Thoughts on Steve Jobs

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 05 May 2010 09:45

Just to use Tip-Tap as an example.

If you developed this as a real iPhone app, you wouldn't need to have an input box for the tax rate. The iPhone can tell *where it is*, and then look up the appropriate tax rate for that location. This feature won't work cross platform, not all phones have GPS, and not all diners are in areas with cellular towers.

Further more, the a real iPhone app could be take advantage of the camera to keep a digital copy of the receipt for the user in an on phone database.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 05 May 2010 14:05

Correct! Had I chosen to use Xcode I could have added those features sans the Gps and camera for ipad. So I would need to write 3 apps.

1 Xcode or obj c for iPhone
2 same minus features for ipad
3 flash for the rest of the browsing world

You know why I can't do that. Given Apples reversal of their current stance, I could simply write it once in Flash, use Javascript to determine the client/device and show/hide features accordingly.

Btw- droid can already do this. I simply like the iPhone interface better.
Edit: you can use the Html5 database for on phone storage. Tip tap already does this. You only need Xcode for accessing the phones features. But since Xcode is banned, .... Time to learn Obj C.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 05 May 2010 14:24

I don't mind learning Obj C. I agree with dev arguments that point to Nes vs. Xbox vs. PS3, etc.

What bugs me is that I can't easily port across ALL platforms. All are easy except for iPhone.

Check out: http://www.thefwa.com/url2/

You cannot remake that in Html5 and also get it to
load as fast or make as few server calls! If you have seen anything this complex, by all means send me a link.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 06 May 2010 09:13

Here is an app I made a while back that shows how to make an app using HTML, CSS and Javascript.

http://www.blurryworld.com/iphone/amp-standup-1-20-10/

And here is an app sample that came out of the app above that demonstates a few more animations, database, and local storage usage.

http://www.blurryworld.com/iphone/sample-05/#home

These are both considered HTML 5 apps, but are by no means Obj C, or represent Obj C in any way.

~peace

Fade2black · Post by **Fade2black** » 06 May 2010 22:00

super jester to other super jester trumps your argument every time FlexThis

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 07 May 2010 10:33

http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/cgi-bin/drupal/

This is the Spring 2010 course for iPhone developers at Standford University.

http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/cg ... 010-winter

This is the Winter 2010 course for iPhone developers at Standford University.

Wow this looks so easy

You're my hero Steve Jobs! I can't wait to dive right in and learn how to manage my own memory (I love garbage collection) so my iPhone doesn't just turn off from bad memory management!!!

Yes I am being sarcastic. You don't have memory management issues in Flash CS5. In fact anything off stage and/or not currently on screen animating is cut from memory in the new CS5. Which means no more CPU spikes from Flash ads running in hidden tabs. It is no coincidence that iPad came out before the CS5 release. Steve had to head off the competition before early adoption of Flash CS5 left him with nothing to complain about. The fact is - CS5 has cleared up Mr. Jobs concerns with Flash and CPU usage.

Now if Apple would make an iPhone App builder that was as easy to use as Flash. He might have a convert. Until then, I am off to live like a Stanford Wannabe. See ya next year sometime.

~peace

Dale - If only it were that easy!

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 07 May 2010 12:30

For you haters out there:

http://vimeo.com/9596010

What's that you say? Flash? On a Phone? No F____ing Way?

Post by **Allan** » 11 May 2010 00:45

http://css-tricks.com/examples/Circulate/

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 08:33

hahahahaha

Y-Slow:
The page has a total of 12 components and a total weight of 213.9K bytes

YIKES!!! Just for some circles? I'll post a link once our current site redesign is complete. It has a Flash piece on the homepage for comparison.

It's all good - I am doing just fine building in Obj C. And funny enough the interface builder looks a lot like .Net and Flash anyways, so to me it is just another set of tools and syntax.

If I have the time I'd like to build the same class based mobile game in Flash and Obj C and see which one is more responsive. I have a feeling the Native App will win out, but so far I haven't seen enough Obj C to know if it can pull off what I need to mimic Flash. I'm sure it can though. The Flash version has already been prototyped and runs just fine. Should be fun!

EDIT: That J-Query is making my machine fans cut on. LOL... Stay tuned...

~peace

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 09:45

http://www.blurryworld.com/iphone/circu ... ulate.html

Y-Slow:
The page has a total of 3 components and a total weight of 112.0K bytes

Same look and feel without all the overhead. I put this up quickly to show how fast a flash file can be built and deployed. I purposely omitted the Crazy text to save time (although it isn't that difficult). The frame rate is also choppy, but could have easily been adjusted to something more processor intensive like your JS example.

EDIT: I also ignored the click-able circles up top. Probably should have animated a few for laughs though.

~peace

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 11 May 2010 12:15

more than double the kb per component

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 12:19

I am going to see if I can get it even smaller and add in the circle animations.

We'll see what that buys us!

~peace

EDIT: with circle clicks added

Y-Slow
The page has a total of 3 components and a total weight of 99.5K bytes

I'd say it is getting smaller - Yeah?

Now to recreate the bubbles as vectors to get it even smaller.

...stay tuned...

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 12:58

Converting the spheres to Vector has produced the following:

Y-Slow
The page has a total of 3 components and a total weight of 79.7K bytes

Geee - Is it me or is this Flash thing shrinking?

Should I convert the unicorn too? So far it is the only PNG left.

Note: Granted this is not the smoothest Flash piece I have ever made, but it does prove my point(s) with regards to a flash replacement. In terms of real world dollars, Flash saves bandwidth and server calls which n turns translates to less server stress and less overall machines serving code. Web properties at my employment can serve millions of end users a month. The faster we can provide content the better!

~peace

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 13:41

FINAL Revision: Now with Crazy text
http://www.blurryworld.com/iphone/circu ... ulate.html

Y-Slow
The page has a total of 3 components and a total weight of 76.6K bytes

Quite a difference from the CSS example. All PNGs have been removed and everything is now vector. While the animations are not randomly generated (more coding), I think I still should get credit for being able to show an actual example where Flash trumps CSS.

Thanks,

EDIT: At this point I can start adding features that normally would get cut because the bandwidth is too high. Hint. There is an Easter Egg in this example.

Also I have reduced overall bandwidth by 2.78 times and server calls by 3/4.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 14:32

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/11/cnet ... l?hpt=Sbin

Post by **Allan** » 11 May 2010 15:41

Good work. I'd still prefer to develop on top of the CSS version, as I'd not need an IDE to hack/improve the code.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 11 May 2010 17:44

I agree

Post by **Allan** » 11 May 2010 21:52

I guess the other part of the Flash workflow that bugs me is the need to compile into a binary; doesn't that make version control a bit of a nightare?

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 12 May 2010 06:15

Most of the flash work I have seen and/or participated in, has never been source controlled. It usually exists as someones master file on their local machine. This makes it difficult to update in a timely fashion unless you are the owner. I am usually the owner of my flash code. I keep timestamped versions and document added features and often rollback when code bugs out. And it does bug out easily.

There is also the need to maintain non flash code. Flash also has permissions issues that have to be set locally. Cross domain work is a pain. Data import is best done via web services. Compiling code takes a keyboard command and the file can be deployed to the server instantly.

AS 3.0 allows for class files that can be written in notepad and source controlled. However, compiling must still be done in Flash.

Ultimately, if all the browsers would play nice and implement the next standard without discrepencies, then I would not need Flash as often. I still believe some of the more powerful features of Flash cannot be dupped without some compiler like in the case for Java.

What I am finding with Obj C is that it is built similar to .Net and C#. you have a stage (view) a library of components and code behind (.h and .m) files. It all must be compiled and only built on a Mac. I have to pay $99/year just to see my apps on my phone. Otherwise, I can see them for free on the simulator. After having built a fully functioning calculator, I can say that the App building process feels more like building a Win Form in .Net.

I can find and implement everything quickly in Flash, I hope to be as proficient in App Builder as well.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 12 May 2010 18:04

When I compare the css page on my desktop pc to flash, the css version runs cleaner. The flash rate is only 12 fps which is why.

However, on my iPhone the css page is choppy and drops frames badly. The pngs also look gif images. I wonder if the ipad renders any better? Guessing the iPhone screen size is at issue.

Would be nice to compare flash on the iPhone as well to see if it renders as poorly. I'm betting worse.