Finalist 5: The Final Frontier

by circuitbomb

“Space. It is colorful. It is infinite. These are the voyages of the starship Envato. It’s continuing mission…”

Congratulations Circuitbomb, you’ve won US$3,500 to spend on your ultimate creative set-up!

Each of the 10 finalists have won the contents of their collection. Thanks to everyone who entered, and watch out for the next big Envato competition!

A little extra patriotic bonus for all American readers out there, 15 US-themed graphics from FlashDen, VideoHive and GraphicRiver!

Happy Independence Day to all our American readers!

There’s a new Flash CMS on the block and it’s called FlashMoto. The concept sounds fantastic and the interface design is extremely well done. But what’s actually under the hood? Let’s take a closer look!

What is FlashMoto and what does it do?

FlashMoto allows users to create and manage a Flash Web site very quickly and very easily using a purpose-built back-end system developed in Flex. This is commonly referred to as a Content Management System or CMS. The site is currently in beta and open to the public.

Special Features

• CMS Wizard:
  A simple and understandable step-by-step guide for creating a fully-functional dynamic Flash website.
• Advanced WYSIWYG editor:
  Drag and drop objects and enter data for any part of your website.
• Quick Content Editing:
  Quick access to separate content elements, like News, Galleries, Contact Forms, Music Players, and edit them without digging through the entire website structure.
• SEO-friendly & Deep Linking:
  Easily establish Web site meta data, link pages and add Google Analytics. Deep linking methods and well-organized architecture guarantee the right indexing of your content across search engines.
• Rich Media Library:
  Upload, edit and maintain all your images, photos, video and audio files.
• Font Manager:
  Easily add any kind of fonts and symbols. You can even make your site multilingual very easily.

Control Panel

Once you’ve created your account and log in for the first time, you’re presented with the control panel with the following choices:

• Content Wizard
• WYSIWIG Editor
• Quick Content Editing
• Website Preferences
• Help & Support

Although there’s an option to switch off the control panel when you next log on, the control panel options are a really nice way to give new users an overview of all the options. Each icon has an attractive, 3D animated rollover which, when clicked, takes the user to the corresponding section.

What’s nice about these choices is that FlashMoto caters for users of all abilities. If you’re a complete novice with very little Flash experience, you can using the Content Wizard that breaks down site maintenance into Editing Website Content, Editing Site Structure & Layout, Changing Website or Control Panel Settings and Help & Support. If you’re more comfortable with Flash however, you can jump straight into site design and start adding content and special modules such as an image gallery and audio player.

Forthcoming Help & Support

No matter what your level of expertise, the prospect of the Help & Support features are really nice. There are lessons and tutorials, a user guide for the Control Panel and a Frequently Asked Questions section. Admittedly, because the site is still in beta, no tutorials or user guides have been added yet, but it’s nice to see that a help and support system has been integrated well into the app and are prominently accessible for any moments of frustration.

Building a Site

This is where the fun begins. There’s so much you can do to develop your own site with FlashMoto, it’s knowing where to begin that might cause some problems for anyone who has not created a Flash Web site before. One of the simplest places to start is by looking down the tool panel on the left hand site. It’s here you see icons/options for adding text, an image, a shape, a Flash file, video, a “slot” (basically interactive buttons) and a module. The modules really help speed-up the addition of interactive content by allowing you to insert a news block, an image gallery, a video player or an audio player.

Resizeable Modules

One of the killer features of FlashMoto is the way each module can be resized by the user to whatever dimensions you want. You can drag items around the screen to reposition or you can even use x and y co-ordinates in the module properties sidebar to the right of the screen for more precise positioning. Here’s a screenshot showing some of the options available to the user regarding how modules can be manipulated:

Customizing Modules

It wasn’t until I started customizing modules with FlashMoto that it dawned on me how effective this kind of application really is. There are no XML files or ActionScript files for the user to update to populate an image gallery with images for example. Instead, the user simply double-clicks on a module to access a configuration screen where you can add images, thumbnails, access a media library, and add text via a beautiful text editor as show below:

Extra Features

Other nice touches I really liked about FlashMoto were, the familiar use of a top, horizontal menu bar we’re accustomed to with our desktop apps that allow us to open, save and edit files. I found the undo and redo tools particularly useful, so if something doesn’t quite work out right, users always have undo to fall back on.

I also liked the ability to move around open windows just like a regular operating system, so you could keep configuration screens open and place them where you wanted so you could still see your site design underneath. The fullscreen feature was also very useful, which obviously takes advantage of your entire monitor real estate.

Finally, previewing your Flash site has never been easier. No compiling, no annoying error messages, just one click of a button, and the site you just built is immediately visible. Talk about efficiency! You can even grab the URL of your preview and share it with friends or clients.

Conclusion

Although this review is not exhaustive, it should give you a very clear idea about how solid FlashMoto is. You really need to see for yourself to understand how useful a tool like this can be.

Everything about FlashMoto has been well thought out. The design, the features, but above all else, the usability and the way the interface and experience is totally focused on the user. When you can marry usefulness with well designed applications (both from an aesthetic and usability perspective), then you can’t go far wrong.

FlashMoto is an incredible demonstration of how Rich Internet Applications should be developed. This kind of CMS really underlines how powerful Flex is. The dawn of extremely attractive, functional, and useful applications is already upon us because of apps like FlashMoto, and the line between desktop applications and online applications is starting to blur. Much, may I add, to the benefit of the end user.

For more information, visit FlashMoto.com.

Featuring stunning, clean, contemporary designs and a wide-range of Flash products in his FlashDen portfolio, quickyboy is a FlashDen legend! From his Full XML Template that has sold over 600 times, to the plethora of portfolios, menus, galleries and audio players in his FD collection, there’s no denying that quickyboy has one of the most consistently professional portfolios on FlashDen. So you’ve seen his portfolio, you know how great his files are, let’s meet the man behind the magic!

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do for a
living?

I’m a good-looking flash developer who likes girls very much. I smell good, I
don’t have a car, a cat, or a dog, I’m not much of a football fan, I have a very good sense of humor, I’m skinny, my name is Bogdan Mihai (friends call me Bog), I’m from Romania and I
kill people for a living.

2. How long have you been using Flash and what made you start selling items
on FlashDen?

I’m a Photoshop lover and always will be! When I first opened Flash, I
remember it was Flash 5. I played a little bit with the timeline and that was it… I
uninstalled it straight away. That is what I do with most of the software. At the
beginning, I got scared. I got scared of FlashDen also, that’s why I was inactive
for about a year I think! I had to learn AS! As a designer, I hate code, but now I’m
happy I learned AS! Yeah! And I would like to thank Collis for the awesome FlashDen
design! That’s what made me start selling items after all: the great feeling that
this site gives me.

3. Do you create files from scratch for FlashDen, or do you re-use work that
you’ve created for a client?

Yes I do create them from scratch. I don’t like mixing things. Freelance is
freelance and FlashDen is, and always will be, FlashDen. Creating things from scratch
give me the liberty to go with the flow. By re-using things you kinda set yourself
some limits.

4. Where do you get your inspiration from for your FlashDen work?

Oh, I read a lot of design and inspirational blogs or sites. I’m always up to date
with the latest design trends.

5. What is your work flow like when starting a new file? Could you walk us
through the steps you take when getting ready to create a new file?

I just let it flow away. I never make plans or follow specific steps. When I work,
there are no rules or limits! I just express myself in what I do. Usually it starts
with a menu and goes all the way to a template.

6. What do you do to market and brand your files?

I got a small logo which I love by the way! I usually got tired of the blue color -
but all my files are blue I don’t do too much to be honest… I’m aware of what I should be doing to market my files, but choose not to: like talk a lot in the forums (look at FlashJunkie for example! - I love you man) or use a personal blog to advertise my items and attract new
customers. Wait, I am lying: I’ve got a Twitter account, RSS feed, online support
section to some of the files (that’s cool by the way), feedback form, etc. I
do care about my customers after all!

7. What advice can you give to authors that might help them increase their
overall sales?

Just listen to your clients, help them with their needs, don’t start too many
freelance projects and don’t sleep. If you sleep, you won’t have enough time to
satisfy all of them! And first of all, work hard on the design! Keep it simple!
Simple is more!

8. Besides yourself, who is your favorite FlashDen author?

First of all, I would like to mention here Chuckanuka - because he was the only
one who remembered me! Then I tend to categorize authors. I love some of
them for their designs like: triworks, richardson, ranfirefly, chuckanucka, louros. I love
sqrt121 and jurgen for the many features that they add to their files (very easy
to customize). I also love bobocel (I was disappointed you didn’t mention me bobo!) and I like fifty_tons because he likes my AudioJungle creations.

9. Which file do you think is your best file so far?

I haven’t released my best work yet. I’ll get an FWA someday, that’s when I will do my
best. I really like my FD work! I really do. And so far I love my “Fine timeline“,
the “Mp3 player V2” and of course my “Full XML template“. It is only a matter of
designing clean things - that’s what I love!

10. What one thing would you like to change about FlashDen if you could?

I can’t think of anything right now… Flashden is a great community to start! It is
so friendly - motivates you to start doing things. That’s where I got
appreciated, that where I grew up as a coder, it is where I met great people,
made my freelance relations. I love you FD!

11. When you aren’t building Flash files, what do you do for fun?

OMG! I write poems, I write music, I go to the theater, I play my guitar, I have a
hiphop band, I read Russian literature and drink tea, I go out with my friends -
I’m a cuba libre fan! I listen to Jazz music, I buy perfumes, I read design blogs, I
check out my e-mail, I chat. I don’t really do much things - there are so many
things that I don’t do: I don’t watch TV, I don’t eat much, I don’t answer to my
phone (never!) OH! And I play Dota!

12. Would you like to give a sneak peek of the latest file you are currently
working on to our readers?

Guys, I’m taking you to the next level! That’s what I do best! And if sometimes I
disappear, don’t worry, I’m not dead, I’m not somewhere on an island, I didn’t
forget you! I’m just preparing the next bomb - in every small detail! So stay
tuned, because the next level is very close and it will blow you away!
“Collision” is the name. (And yes, that’s a clue, Sherlock!)

Thank you guys for appreciating my work! I would like to thank all my clients for
buying my stuff. And thank you Scott for this interview!

View quickyboy’s portfolio.

Read more interviews with FlashDen authors.

Yes, you heard me correctly. We’re starting a new program that I think you’re going to like. Each month, we’re going to give away one free file on each marketplace (FlashDen, ThemeForest, AudioJungle, GraphicRiver, and VideoHive). Here on FlashDen we’re starting this program out with a bang! Please welcome the never-before-seen gallery by Parker&Kent!

Author: ParkerAndKent

File: AS2 XML Free Photo Gallery

Description:

Elegant and simple gallery with smooth transitions and space-efficient masking. To see the options, simply hold your cursor over the plus icon to the right of the image. There you’ll be presented with buttons to see the galleries and thumbnails, and to start the slideshow. Roll over each image to see the hidden description roll into view. The vibrantly-colored (editable) tooltip follows the cursor around making sure the user knows exactly what he or she is looking at. This is the perfect gallery solution for any website wanting to add a little class.

Main features:

• Unlimited number of galleries supported
• Unlimited photos in each gallery
• Automatic slideshow option
• Gallery size can be edited via XML
• All colors can be edited via XML
• Thumb size, borders, rollover, spacing, etc. edited via XML
• XML path manageable through flash vars
• Basic HTML text supported
• Well-organized Flash library
• Rich help file
• Everything has been heavily tested and debugged

Usage:

You are granted ONE free usage of the item in a project, either commercial or non-commercial. You may not use the file in multiple projects unless you purchase licenses in the usual way.  You may not redistribute the item in any way.  If you need a different license for this file, you may purchase it here.

A big thanks for the free file, ParkerAndKent! Here are some of ParkerAndKent’s other great files:

Download it here!

Also, be sure to check out this month’s free files from all the other Envato marketplaces.

Quite a variety of Flash tools, stories and articles to report on, so without further to do, it’s time for another round-up of Flash-related news with News Flash!

Open Source “Page Flip”

Last month I posted a roundup of “Page Flip” tools built in Flash that simulate turning pages in a book. Well, it turns out (yes, pun intended ) that there’s another amazing tool available developed by a German developer called Florian Nücke. It’s called Megazine, and not only does it look terrific, but it also features extremely well thought-out usability, deeplinking, page caching, image zoom, a full API, and one import thing: It’s totally free and open source! View the Megazine demo.

SWFObject and Best Practice Implementation

For most Flash designers and developers, using SWFObject to embed Flash content on Web pages is a pretty straight forward task. However, understanding some finer details might help you to better understand the best practices of implementing SWFObject and to take advantage of some SEO techniques. Read TechLabs’ tips on implementing SWFObject.

Reversing Audio in Flash Player 10

I’ve always (fondly) thought of Flash legend Lee Brimelow as one of those kids that dismantled all of his toys as a kid to see how they worked before putting them back together afterwards. In stark contrast, whenever I dismantled my toys, they were broken for good! Some things don’t change as Lee tinkers with audio in his latest blog post called Manipulating mp3 Speed and Direction and explores various ways to manipulate audio using Flash Player 10.

Photo Diary

You know, you can never have too many photo galleries. Especially ones developed in Flash! Photo Diary is an interesting twist on Flash galleries as its PHP back-end allows visitors to add comments on each photo by attaching a sticky notes with a message on it. The gallery also features a useful admin console to manage all the image assets and comments. View the Demo or check out the admin console.

De MonsterDebugger

If Web applications could be judged by name alone, then the De MonsterDebugger would win every time! Originating from The Netherlands in Europe, De MonsterDebugger is an open source debugger for Adobe Flash, Flex and AIR. The application was made in Flex and AIR and allows developers to debug their code in a more efficient manner. For a full set of the many features and to download the AIR app yourself, click here.

Microsoft Silverlight 3 challenges Adobe AIR

No, Microsoft have still not given up chasing Adobe’s tail. Silverlight 3 promises to challenge Adobe AIR by now allowing Silverlight applications to run on the desktop. This infoworld.com article is a first look at the forthcoming version of Silverlight from Microsoft. Read more.

Flashtuts+, the “sister” Web site of FlashDen, is part of the envato Tuts+ network, and features some of the best Flash, ActionScript and Flex tutorials on the Web in an easy-to-follow and engaging format.

Each week on FlashDen we will provide a roundup of all the previous week’s tutorials from Flashtuts+ as a reminder to brush-up on your Flash skills or to learn something new.

Develop a Useful Font Picker App with ActionScript 3.0

Jun 26th in ActionScript by Carlos Yanez

When working with typography, like designing logos, choosing the correct font is crucial. The selection process can be a little slow if you’re testing each font in a design application. This tutorial will help you create your own font-testing app using Flash and ActionScript 3.0.

Continue Reading

Animate a Continuous Quad Run Cycle With Flash

Jun 24th in Animation by Michael Chen

In this tutorial we’ll create a quad run cycle. The animation will be created using simple lines. Along the way we’ll cover a bit of work flow and animation theory, then near the end we’ll use Motion Tween and ActionScript to move the animal across the screen.

Continue Reading

Build a Multi-Purpose Contact Form With Flex

Jun 22nd in Flex by Shane Johnson

In this tutorial we’ll be creating a custom Flex-built contact form. We’ll be implementing many of the fantastic built-in features of the Flex framework, such as the validation methods, the alert box and datefield components to give our contact form added functionality. We’ll also look into adjusting the CSS properties to give our application a unique look and style.

Continue Reading

The big Flash news this week occurred yesterday as Adobe mobile phone designer HTC announced the new HTC Hero as the first Android phone to ship with support for Adobe® Flash® Platform technology.

Mobile Flash

Android, an operating system for mobile devices initially developed by Google, allows developers to write Java code to control Android devices via Google-developed Java libraries.

Unlike Apple’s iPhone, the HTC Hero will allow applications, games and utilities developed in Flash to run on its operating system. That’s great news not only for Flash developers, but for consumers wanting to access Flash Web sites and Flash-based video.

“The collaboration with HTC offers people a more complete Flash based Web browsing experience today and presents an important step towards full Web browsing with Flash Player 10 on mobile phones in the future.”

David Wadhwani, VP and general manager, Adobe Platform Business Unit

Note that David mentions that this is just the first step towards accessing 100% Flash content on mobile technology. The HTC currently only supports files developed in ActionScript 2, but as soon as Flash Player 10 for mobile phones is complete, all Flash content, including more recent files developed with ActionScript 3, will become supported.

See for Yourself

Watch the video below featuring Adrian Ludwig from Adobe as he shows off some Flash Web sites on the HTC Hero, the first Android smartphone with Flash:

More Information

• Adobe Press Release
• Engadget HTC Hero review
• Gizmodo HTC Hero review