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Emulate touch events to use with AIR 2.0 applications

As already known, AIR 2.0 that is currently in beta stage, is packed with new features, and one of this features is multi-touch events support. If you have multi-touch device and Windows 7, testing is pretty straightforward. What if you have no plans to put bucks into new multi-touch monitor and Windows 7 ?

Fortunately, for those guys like me still using Windows XP, touch emulator is released to beta. It's called SimTouch and can be tested within minutes. You'll ned just download SWC file and AIR application, then use SWC in your own Flex application. SimTouch AIR application is in fact a transparent window that is placed over your Flex application and translates mouse click events into XML that is consumed by your Flex application and translated into multi-touch event. SimTouch AIR application require AIR runtime 2.0 and should be installed and launched prior to building your Flex application.

Still SimTouch in beta, not supporting all touch events in AIR 2.0, but it definitely worth trying and watch future development.

Palm Pre got even prettier

We are looking closer to WebOS platform, as Flash player 10.1 coming to WebOS this February. Device itself is getting even better. With twice memory, new modification, Pre Plus got extra features like innovative 3G-WiFi bridge. Hope to post couple of articles about programming for Palm Pre soon.

Best mobile device for Flash developers ?

As long Palm junkie I noticed Palm Treo 500 being selled in local electronics outlet for a tasty $150 (no contract). This model once selled for $600. A smartphone with Windows Mobile 6, this handy 'full' keyboard and bright screen costs less than middle-class Nokia ! I believe that Palm (doing not so well as Apple) setting low price tags that is obviously good for consumers. And opposite, Apple can place any price tag they want on their shiny pieces of metal.

Honestly, Treo 500 - is outdated model, but with rather fast processor (about 400MHz). Newest Palm phones are coming with even faster processor (~600МГц), that (as written on interwebs), almost 3 times faster than on first iPhones. Only latest greatest iPhone 3Gs works on same processor that Palm Pre has. In same time iPhone 3Gs costs 2 times higher than Palm Pre (both with no contract).

With iPhone's inability to run Flash apps, for me-the-Flex-developer, iPhone's as good for me as a brick. On the other hand, Palm Pre and its webOS will be first ones who run Flash Player 10.1 in 2009. All these thoughts lead me to conclusion that newest Palms are best mobile development platform for Flash applications (however I must admit: I'm long-time Palm fanatic.)

Suddenly...

...Adobe released Coldfusion 9. It's been done earlier than expected (some say it won't be around until 2010). I'd like to thank you CF development team for this awaited release and congratulate all CFML developers with new release of our beloved Coldfusion.

Handy AutoComplete component

There's no native AutoComplete component in Flex SDK - a text field with shady hint inside, with suggestions popup appearing on first keystrokes. Per click, full list of suggestions could be popped.

Happily there are many solutions, for example classic AutoComplete component, it's enhanced version, and even more sophisticated components. It's not too much of effort to create such component, but it will be nice to have such component built into Flex SDK.