the 3G FOMA® P901iTV, DoCoMo's first mobile handset to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting signals, in addition to conventional analog signals. The handset was developed in response to the planned launch of mobile digital broadcasting in April 2006, which Japanese broadcasters formally announced today.

DoCoMo's P901iTV will allow users to enjoy services that converge mobile communications and broadcasting, such as access to TV program related websites by simply clicking the URL shown on the display during the program. The handset's main display will be a 2.5-inch, wide-view LCD screen. More than 2.5 hours of continuous viewing will be possible for digital TV programs. The TV function will be activated by twisting the screen (enabling the lower half of the phone to be used as a convenient handle), or simply pushing a button. An antenna-embedded earphone will enhance TV signal reception.

The P901iTV will be one of DoCoMo's "Osaifu-Keitai" mobile phones with wallet functions, which enable the phone to be used as electronic money, credit card, commuter pass, electronic ticket and more.

DoCoMo will exhibit the P901iTV during the CEATEC Japan 2005 trade show at the Makuhari Messe exhibition center in Chiba Prefecture from October 4 to 8.

And now the one million dollar question :

Will this new mobile handset be embedded with the Flash of FlashLite player ?????

Read the entire press release.

Build your mobile site for free

Mob5.com  created a service that lets anyone easily create their own mobile internet site.
The sites created are adapted to the capabilities of the browsing devices.
It also allows  users to create and edit  site not only via a web interface but also directly from their mobile phone.

With the editor from mob5 you can easily create a mobile homepage with images, links or other information. The address to your homepage will be mob5.com/username.

Cool !

Palm and Microsoft to make a WinMobile Treo

via MobileGazette :

The rumours about a Windows-based version of the Palm Treo handset have been around for a little while, but the official joint announcement from Palm, Microsoft and the US carrier Verizon was only made this week. So far the device doesn't have a name, but it is rumoured to be the Palm 670W, 700W or something similar.

This version is a 3G device running on the US EV-DO system, which is the 3G evolution of their 2G CDMA network. This means that this particular Treo won't be available in Europe or pretty much anywhere else in the world, but subsequent versions might be.

Read the entire post.

Flash 8 and the improved accessibility

The workflow for creating accessible applications has improved.
Flash Player 8 no longer requires developers to add all objects to the tab index in order for content to be read correctly by a screen reader.

One thing I find cool is that you can see the tab index order appears on Stage selecting from menu Select View > Show Tab Order

Remember that if two or more objects have the same tab index in any given frame, Flash follows the order in which the objects were placed on the Stage.

Visit the Macromedia Accessibility Resource Center !

Outline of i-mode service in the UK

via DoCoMo site and Nick Gerig blog  :

NTT DoCoMo, Inc. reported that O2 plc announced that they will be launching DoCoMo's i-mode® service in the UK market starting October 1st.

Outline of i-mode service in the UK

1) Operator:	O2 (UK) Ltd.
2) Launch date:	October 1st, 2005
3) Area:	O2's 3G and GPRS network in the UK
4) Network:	W-CDMA and GPRS
5) Handsets:	NEC N411i and N343i, and Samsung S500i and Z320i

6) Service includes:

1. Around 100 sites at the time of launch, available in English
2. i-mode mail availability
3. MMS transmission compatibility

Hoped to see FlashLite in the specs but I think it would be like the italian case :(

Read the entire press release.