Video Demo: Control a papervision3D sphere with a litl remote
After doing our first 2 live video workshops recently, some folks were asking about PaperVision3D and general 3D performance on litl. We grabbed a simple sphere rolling demo and wrapped it in a litl channel. The result is a simple, but insanely fun example of controlling a 3D object in Flash within a litl channel. This is also a great demo of the litl platform channel on a TV via HDMI:
Using the current webbook remote, the litl OS events WheelNext and WheelPrevious make the ball roll right and left respectfully. If you’ve never controlled 3D Flash content with something other than a keyboard and mouse, this should excite you even more! We think this is a very capable foundation for building games and 3D experiences on the current device and platform. However, once accelerometer is added via our new remote paired with our upcoming TV companion device, you’ll be able to control 3D and other object movements all over the screen.
For now, we’ve got a pretty cool foundation for 3D gaming and you’ll find the sample code, available in the Sample Channels section on developer.litl.com, impressively simple. Lastly, one of the reasons this is all so easy is due to the great work of the Papervision3D team and John Lindquist, whose rolling a sphere example led us to such a simple example.
Flash channel ecosystem taking shape this summer with litl SDK
Lots of exciting things coming together with the litl OS and SDK. The team has been growing as well as the developer community. A new batch of litl webbooks shipped and many went to developers eager to build Flash channels for the OS. We have a very busy summer planned and we are on schedule for several key evolutions that will turn our platform into the great opportunity for the Flash community we envisioned.
Channel Submission Guidelines
We are close to publishing a checklist of guidelines, both required and suggested items, that developers will need to build their channels by. Like most ‘app store’ platforms, litl recognizes that those who buy our devices are especially buying into a level of simple computing. Guidelines will exist to help developers craft their channels to the standards that we feel our users expect. Another goal in publishing these guidelines will be to attain a level of transparency with our developers so they know what we are looking for in a channel and what requirements to follow that will ensure a smooth submission and review process.
Accepting Channel Submissions
Of course, in order to distribute developer channels to our users, we are implementing a smooth and equally transparent submission and review flow. Developers will submit their packaged Flash channels via a streamlined form. Once submitted, developers can check status of their submission and receive reviewer notes if their channel is flagged for any reason. Once published in the channel store, the submission portal will act as a tracking and reporting tool for developers.
Flash Player 10.1
Although we’ve been preparing for integration since the spring, only recently has Adobe finalized Flash Player 10.1. Our team now is working to apply our custom and enhanced build template to the latest bits for Flash Player. At the center of our integration is video hardware support. We’re also working to fix webcam and microphone access issues that have surfaced with our present/temporary use of Flash Player 10. This team is researching features that will further optimize viewing Flash content on TV, to support the existing HDMI feature on the webbook and our future device, the web-connected TV box.
Launching the Channel Store
At first, developers will be able to submit and distribute free Flash channels. I believe this will create a good foundation of content and establish our ecosystem based on notable and commissioned-channel projects (where Flash developers are hired to build out channels). Certainly, there will be developers looking to establish themselves in the OS. We also have several content partners looking to get their premiere brands on the OS as channels.
A merchant system has been designed, reflective of litl’s simple computing brand, to accept payment from users towards downloading/purchasing channels. We are now architecting this system and a few week’s prior to its launch, we will start accepting paid channel submissions. At this point, we will have further established a very real opportunity for Flash developers to distribute channels to users and actually receive revenue from the sale of their interactive content.
Adding new APIs to SDK
Another piece of the puzzle we are assembling this summer is the advancement of our SDK. As we introduced at Flash And The City, our forthcoming web-connected TV device will add accelerometer, touch and video functionality to the OS. Our SDK team is working on the fun, but complex task of adding these APIs to the SDK code and OS. In conjunction with the opening of the channel store, the new APIs will be key to allow maximum appeal and distribution potential for the channels you develop.
Get Started
Head over to developer.litl.com now and get started with the SDK. Now is the time to learn our simple code and get familiar with the channel development process. As the above pieces come into place, you can be among the first to launch a Flash-based channel and distribute it to our users! We look forward to realizing the potential of this exciting ecosystem.
litl SDK Available, Developers get webbook for $199
At FlashAndTheCity, we officially launched our Developer Center at http://developer.litl.com. You can now sign up for the SDK, which is in private beta. To date, we’ve approved 75% of developer signups based on Flash experience, and more importantly, ideas for channels developers want to build. The latter is important to ensure we dedicate support early on to those developers most interested in building compelling channels for our users.
We have decided that while coding with the AIR-based Simulator included with the SDK package is sufficient, having a webbook to test and play with is much more fun. Upon signing up for the SDK, developers can get a litl webbook (plus FREE remote) for a subsidized/discounted price of $199.
Visit http://developer.litl.com to sign up, learn more, get your discounted webbook and start building fun channels for our users.
Send questions for FATC session panel: Devices with Flash
TODAY, Saturday, May 15 at Flash And The City:
At 3:00 EST I’ll be moderating a panel with Elad Elrom, Lee Brimelow, Scott Janousek and Thomas Joos.
The topic is Devices with Flash and we will be discussing the future of Flash across devices.
It is an interactive panel and I invite you to submit questions that I will field to the amazing panel.
You can submit questions 2 ways:
1. Post a comment to this blog.
2. Tweet your question with the hashtag: #FATCm
I look forward to seeing your questions and, if compelling, fielding them to our panel.
Litl to Launch Flash-Based Web-Connected TV Product
I am more than thrilled to relay the announcement, made public today, that we are working on another device for the litl OS. Per the press release, I can say that we will have a Flash-Based “Web-Connected TV” device on the market, running litl OS as well as ALL channels built with our new SDK.
As I am finalizing my FlashAndTheCity keynote presentation now, I am working with some exciting photos and images of the new device. This means that the SOLD OUT FlashAndTheCity keynote audience will be the very first to see what we have in ’store’ for the Flash community.
In the coming months, our SDK will be expanded to include “accelerometer movement, video chat, trackpad gestures, and microphone input” that will allow open development of “gaming, communication, entertainment and other experiences”.
There are too many ideas and details to share right now, and I am respectfully saving a lot to reveal at FlashAndTheCity. We’ve got a very exciting week and weekend ahead in New York City. Join us over at http://developer.litl.com to download the SDK and get the latest information on building for BOTH our devices!
You’ll hear me say this many times going forward, but: “We believe that our platform’s use of Flash will be the best and easiest way for developers to deliver great content and applications to the TV!”.
HTC Incredible Android in hand
I am very excited to finally be an Android user. This is my first non-Windows Mobile phone since 2005. That’s right, between the Samsung i730, MotoQ and Samsung Omnia, I’ve been relying on Windows as my mobile OS for 6 years.
The lack of available apps has left me frustrated and the performance, touch and app start up is sluggish and pales in comparison to newer phones. My wife got the Moto Droid back in December and loves it. I’ve never had any desire to switch away from Verizon or, if you can believe it, get an iPhone. Android seems like a great operating system, and this new device, with 8mp camera and out-of-the-box tethering ability (there is a literally a card in the box reminding you of this feature) seems to fit my needs so well right now.
I’ll try and post a detailed review once I actually use this phone. If you’ve been using Android, any suggestions on which apps I should install?
And of course, I can’t wait for Flash Player 10.1 and AIR betas to enjoy on this puppy!
FITC Toronto 2010 Scouting Report
This year I am unfortunately missing my first FITC in 3 years. This a great conference and for the 1000+ that are going, and the few that remain on the fence, I offer this scouting report. If I were going, here are the sessions (based solely on topic & description) I’d be most interested to attend.
Day 1
Back to the Future, Hacking SWF, Touch Me Baby
Day 2
Large, Physical, Flash, Storytelling: Absorbed, Obsessed And Immersed, Merging Motion: Working between Flash and After Effects, You Talkin’ To Me?
Day 3
Future Stories: New Tools for New Screens, The Cool Shit Hour, From Flash to Unity (and back)
If you are fortunate to go please comment back here, or post on your own, some details about these and other sessions you found interesting.
Flash Player 10.1 coming to litl with new SDK
Today, we are launching developer.litl.com and making some major and exciting Flash announcements:
1. litl will have 10.1 Flash Player
We will soon be shipping and instantly updating existing litls with Flash Player 10.1. This will add the latest hardware-accelerated Flash Player from Adobe to our device, supporting an enhanced viewing of HD video and other Flash content. The 10.1 player will be added to our browser allowing the continued and seamless web experience litl users already enjoy.
Additionally, 10.1 will become the foundation for our public SDK.
2. litl will have an SDK
Flash developers can take existing content or build new content specifically for litl users: families and those looking for a more simple computing experience with our litl webbook and custom litl OS. We call them channels, and this is the form of application our users can download from our dynamic channel catalog. Eventually becoming a store, this channel catalog will bring a much needed and very true ecosystem to the Flash developer community.
While developers’ existing content is fully supported in our browser, adding our SDK to Flash applications will allow developers to create channels and hook into the special controls and ‘views’ the litl webbook features. In addition to a laptop mode, the litl flips over itself into ‘easel’ mode, where a unique experience is controlled with a scrollwheel and button found on the device hinge. These controls are replicated with our remote. Essentially, building Flash apps, with Flash or Flex, will let developers ‘target’ our device and offer there content ultimately, for free or fee, through our store to our litl device owners and users.
The SDK will ship with a Simulator so that those without a litl in hand can develop and test their apps. Also included with the SDK are asdocs, guides, tutorials, a custom UI control set (for both Flash and Flex),and sample channels to help developers kick start their channel project.
3. litl will be launching our SDK at Flash And The City, as a major sponsor of the event
While we may make our SDK available for private beta, the public release will be at Flash And The City on May 14 (the event runs May 13-16 in New York City). We will be on hand to demo the device and SDK, as well as showcase some initial channels built with the SDK and running on 10.1. Again, with our Simulator, developers don’t need a litl to get started, so all will have a chance to get in early on the opportunity to get their content out to litl users. Those in attendance at Flash And The City will get a first hand look and we are working on ways to give away our device to a select few!
Flash apps for the kitchen on litl
On behalf of litl, I would like to welcome Flash Player to the kitchen. Here, the world’s most ubiquitous interactive media platform, Flash, will deliver fun and informational widgets, applications and experiences to guide all of us to cooking and enjoying a slightly more technically-infused experience. There is a really cool collaboration at play here: The versatility of the litl device, specifically its ability to display interactive content with minimal control, combined with an SDK extending that device’s controls against the open and vibrant canvas of Flash Player.
New in the litl app catalog this week is our Bakespace channel. Tapping into Bakespace.com’s prolific collection of community-submitted recipes, users can view featured recipes as well as login and view dishes to cook from their own recipe box. Recipes can be added from both litl’s laptop and easel mode. However, it’s in easel mode where the chef can set litl on the kitchen counter and scroll through ingredients and instructions.
We are working on the SDK that will allow existing and new Flash developers, designers and artists to build similar experiences and ultimately deploy/sell them to litl users via our app catalog. The device currently runs both Flash Player 10 (in browser) and Flash Lite (as our standalone channel engine). The SDK is being written for an optimized Flash Player 10.1 version only. More news on our SDK and channel ecosystem will be released in the coming months.
Lots of personal and technical wins in 2009
It’s Sunday morning, January 3, and I’m on a natural sugar high after drinking a cup of Cran-Peach juice from Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray. I wanted to be in the most positive frame of mind (not easy when my Celtics lose 3 in-a-row to end the year / but easier when you wake up to relaxing snow powder wrapped around your house and trees like Mother nature’s cold, yet warm blanket). So here is a recap of my personal and technical wins of 2009, in chronological order…
1. WIN > Successfully and safely relocated my family from the West to East coast.
After just over 3 years in CA, we moved back to and settled in MA. The combination of family, friends and affordability were leading factors. Since both my wife and I grew up in MA, our childhood memories were so engrained that it became too challenging to see us raising our family without the key elements back here we were so fond of. After one year, we are totally settled in our home and are very happy with the decision.
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