'Net Features : flash

How Windows 8 will Impact Your Marketing Strategy

Administrator — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:15:00 GMT

By Jessica Davis, Godot Media

Windows 8 debuted in October last year. Following its launch and imminent adoption, marketers have started exploring ways to tweak their marketing strategies to leverage the new changes. Before we get into the implication of Windows 8 for search marketing, here’s a look at just how different a search system it provides.

#1 In place of the Start button, there is a side panel to navigate the OS

#2 Instead of static icons greeting you, now there is a Start screen that allows for custom content search

#3 The dramatic new shift to touch-screen is a highlight of Windows 8. The focus is on touch-based computing over the standard mouse clicks

Some points to ponder over

Consider #1 and #2 above – what does the innovative Windows 8 interface mean for marketers? Presently (and traditionally) you browse more than you search, e.g. most interfaces expect you to work your way through icons to locate what you’re looking for. Search is the next resort when you cannot find what you want after browsing. Windows 8 makes search the focal point, thrusting it in front of you. This is a good thing as it helps you find what you want more easily and quickly.

When search becomes the primary way to navigate, you have the opportunity to custom-create your messages targeting users’ intent and do it across different environments. The potential for this form of targeting on Windows 8 apps is huge, in the near future.

With reference to #3 – touch-friendliness is at the core of the Windows 8 experience. So, you may need to redirect your attention to touch-screen devices that consumers use to search for your products. The age of mobile computing is already upon us, and it is time to make your website and applications touch-compatible. This optimization will allow tablet and touch-screen smartphone users with Windows 8 to access your site and offerings online very easily. Also, if your present website has small links or nested drop-down menus, you may want to update your site for visitors’ benefit.

Flash is out, app store is in

There are two browser versions in Windows 8, one working pretty much like your standard browser with Flash and plug-in support, and a touch-based version that only supports Flash for Microsoft-whitelisted sites and does not allow plug-ins. So, if your site has animations and other Flash-based elements, it won’t work on the Windows 8 default browser. Again, you may want to re-think your marketing strategy around this change.

If you have invested in iOS and Android apps, it just may be the time to think about a Windows version, now that Windows 8 has an app store. The app store is concentrating on mobile, touch-based applications, meaning it may become equally important as its Android and Apple counterparts in the future.

Bing as Windows 8’s primary search app

Bing is the default search engine for Windows 8, though you have the option to download Google and other search apps from the Windows app store. With Bing occupying center stage, it is quite likely that it could emerge as a stronger contender to Google. Nokia is also planning to launch phones with Windows 8 as the OS – it may see a change in its fortunes. This will also change the way mobile marketing is viewed and performed.

The results page on Bing search app also has a much different layout compared to its web counterpart. It is obviously optimized for touch-screen users. These are the notable changes:

- The typical vertical view is replaced by a horizontal layout, making it easier for users to swipe across the screen for more results

- The sponsored ads are embedded within listings and not placed on top of the natural listings

- The ads have a green background color for instant identification\

The new positioning of sponsored ads may not catch user attention immediately, which is a perceived disadvantage of the new layout. You can look at it differently – as the horizontal layout allows users to see all listings side-by-side, they are more likely to click on links most relevant to their search. In a nutshell, the new positioning delivers a more efficient search experience to users. What you – as a marketer – can do is create more relevant ads that target user intent effectively, for best click-through results.

About the author

Jessica Davis is a senior content writer with Godot Media. She has years of experience in working closely with online businesses, helping them refine their marketing strategy through optimum use of content. She works closely with other blog content writers at Godot Media. Her other interests - besides online content strategy, Internet marketing and search engine optimization - are technology, sports and fashion.

Adobe on Mobile Flash: "No Mas"

Michael Garrity — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

It was a valiant fight, but the outcome was inevitable. Sometimes, you just have to put the gloves down and admit defeat.

This week, Adobe officially announced that it was going to cease the development of Flash for mobile browsers. This move definitively sends the future of mobile development and the creation and deployment of mobile content towards HTML5.

Of course, most people saw this coming. The bulky Flash Player system, which at its creation was designed for desktop computers, has struggled (to say the least) in its transition to mobile. Major mobile developers noted this and almost unanimously supported HTML5 development.

Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple were all rooting for HTML5, especially Apple. In fact, the late Steve Jobs refused to support Flash for the iOS version of Apple's Safari browser, saying that "Flash was designed for PCs using mice."

"HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively," says Danny Winokur, Adobe's Vice President and General Manager. "This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms."

He adds, "We are excited about this, and will continue to work with key players in the HTML community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, to drive HTML5 innovation they can use to advance their mobile browsers."

Following the upcoming update of mobile Flash with Flash Player 11.1, the software company will discontinue the development of the product.

Flash will always have a place, though. It will remain, indefinitely, a major part of the Web for PC users; in fact, the company is already working on Flash Player 12.

"These changes will allow us to increase investment in HTML5 and innovate with Flash where it can have the most impact for the industry, including advanced gaming and premium video," says Winokur.

Maybe it sounds a little bit (a lot) like a concession speech, but Adobe can still hang its head high-ish. The mobile Web is the next big transition for the Internet, and it is unavoidable that there will be some casualties. There is an important lesson to be learned here, both by Adobe and future mobile Web developers. By doubling down on PC development, Flash can maintain its widespread presence on the PC-based Web, which is still where the majority of users remain (for now).

Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5 Update

Pete Prestipino — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:30:00 GMT

Adobe delivered an whopper of an update today to Adobe® Flash® Builder® 4.5 and Flex 4.5 software which provides developers with a single platform (one platform, one framework, one codebase) to build smartphone and tablet applications.

Offered standalone or as part of Creative Suite® 5.5 Web Premium and Master Collection, Flash Builder 4.5 enables the creation of applications that work seamlessly across leading mobile device platforms.

“The reaction from developers to the new mobile capabilities in Flash Builder 4.5 and the Flex 4.5 framework has been absolutely fantastic,” said Ed Rowe, vice president of developer tooling, Adobe. “They are amazed by how easy it is to create great mobile apps for Android devices, BlackBerry PlayBook, iPhone and iPad. Companies can now effectively reach their customers no matter what type of device they have.”

Many applications built with Flash Builder and Flex have already been published to the Android Market, Apple App Store, and BlackBerry App World.

Talking Web Design with JB Kellogg

Mike Phillips — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:01:00 GMT

Web design is a field that is in a constant state of flux. Not only do aesthetics evolve and user preferences change, but these days design is inextricably linked to usability. With that in mind, we talk with JB Kellogg of MadWire Media about what's new in Web design.

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Adobe Flash Player 10.2 - Beta Available

Software Everywhere : feature — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:24:00 GMT

Adobe has announced that a beta release of Flash Player 10.2 for Windows, Mac, and Linux is now available for download. This beta version introduces several enhancements, namely Stage Video, a new API that delivers cross platform video playback. Stage...(read more)

Is Javascript Making A Comeback?

Administrator — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 18:15:00 GMT

For a long period of time, the enriched-web juggernaut known as Adobe Flash seemed like it would remain the unchallenged king of the proverbial mountain. With the introduction of libraries such as jQuery and MooTools, it seems JavaScript, a once-haggard, much-maligned competitor could be making a comeback in the face of insurmountable odds. So, what is it that has web developers flocking to JavaScript?

JavaScript has several key advantages over Flash that makes it a much more attractive option for developers. The largest determining factor in making the choice between JavaScript and Flash is easily the range of platforms which can display enriched content using one or the other. With the rise in popularity of smart phones and the paradigm shift to a focus on mobile web, delivering content to mobile users has become a priority for many web developers. There are almost no mobile devices which handle Flash well, if at all. Apple's iPhone, iPod, and iPad cannot display Flash content at all and Steve Jobs' highly-publicized comments about Flash suggest it may never be able to. Recent reviews of Flash's first appearances on Android paint a bleak picture of poorly-functioning Flash videos and unplayable Flash games. Neither Sony's PlayStation 3 nor PSP support Flash entirely. On the contrary, all of these platforms support JavaScript. Although JavaScript's ability to deliver enriched content to so many platforms is the most often cited and publicized advantage, JavaScript offers several other upsides in areas where Flash falls flat. Developing in Flash can get costly, Adobe's Flash software is not cheap and many independent developers and small-to-medium businesses simply cannot afford to purchase it or the developers. JavaScript offers further savings in the form of reduced bandwidth. Additionally, the concept of graceful degradation is alien to Flash developers. Either your program works or it doesn't. JavaScript offers options for a well-coded page to degrade gracefully. Flash also offers little in the way of options for interacting with search engines, while JavaScript plays very well with Google and its like. Lastly, the Flash learning curve is steep and can be quite daunting for newcomers to the realm of web development, but JavaScript libraries such as jQuery and MooTools can make learning JavaScript a much more pleasant experience. With so much going in favor of JavaScript, can we, like Steve Jobs, argue that Flash is dead? Not quite.

Flash still has several areas where it outshines and outperforms JavaScript by orders of magnitude. Flash is so feature-rich that it is hard to find anything that can compete with the dizzying number of features it can offer. Also, Flash handles three-dimensional graphics much better than JavaScript. To JavaScript's detriment, it offers its own set of problems, such as the innate ability in modern browsers to disable JavaScript support and the inability for developers to protect their source code.

About the Author: Peter Marino is the Senior Partner and CMO of reelWebDesign.com, a search marketing firm located in New York City.

Android (2.2) Froyo On Its Way

Pete Prestipino — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:11:00 GMT

This one's for all of you that aren't Apple fanboys - myself included. Google announced Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo) today at its I/O Developer Conference.

This latest update to the open platform for mobile devices include portable hotspot functionality, support for Adobe flash within the Android Browser and some much needed improvements to the Android Market. the most significant aspect of the update are the new tools and options available for developers including performance and speed enhancements, new enterprise capabilities, the addition of the V8 Javascript engine to the Android browser and a new set of APIs and services.

“The growth of the Android ecosystem continues to exceed our expectations,” said Andy Rubin, VP, Engineering. “Every day, 100,000 new people start using Android-based handsets. There are now more than 180,000 active Android developers who have contributed over 50,000 apps to the Android Market. Froyo is another step toward making Android an even better platform for developers, enterprises and consumers.”

Developers can download the Android 2.2 SDK and Android NDK, Revision 4 now from the Android developer site. Froyo will be made available to OEMs and the open source community in the coming weeks.

Analytics and Optimization Features Within Adobe CS5

Administrator — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:59:00 GMT

Adobe is wasting no time making the most of its acquisition of online business optimization software Omnniture, announcing that several key analytics and optimization technologies have been tegrated into Adobe Creative Suite 5.

Omniture's SiteCatalyst extensions (available for Adobe Flash Professional CS5 and Flash Builder 4) allow designers and developers tomeasure, analyze and optimize integrated data from online initiates and gain efficiences by incorporating content tagging into the content-creation process. Omniture's Test&Target extensions available within Adobe Flash Professional CS5 and Dreamweaver CS5 Employ testing and targeting strategies to identify which video, Web page, promotion or digital assets perform best and deliver relevant content. Finally, Omniture's new SiteCatylust NetAverages service will help developers and designs gain insights into Internet and mobile usage trends through anonymous, non-personal aggregate data such as browser tupe, operating system, mobile device profiles and screen resolutions.

“By making Omniture technology available from directly within Creative Suite 5, Adobe is empowering its customers to easily create, deliver, measure and optimize campaign effectiveness across virtually any digital platform or device,” said Josh James, senior vice president and general manager, Omniture Business Unit. “Today’s successful online strategies must be centered on increasing the engagement, personalization and relevance of the end-user experience. Businesses who recognize this will benefit from increased ROI from their digital marketing efforts, stronger customer relationships and improved quality of the services and experiences accessed by their customers.”

A Solution to Flash on iPhone and iPad

Mike Phillips — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:59:00 GMT

Ripcode, a transactional transcoding service provider has released a server-side product as a workaround to get Flash content on the iPhone and iPad. The TransAct Transcoder V6 is installed on a website's server - no need to alter website code or go through Apple's gauntlet - then transcodes the Flash into a format that can be displayed on the Apple devices, when it detects such a request. This includes any Flash files or streaming video.

"The ‘Flash on iPad’ dilemma is really just the latest in a long line of speed bumps on the road towards ‘any-content, any-time, any-place, any-device’ that we all desire," said Ripcode CEO Brendon Mills. "Fortunately, our technology removes this barrier in a way that is attractive to content hosters, a key device manufacturer, a key video player provider, and the end user alike."

Flimp Video and SEO for Flash

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Marketers have long struggled with what to do with flash. While there has been some headway made on the part of search engines to better index this content, it remains (for the most part) siloed entirely.

Flimp Media has implemented an automated process in its flash landing page marketing platform that allows non-technical users to copy and paste searchable text and terms behind flash web content and videos that converts automatically into search friendly HTML. This text can be crawled by search engines, improving a Flash landing page’s chances at being found through organic search.

The function automates a process called SWFObject, which many Web developers use to create searchable text behind Flash elements. Until Flimp implemented this functionality, marketers without Flash programming expertise were unable to create or embed searchable text and terms behind their flash and flash video content.

“Many larger corporations use SWFObject to boost the search ranking for a video,” said Flimp CTO Richard DiBona. “With this tool, Flimp now enables all digital marketers to implement the same best-practices, whether or not they have skilled programmers on staff.”

Flash on Smartphones; Thanks Adobe

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:51:00 GMT

One of the drags of smart phones today is that they don't feature full support for flash (it's been using a lighter version up until now). Today that all changed as Adobe announced improvements to the Adobe Flash Platform at Adobe Max (Adobe's developer conference) which makes Flash on mobile devices a reality.

Adobe's Flash Player 10.1 enables rich Web content, video and applications to reach more users across a broader set of devices thanks to a consistent runtime across desktops and mobile devices. The new Flash player is expected to be available for a series of mobile platforms including Google Android, Blackberry, Symbian, Palm webOS and Windows Mobile.

Adobe also announced new HTTP streaming technology for video delivered on the Flash Platform, demonstrated upcoming features of Adobe® AIR® 2 software, released a second beta of Adobe® Flash® Builder and Flash® Catalyst software, and made available new Adobe Flash Platform Services for collaboration.

“We’re excited to be launching such a broad spectrum of advancements to the Flash Platform at Adobe MAX 2009,” said Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer at Adobe. “By delivering rapid innovation across tools, runtimes, services and servers, we are enabling the large and vibrant ecosystem of designers and developers to drive the Web forward with rich content and applications.”

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Flash & SEO Together at Last! Sort of...

Pete Prestipino — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Adobe has rolled out a Search Engine Optimization Technology Center to help designers ensure that search engines can crawl and index their rich Internet applications (RIAs) and SWF content.

For as long as I can remember, Flash and SEO have gone together like oil and water - but that is definitely changing. In an effort to make SWF files a first-class citizen in the world of searchable Web results, Adobe has been recently working with search engines to make SWF content more searchable. The information resource released may help some designers overcome the inherent challenges with flash and SEO immediately.

Adobe has provided Flash Player technology to Google and Yahoo! that allows their search spiders to navigate through a live SWF application - almost as if they were virtual users. The Flash Player technology runs a SWF file in a similar way the file would run in Adobe Flash Player in the browser. It returns all of the text and links that occur at any state of the application back to the search spider, which then appears in search results to the end user.

There is a handy SEO checklist for RIAs available in the resource center, released yesterday. It covers how to integrate search into the planning stages and production cycles designers encounter when developing RIAs.

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Google Analytics Now Tracks Flash

Mike Phillips — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Good news for designers, developers ... just about everyone. Google announced Google Analytics Tracking For Adobe Flash, which will now make it much easier to track Flash widgets, embedded videos and microsites, for example. Essentially, this standardizes Flash tracking, so that developers don't need to come up with their own, custom solutions.

Below is a video showing the capabilities with Sprout VP of Engineering, Matthew McNeely. Also of note, the code is open source, so that developers can make improvements as they see fit.

Show Dynamic Data In Flash

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:29:00 GMT

Static charts just don't impress users like they used to (if they ever did). Savvy Web users want interactivity and they want it on the fly. Here are three exceptional chart scripts to help you display dynamic data in Flash.

Embedding Flash Content

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:43:00 GMT

HTML clipboard Designers (and occasionally developers) need to embed Flash content within websites. SWFObject 2 offers two optimized Flash Player embed methods; a markup-based approach and a method that relies on JavaScript – let’s look at the benefits of both! Read more about embedding flash content with SWFObject 2.