Developing Flash Lite Widgets For The Chumby Platform

Slide 1: Developing Flash Lite Widgets  for the Chumby Platform Scott Janousek http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/

Slide 2: Seminar Agenda • Introductions • Platform Overview • Flash, Widgets, Capabilities • Walkthrough(s) • Wrap Up & QA 

Slide 3: Introductions

Slide 4: About Me • Flash, Flash Lite, and recently: Flex & Air • Community, blogging, training • Coauthor, speaker, enthusiast, evangelist • Flash Lite 1.1, 2.x, 3.0 • Company • Bio: http://www.scottjanousek.com/About.html • Gadget Lover • Psyched about the potentials for Chumby

Slide 5: Non‐PC Flash Portfolio • Mobile (Partial) • Chumby Widgets Personal Blog RSS Feed, BlackJack, Hot Sauce Throwdown (Coming Soon) Kaboom, Chum‐ilities, Chumby Pong Ski Report (Soon), Snake Game, iCanHasCheezBurger

Slide 6: I ♥ Gadgets/Devices • Suffering from mild “Gadget Addiction” • iRiver, Nokia, LG, PSP, DS Lite, Chumby, & more • A few devices* I use on regular basis … * Not to scale. ☺

Slide 7: Platform Overview

Slide 8: CHUMBY Front Back

Slide 9: Hardware Specifications • 350 MHz ARM Processor • 64 MB SDRAM • 3.5” LCD color touchscreen display • 2 external USB 2.0 full speed ports • Stereo 2W Speakers • Headphone output • Accelerometer (“Motion/Force Sensor”) • AC Powered

Slide 10: What is the Chumby? • “Glance‐able” Consumer Electronic Device • Linux Based • Open Platform • Non‐Portable* • Wi‐Fi enabled* • chumby.com portal • Runs “widgets” (aka Flash Lite SWFs) • Flash Enabled ‐ UI and Widgets • Your personalized desk buddy * As shipped – may be modified through hacks and mods

Slide 11: What is the Chumby? (cont) HARDWARE SOFTWARE/CONTENT CRAFTS • HACK IT • DEVELOP • CUSTOMIZE • MOD‐ify IT • CREATE • PERSONALIZE • INNOVATE

Slide 12: How/Where can I get one? • Currently shipping only in U.S. • Not a global product (yet) • Purchase ($179.95 USD) – http://store.chumby.com/

Slide 13: Flash, Widgets,  Capabilities

Slide 14: Chumby Widgets • Flash Lite 3 SWFs • Delivered OTA (over‐the‐air) from Chumby Network • Widget Configuration SWFs – Customize via web • Share widgets via: – Portal Categories – Send directly from Chumby via your “Chum‐lists” • Widget SWFs in “channels” (think T.V.) • Widget Duration – 1 second minimum – Can be customized by user

Slide 15: “Channels” • • Channel is simply a container for widget(s) 15 seconds 15 seconds 5 seconds 2 minutes 5 Widgets in channel “foobar” TIME • 1 or more channels for each chumby • Each widget has a defined playtime internal – one second to FOREVER (user must enable, later)

Slide 16: Chumby Control Panel

Slide 17: User Input • Touch Screen – 320 x 240 3.5” color display • Accelerometer – Force and movement in X,Y,Z • Toggle/Bend Switch – Used for UI/Menu panel navigation • Voice (Microphone support ( through Flash = not yet) ) • Hacks and “mods” also possible

Slide 18: Flash Lite 3 on Chumby • Based on Flash 8 Player • Performance improvements over Flash Lite 2.x • Integrated Development Environment                       – Adobe Flash CS3 + Adobe Device Central • .FLV (“Flash Video”) support • Flash Player updated OTA (over the Air) • Chumby APIs • Flash Lite Development Practices still apply!

Slide 19: Flash Development Tools • Commercial – Adobe Flash CS3 (& Device Central) • http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/ • Open Source –MING • http://ming.sourceforge.net –MTASC • http://osflash.org/mtasc • http://www.mtasc.org

Slide 20: Flash CS3 Target Publish Settings Flash 8 and ActionScript 2 Flash Lite 3 and ActionScript 2 • Easy, no updates required • Unsupported features of  • Need to be aware of  Flash 8 will be disabled constraints of Flash Lite!  • Utilize Device Central • Code Hinting • FL3 Updates needed

Slide 21: fscommand2 API Command Return Value Command Return Value FullScreen ‐1 GetVolumeLevel Number GetDeviceID Unique ID getFreePlayerMemory Number GetNetworkConnectionName ‐1 GetTotalPlayerMemory 12,542 KB GetNetworkConnectionStatus 1 ResetSoftKeys ‐1 GetNetworkGeneration ‐1 GetSoftKeyLocation ‐1 GetNetworkRequestStatus 0 Quit 0 GetNetworkStatus ‐1 getPowerSource 1 GetPlatform “Linux 2.6.16” SetInputTextType 0 GetBatteryLevel 228 SetSoftKeys ‐1 GetMaxBattery 100 StartVibrate ‐1 getMaxVolumeLevel 100 StopVibrate 0 GetSignalLevel Number GetLanguage ‐1 GetLocalLongDate ‐1 GetTimeHours Number GetLocalShortDate ‐1 GetTimeMinutes Number GetLocalTime ‐1 GetTimeSeconds Number GetTimeZoneOffset 0 GetDateDay Number GetDateMonth Number GetDateYear Number GetDateWeekDay Number

Slide 22: Properties Command Return Value _compoundSound 1 _capEmail 0 _capLoadData 1 _capMFI 0 _capMIDI 0 _capSMAF 0 _capSMS 0 _capStreamSound 1 _cap4WayKeyAS 1 $version FL 8,1,52,0

Slide 23: Sensor API Sensor ActionScript Touchscreen _rawX = ASnative(5,10); // get the last raw touchscreen X coordinate  _rawY = ASnative(5,11); // get the last raw touchscreen Y coordinate Display _getLCDMute = ASnative(5,19); // get the value of the LCD "mute"  _setLCDMute = ASnative(5,20); // set the value of the LCD "mute"  _setLCDMute(0); // full on  _setLCDMute(1); // dim  _setLCDMute(2); // full off  Speaker _getSpeakerMute = ASnative(5,17);  _setSpeakerMute = ASnative(5,18);  _setSpeakerMute(1);  DC Power _dcPower = ASnative(5,16);  Accelerometer _accelerometer = ['ASnative'](5,60);  version = _accelerometer(0);  timestamp = _accelerometer(1);  currentX = _accelerometer(2);  currentY = _accelerometer(3);  currentZ = _accelerometer(4);  avgX = _accelerometer(5);  avgY = _accelerometer(6);  avgZ = _accelerometer(7);  impactX = _accelerometer(8);  impactY = _accelerometer(9);  impactZ = _accelerometer(10);  impactTime = _accelerometer(11);  impactHints = _accelerometer(12); Bend Sensor _bent = ASnative(5,25); // get the "bent" flag (0/1)

Slide 24: Widget Security • Flash Lite 3 sandbox – Based on Flash 8 Security – Crossdomain.xml – Publish Settings • Network Access Only • Proxying data – Setup your own server to connect external one – Communicate between Widget and your server • For more info – Adobe Flash 8 Security Whitepaper • http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/flash_player_8_security.pdf

Slide 25: Working with Audio • Supported format: – MP3 • Usage: – Embedded on timeline – Attaching from library – Loading from remote server (not streaming) • Toggle – Consider having a toggle – Default to disabled sound state

Slide 26: Working with Flash Video • Flash Lite 3 supports native Flash Video • Utilize custom objects: – Video, NetStream, NetConnection • Suggested Settings: – 12 FPS – Video Data Rate: 220  – Audio 32kbps (mono) or less – Dimensions: 320x240 or smaller • Avoid FLV Media Components (as with mobile devices) • Playback Methods Embedded Progressive Streaming Avoid SWF “Bloat” Recommended Recommended

Slide 27: Widget Configurators • Text input = a Chumby “chore” • Widget Configurator is: – Flash UI – widget parameters (i.e. variables) – “Customize” option within widgets in channels

Slide 28: Working with Data • loadVars, loadVariables • loadMovie • XML • XML Socket • SWX  – www.swxformat.org • Persistent Data – Shared Objects – Widget Configuration Variables – External Database (PHP + MYSQL, etc)

Slide 29: Chumby Variables • Think of as Flashvars, or “environmental” variables (as in UNIX) Widget Parameters _chumby_chumby_name Name assigned to Chumby by owner (Ex: “Sue”) _chumby_widget_instance_id Unique GUID assigned to each widget instance (Ex: 12121212‐1212‐1212‐1212‐121212121212) _chumby_user_name Chumby owner username (Example: “scott”) Widget Configuration Variables this[ ‘foobar’ ] Widgets that have a desktop configuration can set  custom variables which each widget instance. Usage: trace( this[ ‘_chumby_chumby_name’] ); trace( this[ ‘foobar’ ] );

Slide 30: Some Best Practices • _lockroot, or use non absolute path names • Enlarge hit areas of button states • Use LARGE (and readable) TEXT • Implement Co‐operative mode • Keep file size small (< 200k) • Avoid lengthy preloaders • Device Central Chumby Profile • Sound should always be optional • Toggled version textfield for each Widget (Ex: v1.20) • More soon … contained in: – Chumby “1‐sheet” PDF reference ‐ Coming Soon

Slide 31: My Development Resources • Chumby wireframe templates (PDF) – http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/14/chumby‐wireframe‐templates‐pdf/ • Chumby Adobe Device Central Profile – http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/22/chumby‐device‐profile‐for‐adobe‐device‐ central‐cs3/

Slide 32: Tips & Tricks • Chumby + Ming • Chumby Easter Eggs – Copy SWF to Bootable USB – Remote Development via NFS … more contained in the Chumby WIKI

Slide 33: Walkthrough(s)

Slide 34: Developing Widgets (Examples) • RSS Reader (News Reader) • Video Clock • Accelerometer

Slide 35: Testing a widget Off Device On Device • Virtual Chumby • USB Stick – www.chumby.com/mychumby – Bootable USB Stick with SWF • NFS • Adobe Device Central – Setup mounted drive – My Chumby Profile • Upload to Chumby Portal – Not Certified! – Single channel – Single widget – Manually Refresh Widget • Send to Friend – “Chumby List” • Send to a 2nd Chumby – 1 for Testing – 1 for Use

Slide 36: • Uploading a Widget STEPS 1. Create your widget 2. Create a 80 x 60 .jpg icon 3. Login into chumby.com 4. Goto Widgets Tab 5. Enter required textfields 6. Set Widget duration 7. Upload Widget (SWF) 8. Upload icon (.JPG) 9. Upload Widget Config (SWF) 10. Set to private (testing) or  public (accessible to all) 11. Virtual Chumby Compatible? 12.   Click UPLOAD WIDGET button

Slide 37: • Deploying a widget STEPS 1. Upload Widget  (SWF) 2. Set Widget to  “Public” on Widget Upload Screen 3. Widget becomes  public ONLY after  being reviewed 4. Once public, users  can add the widget  to channel(s) 5. Users can rate  content once live 

Slide 38: Chumby “Ecosystem” Thoughts on the ecosystem thus far: CHUMBY VIA CONTENT 3RD PARTY HW & Crafts – Inter‐dispersed  – Viral Games – Add‐on  Ad’s within  – eCards components        channels – Custom Data/API (FM Radio, etc) – Device  – Highly Personalized  – Custom Mods? Personalization Content – Arts & Crafts – – Accessories               As a Platform  (charms, etc) Marketing Tool for  existing content – Subscription Based

Slide 39: Chumby Mods & Hacks • Some Hacks – “Chum‐bot” – “Chum‐roomba” – ER Photo Battery Hack* • …possibilities are seemingly endless! Bunnie’s Chum‐bot Chum‐roomba Battery Hack

Slide 40: Wrap Up

Slide 41: Announcements • Global – Adobe Devnet Article on Chumby – frame27.blogspot.com • Chumby games to review? Send’em.

Slide 42: Discussion/Q & A “Food for thought” – Future versions of Flash Lite pushed down OTA  (Flash Lite 4???) – Flash Cast‐like product? (“Distro system”?) – Flash Home‐ like product? (“Dashboards”?) – Adobe AIR apps? (in possible future Chumby’s?) – Intercommunication between chumby’s – 3rd Party Hardware? (… like FM receiver) … your ideas?

Slide 43: My Contact Info • MY CHUMBY HANDLE – scotttjanousek • EMAIL – scott AT scottjanousek DOT com • LINKS – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/ – scottjanousek.mobi – www.flashmobilebook.com – frame27.blogspot.com – www.hookenmobile.com – chumby.scottjanousek.com

Slide 44: URLS SOME USEFUL RESOURCES – www.chumby.com – wiki.chumby.com – forum.chumby.com – blog.chumby.com – www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/chumby.html – chumbylover.wordpress.com – www.flashmobilegroup.org – www.flashmobilebook.com – frame27.blogspot.com – www.flickr.com/groups/chumbychums – www.flickr.com/photos/11410414@N06 – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/14/chumby‐wireframe‐templates‐pdf/ – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/22/chumby‐device‐profile‐for‐adobe‐device‐ central‐cs3/ • SEARCH FLICKR, YOUTUBE, GOGGLE, ETC FOR MORE … – Fortunately, “chumby” is fairly unique keyword!

Slide 45: Thanks for  attending!