Archive of thenextweb.com
Well, you can hit the last nail into this coffin. After much controversy, there is no flash on the iPad.
During Steve Job’s demonstration of the device, numerous broken flash elements were shown, causing a collective groan across the internet. But, it surfaced after that in some iPad promotional copy live flash content was shown. What to think? Would there be flash on the device?
Well, we all talked about it, wondering just what Apple was up to. Turns out they were just kidding, unsurprisingly. Those advertisements have since been amended, and the flash content has been pulled like a pizza from the brick oven. (more…)
It turns out the iPad just might have Flash after all in one form or another. The device was assuredly borking numerous Flash elements during its demo, but the iPad did render New York Times Flash content correctly.
Where does this leave us? Well, the conspiracy theorists will argue that given the NYT’s close relationship with Apple (they have been working together), perhaps some Flash will work, and some not. Why have an YouTube application if it will run in the browser? Not an unfair point.
Apple needs to come out and make it plain whether the iPad can handle Flash; and if not, will it ever. We should need to be speculating about this. Apple, act like a normal company and define your product. (more…)
There is a gaping security hole in Flash, that according to ComputerWorld’s Gregg Keizer “can exploit a flaw… to compromise nearly every Web site that allows users to upload content, including Google’s Gmail, then launch silent attacks on visitors to those sites.”
Not good. But it gets worse.
Adobe has acknowledged the problem, and has promised nothing. No patch, no quick fix, nothing but a thumb of the nose. Adobe has made it plain that websites and their creators are responsible for their security.
That sounds like GM saying drivers are responsible for exploding gas tanks. This is a big, bad problem. Expect to see backlash to Adobe, and some fix in the pipeline. If not, a large swath of the internet is now very, very insecure.
Mike Murray of Foreground Security said it well: “Any site that allows user-uploadable content is vulnerable, and most are not configured to prevent this.”
H/T @MichaelKlurfeld for the tip.
Micropayments are a popular way for developers of online games to make money from their products. Players typically get the game for free but must pay for extra levels, upgraded items and the like.
Developers of Facebook games have been able to build micropayments into their products since earlier this year. Now those working on Flash-based games will be able to do the same thanks to a new service from San Francisco startup Heyzap.
Heyzap Payments, launched today, is a platform that allows developers to easily build a standardized payment system into their Flash games. Revenue is shared between the Heyzap and the developer. (more…)
It is hard to imagine, even for a second, that we’ll ever forget about Google and all start using a new search engine. But that is exactly what happened in 2003 when we all forgot about Yahoo, Lycos and AltaVista. If history is any indication within 10 years we WILL be using something else other than Google to search. Do you believe it?
I know, it takes a very large leap of faith to believe it but experiments like Spezify do make me wonder what the ‘Next’ big thing will be. Spezify is a visual search engine that collects search results, arranges them on a desktop and allows you to drag around that desktop. It feels more like spreading out old photos and articles on a big desk and shuffling them around than what you are used to with regular search.
Spezify is currently in beta and you can test it here: http://beta.spezify.com/
The UMapper plugin is a universal mapping platform that makes it easy for you to create custom maps and add them on your WordPress blog posts.
You can choose a title and a description for you map, customize the markers and objects on it to suit the right sort of color, font sizes and labels.
Microsoft Virtual Earth, Google Maps, Yahoo and OpenStreet are all supported by this plugin.
Key Features :
- Provides collaboration tools, map wiki, and social networking features (comments, ratings, etc.)
- Switching between map providers when creating a map, and later on while editing.
- Map Editor has HTML capabilities and allows Wikipedia and Geo Names search.
- Integrated map editor – manipulating geographical contents to suit your site requirement.
- Allows map distribution via embeds and widgets.
- Allows syndication of map data using KML.
Some potential ways of using it:
- If your blog is based on e-commerce or shopping, then you can integrate custom map(s) onto your blog posts, pointing to the retailer’s location, address and other directions.
- If your are addressing about an event, public meeting or gathering on your site then you can indicate its details by using custom objects and markers on the map.
UMapper is certainly a stand out plugin to aid your visitors with appropriate directions on the custom map based on your subject of interest, making your blog posts more lively and interactive.
Download UMapper WordPress Plugin
Ze Frank is a speaker, humorist and online performance artist. He has used all of the above to put together an intriguing flash app which lets you draw literally draw with your voice.
You simply speak, sing, shout or anything else you’d like to do with your voice and watch as the app draws away based on the volume, pitch and direction of your voice.
Try it out here, although it’s still very much in development, trust me – you’ll be impressed.
Load the player, enable you mic and low volume curves counterclockwise, medium volume is straight, high volume curves clockwise, pretty tough to control nevertheless amazing results can be produced with only your voice.
The Iraqi who tossed a shoe to George Bush yesterday has inspired lots of Web entrepreneurs to come up with flash games. cartoons and animated gifs.
At Boing Boing they have a huge collection of The Animated Gifs but if you are really bored check out these Flash games. The games are simple but impressive when you realize they were made in less than 24 hours:
Let us know how many points you scored!
Sprint, in an effort to promote their new Mobile Broadband Card, has launched a Flash Information Dashboard that will keep you entertained way longer than you think. The screenshot here doesn’t do their gizmo any justice. Trust me, just follow this link, pump up the volume, and hover over all the images and links for extra entertainment.
Hobnox is a Berlin-based start-up that brings creative minds from all over the world together in their online community. With a strong focus on music and video, users can create, share, and collaborate their funky stuff.
What particularly impressed me when I first reviewed Hobnox in May, was the state-of-the-art Audiotool. The developers have created a browser-based Flash version of a mix table, so that Hobnox members can create their own beats and melody lines within the site. For me it was all quite overwhelming, as I’m anything but a digital music maker.
That my influence my ability to properly review the tools as well, since some commenters basically said that online flash based toys are not useful in the ultimate business of making music. I can imagine what they meant to say, so I’m really interested to hear their opinion about Hobnox’s updates. David Noël, head of Hobnox marketing, has sent me the following list:
- Live recording and saving functionality
- Addition of a ‚Mac-Dock’-like shelf with all the devices
- We added new devices (Splitter, Merger, Compressor, Phaser, Slope and Gate)
- We’ve improved the performance by getting rid of the Java bypass which means that you’ll need to upgrade to Flash 10 to use the tool
- Starting the Audiotool, you can choose out of three default set-ups or start a blank set-up
The latter even is exciting for a uninitiate like me, as I can just press “electro” and listen in awe. Anyhow, if you’re a professional, please let me know what you think about the Hobnox Audiotool.
