2 years ago
I recently upgraded to a new machine and Flash Player 10. Accordingly, I had to install a new debug Flash Player and setup my Flash log again. I figured I'd share the well-known setup, for posterity. As with most things on this blog, these instructions are for meant for those using OS X.
First, grab the Flash Player 10 debugger on the Adobe website and install.
Second, create a file named mm.cfg in this location:
/Library/Application Support/Macromedia/mm.cfg
In the file, add the following three lines:
ErrorReportingEnable=1
TraceOutputFileEnable=1
MaxWarnings=0
The first two should be self-explanatory, however the final line just allows more than the default 100 errors and messages to be logged.
Next time Flash fires a trace function, a file named flashlog.txt should be automatically created and begin logging output from Flash. Previous to Flash Player 9, you could specify the location of the log with TraceOutPutFileName. However, now it's created in an unchangeable location:
~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/Logs/flashlog.txt
Of course, if you're working within Flash, you can view these messages in the Output window. However, when previewing Flash in a browser or the standalone Flash Player, the Output window is not available.
You have a few options for viewing the contents flashlog.txt. Usually, I go with Console. However, if you want to follow real-time, you can fire up Terminal and use tail:
tail -f ~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash\ Player/Logs/flashlog.txt
Note: flashlog.txt is overwritten by each Flash movie, so it's contents will be cleared out each time you load up a SWF.
2 years ago
Back in July, Steven Frank made a great case for stepping up our collective FTP game. I'd suggest reading over it and then at least making a mental note to use SFTP. I still use FTP on a daily basis. While it's simple enough to switch to SFTP, I'm just being lazy. Looks like this will be my first New Year's resolution for 2009.
2 years ago
A while back, I stumbled across the Yahoo! Design Pattern Library. In the world of usability and interaction, a pattern is defined as:
[An] optimal solution to a common problem within a specific context.
Yahoo! has essentially released internal design patterns, compiled from their own usability testing. The library covers many areas, including interaction, navigation and search. While Yahoo! doesn't represent the epitome of usability, the collection is worth checking out to inform your own design and organizational decisions. Basically, if you get stuck or wonder if there's a standard methodology you're missing, use it as a fallback.
Additionally, Yahoo! released a stencil kit for quickly mocking up interfaces. If you're building services for Yahoo!, it's invaluable. However, most of us aren't. At best, a developer could slap together an interface to better communicate an idea.
2 years ago
This summer, I noticed XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) started receiving attention for its experimental use outside of Jabber.
The article that tipped me off was Beyond REST: Building Data Services with XMPP PubSub over on Anarchogeek. They basically proposed hacking XMPP into handling data services, as an alternative to constantly polling feeds. It's a great idea, because XMPP can handle events. As they stated, instead of a constant stream of "are we there yet," you can basically just say "let me know when we're there."
Since then, I've noticed momentum building up around the idea. xmpphp and sleekxmpp popped up on Google Code. Better yet, Gnip actually put the idea to use, by offering a 3rd party service built around XMPP.
Needless to say, I think we're going to see this or something like this gain a lot of ground in the near future (at least for high-traffic web services). It just makes more sense than constantly polling a feed.
2 years ago
Microformats have attracted a lot of sporadic attention over the past couple years, but nothing substantial has really materialized (as far as I've noticed).
I recently found a nice Microformats Bookmarklet as well as the Tails and Operator plugins for Firefox. The bookmarklet has been around since 2006, but the Firefox plugins were just released this summer. Finally, it seems people are using the parsers to create something that actually gives this data format some life.
Firefox 3.0 includes a Microformats API (but no GUI). IE 8 is rumored to have also added support for the format. So, it seems if usage increases, we might start to see Microformats actually catch on this time. It would provide a way to easily extract contacts, locations and events from web pages.
2 years ago
Jack Shedd referenced an Adaptive Path report, How ROI Changes User Experience, in a recent post. The gist of the report is that valuing user experience will make it more credible in the world of business. Previously, the report would have set you back $395, but the report is now free to download (PDF, 412kb). It's basically making a case for investment into user experience.
While not necessarily a thrilling read, but you could at least muddle through and extract a few talking points to pitch your next client. Though, it doesn't have to be the rocket science business-speak that they dish out either. It's can be as simple as better design and user experience will lead to higher returns. However, if you do work in a corporate environment, quoting it verbatim might be the better way to go.
Food For Thought #2
2 years ago
Any time you make a connection between two or more axes that hadn't occurred to you 10 minutes ago, yes, you've done something creative. Seriously. This does not require your wearing a beret.
2 years ago
Recently, the world's four largest music companies (EMI Music, SONY BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group) partnered with SanDisk to create slotMusic, a new format for music delivery. slotMusic cards are essentially microSD cards loaded with 320kbps, DRM-free MP3s. In addition, the card may be loaded with "liner notes, album art, videos and other creative content that an artist may choose."
According to the press release:
It's the first time the major labels and retailers have unanimously embraced a new physical format in over 25 years. slotMusic makes today's hottest music available on interoperable microSD cards that let fans instantly plug and play albums into their microSD slot-enabled mobile phones, portable media players, computers, and an increasing number of car stereos.
As a person who primarily creates work for the web, this format is mildy appealing. Moreover, from a standpoint of conservation it seems this format would reduce the waste created from standard CD jewel cases and digipaks. However, the real test will be whether or not consumers feel a tiny microSD card feels worth the "suggested retail price of $14.99." Seeing as we'll already pay $9.99 for an album of 256kpbs variable-rate MP3s from Amazon, I'd say yes. Then again, do we really want a music collection consisting of hundreds of microSD cards?
Nevertheless, it's a interesting development in the music industry and I'm going to follow it with, admittedly, a little cynicism. You can find more details about slotMusic on its marketing site and the SanDisk sansa site.
As a side note: considering the money they probably paid for the marketing site, you'd think whomever built it would've sided against the component Flash video player. Weak!
2 years ago
I mentioned it over on Flash Charlotte and I might as well mention it here: the official release of Flash Player 10 is now available. Update your engines!
2 years ago
For some time now, I've been discouraged by the lack of a music scene in Charlotte. While we have great venues and fairly steady stream of good shows, a sizeable audience never seems to materialize. If no one goes to the shows, then the bands don't come back—it's that simple.
With that in mind, I'm happy to announce the launch of Her Majesty of Sound. Currently, the site is a basic concert calendar, highlighting the best upcoming shows in the Charlotte area. Obviously, there are a lot more shows scheduled in the area, but the intention is more about quality than quantity. Of course, my criteria is purely subjective, but there is an effort being made to provide a diverse listing.
Following the tenets of Getting Real, I took the quickest, easiest path to getting the idea up and running. Rest assured, I'll be regularly rolling out updates. For now, go check out the impressive lineup of shows Charlotte will host in October and November.
0 comments
