Contextual Applications for a Rich User Experience

Today, user expectations regarding interactive and engaging experience have increased as new devices take rich internet applications to a whole new level. The emergence of social networking and platform as a service (PaaS) has triggered the growth of applications at augmented rates. As a result, new grounds for innovation have formed revolutionizing the way applications are created, delivered and being used.

What are Contextual Applications?

Developers have begun spinning new applications leveraging RIA technologies that are accessible across various devices, broad range of services, and social networks. These applications are present on more places and across various devices offering a unified experience. They have unique capabilities that modify according to the application environment. As these applications are used in different contexts and offer an enhanced user experience, they are known as ‘Contextual Applications’.

What are the benefits?

• Contextual applications offer unified experience across multiple devices making it easy and convenient for users to access information.
• Businesses can use contextual applications to transform the way they communicate and engage their customers and interact with their partners.
• Contextual applications allow businesses to take advantage of existing support programs, business partners, and user communities within a different environment such as mobile or desktop.
• As contextual applications deliver customized user experience specifically modified for the system on which they are delivered, it is easier for users to switch devices.

The Adobe Flash Platform provides the base on which engaging and interactive web applications, content, and video are delivered. It is the ground technology for the development of contextual applications. Adobe Flash has open-source Flex framework that makes it possible to have unified user experience across multiple devices.

To know more about Contextual Applications, click here.

Next Step: Softweb Solutions is a safe bet when it comes to developing customized rich internet applications. Our developers are proficient in using the Adobe Flash platform for the development of interactive applications. Visit our website for more information on Rich Internet Applications with Adobe Flex/Flash.

Adobe Confident on Smartphone’s Flash Adoption

With the recent roll out of Flash Player 10.1, Adobe is surefooted that the platform will receive a warm welcome from the Smartphone market. According to the company, it anticipates the solution to be adopted by over 250 million smartphones by the end of 2012. It also expects the Flash Player to be supported by over 53 percent of the smartphones shipped during 2012 with total shipments to reach 300 million.

Flash has released software for mobile phones earlier based on a modified version. However, the new generation smartphone devices need robust support, which Adobe claims to offer through Flash 10.1. If the latest version works out well, the adoption should broaden on a larger scale on smartphones except idevices.

According to the Director of technology strategy at Adobe, they may not be able to tap the iPhone or iPad market but they are seeing continued growth in the usage of Flash on other devices. Adobe demonstrated confidence on Flash 10.1 despite Apple raising an eyebrow over its capabilities.

Google Android platform is the first mobile operating system that has offered support to the latest Flash Player 10.1. Google revealed in an announcement that the technology will be incorporated in the recently launched Android 2.2 Froyo OS. Android is the first step for Adobe with more Flash support from other operating systems soon to follow. Adobe’s Director stated that devices including Palm, RIM’s Blackberry, Nokia’s Symbian and Microsoft Windows Phone 7 will all support Flash. In 2010, the company expects Flash to capture 10 percent of the total 200 million smartphone market.

Softweb Solutions is a reputed Rich Internet Application Development company having capable resources with a strong understanding of clients’ requirements and technologies. We have several years of experience in implementing Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) for clients in various industries. We develop desktop as well as web applications based on Adobe Platform. We can provide customized solutions based on Adobe technology for your business requirements. Visit our website to know more about Rich Internet Application Development Services.

Flash Builder 4: The Next Step in Rich Internet Application Development

Flash Builder 4, a huge leap forward for Adobe, folds in a sizeable improvement over its earlier version Flex Builder 3. Enabled with powerful new features, it allows developers and designers rapidly build Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) and content. Flash Builder 4 achieves this through speedy data delivery for Flex applications and improved testing and workflow for Flash and AIR. We’ve listed down the key improvements in the new version:

Data Management – The latest version has excellent client-side data management and paging features, which increases the efficiency of handling large data set. The two way binding simplifies database updates without the need for extra coding. In addition, Flash Builder 4 offers wizard-driven code generation helping developers minimize errors and enhance code quality.

New Components – Flash Builder 4 incorporates a new component and skinning architecture termed as Spark. The new component expands CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and enhances the runtime User Interface presentation flexibility. Moreover, Adobe Flash Catalyst is a tool that makes it easier for designers to develop RIA user interfaces built on Flex. By simplifying the workflow, the tool increases collaboration between designers and developers.

New Features for Testing – Two new features for testing have been added in Flash Builder 4 including network monitor and Flex Unit support. The network monitor helps developers see the network traffic between Flash client and the backend server in the Flash Builder 4. This helps in easily debugging the data access portions of the Flex application and identifies performance issues. Unit testing with inbuilt Flex Unit support allows test setup, test file creation, test running and test result analysis.

Detailed explanation of other important features can be found on Adobe website.

Flash Builder has all the support needed for the Flex 4 SDK languages such as MXML and ActionScript, component library, compiler, and debugger. Furthermore, it supports PHP, BlazeDS, ColdFusion, ASP.Net, J2EE, and other technologies for streaming data.

Softweb Solutions has a team of expert application developers ready to address your specific requirements using latest Adobe technologies. Visit our website for more details or hire RIA Experts.

Why Flash won’t leave the ring anytime soon

Steve Job’s open letter has sparked heated debates on the sustainability of Adobe Flash as a widely used plugin and its comparison with HTML5. With Microsoft promising future support for HTML5 in IE9, the flurry of conversation around the topic has further intensified. However, the idea of removing Flash currently from the web is outright ridiculous if you look at it from a macro perspective. Here are some facts that cement Flash’s current position on the web:

• Flash isn’t the only plugin out there. When HTML5 is compared with Flash, it also raises questions on the sustainability of other plugins such as Java and Microsoft Silverlight. Many of the issues that affect Flash also affect each one of these other plugins.

• HTML5 will take a long time to evolve. The structure of HTML5 is large and complex with numerous people working for the development. The people currently working on the specifications including Ian Hickson of Google and David Hyatt of Apple have stated that it will take around 18 years for the HTML5 project to complete. The good news is that users won’t have to wait for so long to work on HTML5. Companies like YouTube and Vimeo have already introduced the video element in HTML5 and others are following the suit.

• However, Advanced features only available with Flash and other plugins. Some features are only available as a part of Adobe Flash, Silverlight or Java. This includes the use of Flash in Google maps and in Gmail including many flash games on the web. Flash is hard to displace from portals like Pogo or game apps on Facebook and MySpace.

• The deployed infrastructure. Looking at Adobe from a rationalistic perspective, the infrastructure that supports it is hard to displace. Large number of tools, ad engines, business processes, infrastructure and platforms support flash enabled advertising. A shift to an alternative would take monumental efforts considering the large scale systems that are operationally functional.

• Flash has a long proof record of being a light, fast and secure platform which explains why the plugin has established itself on 98% of the PCs. It has succeeded while other approaches including client-side Java, ActiveX, WPF, etc have choked.

• Adobe is familiar with its current position and trying hard to move ahead. The firm very well knows its position in the marketplace and is undertaking various initiatives such as Flash 10.1 that allows Mobile CPUs conserve battery life and improve development process and security. Adobe’s future will depend on how well it executes these changes to stay in the race.

Neither of the plugins nor HTML5 holds a threat to Flash in the near future. If Adobe is successful in creating a quality user experience in the next couple of years, it might as well stay. What do you think? Will Adobe be able to match the pace of technology changes or will it be dethroned? Please post your opinions in the comments section below.

Softweb Solutions Announces Partnership with Microsoft Silverlight

Softweb Solutions, a custom software development company, is pleased to announce its recent acceptance as a Microsoft Silverlight Partner. Microsoft Silverlight, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in, allows users to develop web based Rich Internet Applications.

Becoming a Microsoft Silverlight Partner requires organizations to demonstrate their capabilities to use Silverlight technology to meet customer requirements. In addition, partners must demonstrate that they have exceptional skill-level with the Silverlight application development.

Recently, we developed a Calendar application that uses a service layer built on Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Service. Silverlight 4 has customizable controls that asynchronously load content on demand and use multimedia features. The users are no longer required to wait for the page to refresh while shifting to different view or changing details or demanding more data. The application has live filters that enhance enterprise search. Moreover, it uses Microsoft ASP.NET role based security to authenticate users. It uses animations and graphical content to establish a rich and interactive interface.

When Silverlight 3 released, we began replacing previously hosted widgets on Adobe Flash with the Silverlight controls. We have started updating controls such as navigation, advertising, file uploading, data analysis and charting, multimedia content explorer, video streaming, etc for months now. With the introduction of Silverlight 4, our confidence in Silverlight as a growing plug-in has cemented further. Our confidence is rooted in the core belief that ASP.NET and the Silverlight controls are better compatible with the Web application than their Flash counterparts in various cases.

Softweb Solutions is an IT consulting company that develops Rich Internet Applications harnessing latest Microsoft technologies. If you have any question regarding Siverlight 4.0 or want to share any information on the performance, please post your views in the comments section below.