Devicedays: like Litedays but better

Like the last year, at Spanish Mobile Adobe User Group enjoys celebrating the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona with our annual event. What a perfect end for a plenty week of news and announcements like Devicedays.



This year, the event grows, and we decided to change its name for Devicedays instead of Litedays. Devicedays is more open, and with the launch of Flash Player 10.1 unifying versions on devices, we thought that was more focused on how you develop for devices than which tools use to do it. Also, Devicedays has another meaning, on medical environment, is knew as the number of days a person is connected to a machine to survive. Surprising true on our field too!

We had a day event, with 10 speeches and important figures from brands like Adobe UK, Adobe Spain, Greystripes, Motorola, Blackberry…It’s true that a lot was based on the launch of Flash Player 10.1 for all device (stopping the fragmentation that now exists), but we could always enjoy the point of view of the others. With the networking breaks, you can also ask questions and had interesting conversations.

Like a personal purpose, this year I would record all the speeches, and after a hard and tired production work, I can say that you have available all the speeches online and thanks to the blip.tv platform, you can enjoy more than 4 hours (I encourage you to try the service if you need custom distribution options and long videos, and all with the basic and free service!).



These are the direct links to the Spanish and English videos:

"Welcome intro" Marcos González and Raúl Jimenez, from BlocketPC (esp)

"Adobe at MWC: fresh news" Mark Doherty, from Adobe (eng)

"Adobe at MWC: questions" Mark Doherty and Enrique Duvós, from Adobe (eng)

"Open Screen Project: companies" Mark Doherty, from Adobe (eng)

"Open Screen Project: FP v10.1 demos" Enrique Duvós, from Adobe (esp)

"Open Screen Project: Air Mobile" Aaron Filner, from Adobe (eng)

"FP v10.1: Technical demos" Xavi Beumala, from Adobe (esp)

"Apps for iPhone with Flash" Richard Galvan, from Adobe (esp)

"Device Central CS5 overview" Marcos González and Raúl Jimenez, from BlocketPC (esp)

"Monetize your apps with ads" Álvaro Bravo, from Greystripes (esp)

"The uncanny awards ceremony" BlocketPC team (esp)

You can found the Devicedays official page on Blip.tv here.

I expect that next year Devicedays capacity continue growing (50 first year, 100 this year) and the audience will remain loyal to the event, as we try to improve the experience of Devicedays every year.

Sun, Jun 27, 2010  Permanent link
Categories: Adobe, mobile, eyeclipse, events, Open screen project, Flash

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What have to sacrified to redefine the personal computer?

Okay, this is an amazing world. Last week, Apple presents his new gadget, a mobile device all in one that is supposed to be the revolution of personal computer. And this supposed it’s true, but, like always, not like the company explains it.



Recently, I bring my last two desktop computers to my parents and my parents in law, and I could see from the first line which are the handicaps of the traditional personal computing. It was and interesting exercise of empathy, and make aware me about some important issues that will need to be merged with the iPad discussion.

After a few minutes of the keynote, an outstanding debate starts on internet, and it follows today, and it will follow, be sure, during all the year. It was motivated by people forgetting that a company is always a company, and a company does the best for it, not for the costumers. This is a simply argument, but I will expose a heard topics of this week and simplified my conclusion with a sum of positive and negative points. Come on, would you like to do with me this funny sum up exercise?


MARKETING
First of all, all of you heard about the Apple’s aggressive marketing. They know how to make a good product and better how to sale it. But in the way, they found solid values that are universal to any costumer (like user experience, cross platform services…).

In this case, the claim “The best way to experience the web…” starts the war. And this is a lie, because, the 70% of the internet video and the 75% of internet games couldn’t be seen with the iPad. You couldn’t say this claims and rest like was a simply marketing claim. This is thanks to the omission of include Flash technology on the device.

Apple’s marketing lies. Negative point.

Check this graphical representation of how will be the surfing experience without Flash plugin (Thanks to Lee Brimelow)
*The screen deleted was a porn site.


TECHNOLOGY
Continuing with lies, Apple says that was because Flash turns the platforms more unstable, and the recently standard HTML5 can show video on internet too. If you think Flash ONLY brings video to internet, you are a dummy of this world. What about brand experiences, online applications, interactive diagrams, games (talk to the creator of Flow, a Flash game ported lately to PS3), and a lot of new interactive experiences that pushes up internet every day.

Apple’s technicians lie. Negative point.

Visit this technical overview of internet technologies to know more about this point.


CLOSED SYSTEM
Following with the next point, the operating system of iPad is based on IphoneOS, a light version of and operating system that can do less things. If it does less things, it consumes less energy, and this facts, for a mobile device is a good feature. But the controversy starts with the limitations of the gadget. Every application will be downloaded from Apple’s Application Store cutting the open source way and the free developing for the platform (is knew the particular review process of this Store, with Applies from Google censored). The same case with video contents, and now with the eBooks contents, with a new Store for these (with property DRM system). This is a commercial decision, from a company that is becoming a content delivery one (iTunes is the first store in USA with 5 years old). They make good devices, but the sales on their stores are increasing day after day…

Apple’s make an Apple’s stores consumption device (more near from a Nintendo DSi than a netbook). Neutral point.
*Remember that Xbox360, the gaming system from Microsoft, don't have an internet browser.

This post will help you to understand the philosophy behind the gadget.


CLOSED DESIGN
It’s knew that Apple makes their gadgets with a poor offer of expanding ports, and iPad don’t be and exception. It’s strange this expanding capacities on a “computer” (ironic phrase), nowadays with the standard SD cards, the USB pens generally used by the entire consume electronics. And the poor (and expensive) disks capacities weren’t a solution. But, think for a moment that all of this was with a purpose; force the use of a new internet file repository system, or switch the habit of download contents by have access to contents (every new Apple’s device has 3G model), and in fact, it can be sold as a cross-platform service.

Apple forces customers to buy more ‘add-ons’. Negative point.

Answers for these missing features.


USABILITY ISUES
The iPad is from now, the best and universal democratized device for all the audiences. The interaction of the touch interface is the easier way to introduce computing to anyone. The cognitive experience has no rival. And iPad brings a honey moon to students, medics, commercials, projects leaders, and teachers… any one who need handle information in different contexts.

The work showed about the iWork suite was impressive, and, demonstrates that we can really work with new kind of applications that improve the creation of content workflows.

Also, Apple is demonstrating how a huge company can migrate his default suite of applications to a real cross-platform experience (Mac – iPhone - iPad), with very good results.

Apple brings an unknown experience until now. Positive point.

Design centric review of the iPad


SYSTEM AND MULTITASK
The simplified version of a operating system (install process, uninstall, elimination of folders, refer files to his application…) followed of some studies and habit analysis, probe we aren’t so multitasking like we thought to be becomes on a simplified operation system with less options but more logical and targeted actions.
The first need of this new system of multitouch interfaces was to eliminate the cross window behaviors. These are concepts very difficult to understand for a foreigner person. One application, one screen is ideal.

Another reason is that our brains couldn’t do two things at the same time. We are animals that focus our minds on labors, and one after another, we can make complex works.

Apple doesn’t do a real multitasking behavior, but the system allows playing music and surf the web, work, etc. It’s a kind of controlled or limited multitask. Remember, they don’t try to sell a netbook.

Apple applies new workflows for computing, ready for all kind of audience. Positive point.

Post explaining the no multitasking process of our brain.


TARGET AUDIENCE
This is the key of these product. Really, enjoy the history; imagine the situation, my father 50 years old want to consume internet at home. He needs a computer, a windows or macOS lessons (those never brings he the ability to install software or some kind of control of his machine, really), an internet plan (install and configure modem) and a desktop! (He needs a big screen). All of these needs, without any installation process solve the launch of iPad. It’s incredible, and a plug & play solution.

Actually, the 90% of home internet connections are to consume internet, with computers that can do thousand of things more than it were used, with poor mobility, and by the way like 20 years ago. There is and huge blue ocean here.

Apple makes the question and answers it with a good point of view. Positive point.


CONCLUSION
To sum up, 3 negative points in front 3 positive points. 1 neutral point.

You can buy the next iPad or not (it’s little expensive), it’s your decision, but one thing is true, new kinds of devices are born, and it will revolution the world of personal computing.

With the Apple’s bet, the market is pushed again, and the personal computing HAS to be redesigned. And it is easier than you can imagine.

I recommend to companies follow the success of Apple, taking note of their positive points and ignore the negative ones: Make similar devices with more features and cheaper prices.

And a call for Adobe, audience claims for a simplified interface fully of usability and cross-platform experiences; you are good in standards, find a layer with the operation system and how expand the knowledge of audiences over a range of devices (Steve Jobs proudly says that 75 million people know how iPads works). Do you have something called Air and something like it mobile? Do you support multitouch events? Talk to manufacturers, and bring a unified experience where the user controls his device plenty of happiness (obviously, don’t kill the advanced mode like Apple does.)

Tue, Feb 2, 2010  Permanent link
Categories: computers, future, Adobe, lies, corporation, applications, UI, Apple

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LiteDays - a growing event

Last month, with the celebration of the third group's birthday, the people from the spanish mobile Adobe user group, were bussy preparing a day event at the Adobe offices at Barcelona. It was a good date, because the Mobile World Congress was just finished and we can meet with a lot of intenational friends.

This time, the program was:
- 3 years with Flash on devices (BlocketPC team)
- Adobe Mobile Packager & distributable player (Mark Doherty)
- Layout Manager (Marcos González)
- Bussines chances: GetJar (Patrick Mork)
- Feather Framework (Raúl Jimenez)

This event was surprising, for us, and for the Adobe people because there was one with the best afluence, with more than 40 assistants.
We made shirts, badges and there was a prize draw for a Nokia N71 and a Web Premium package.

We hope that developers was inspired with the opportunities developing Flash content for mobile devices, the possibilities to sell his own content, and the use of our open source projects like Feather Framework and Layout Manager.

The oficial site for the event.
And the feedback post on the blog (with more images)

P.D.: Oh yeah! our loved Ginno's was the perfect place for lunch :)

Sun, Mar 22, 2009  Permanent link
Categories: Adobe, flash, Flash lite, Open screen project, events, eyeclipse

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Talking to a little window

This last saturday the people of Blocketpc.com, an Adobe user Group in spanish that I'm a member, celebrate his first talks about FlashLite and designing for small devices. The event was sponsored by Adobe and Playoo.

The program was:
"Designing user interfaces on mobile devices" - by Raúl Solano (aka eyeclipse)
Workshop "Making a video player in FlashLite3" - by Raúl Jimenez
Introducing Playyoo contest - by Raúl Jimenez and Ramon Masip
"How I can make money with my little creations" - by Raúl Jimenez and Ramon Masip
Introducing Chumby - by Raúl Jimenez

Image of my presentation

My presentation
CoffeBreak

More photos at Zgille's Flickr
A regenerative day with hungry people :)

P.D.: I didn't won the Web premium CS3 package :(

Thu, Dec 20, 2007  Permanent link
Categories: Adobe, Flash Lite, events, eyeclipse

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