Review: Flash Development for Android

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:36:22 +0100

So, lately I’ve found myself trying to better myself in the world of flash programming. And I’ve come to the realisation that one of the best outlets for my creativity is on the mobile platform. Namely, the diverse Android mobile OS. However upon approaching this hefty task of writing an app for the Android, I found myself way out of my depth.

You see, to program an app for Android you have to think about 101 more factors than you do with a normal PC app. Well only if you want the app to be any good that is…

However fortunately for me, I just so happened to be presented with a marvellous new book specifically catered for my needs. The name of said brilliant book; “Flash Development for Android Cookbook”.

This book perfectly covers all the angles that an existing developer needs to progress on to Android development. Well, I say an “existing developer”, but in actual fact you can pretty much pick up this book with very little prior knowledge in programming and still get your head around what is going on in a very short space of time.

Right from the word go, the book is teaching you at a very rapid but very structured pace, all the things you should know. It even covers the basics such as setting up your projects to begin with. Which can be useful even for those veteran developers who just need their technique refreshed.

Within days you will find yourself taking advantage of the Android’s Multitouch, Gestures and other Inputs, and before you know it you have completed your app. Having utilised things like the systems accelerometer and visual and audio input, you will be shocked at how fast you have learned.

All in all, I think that this book does a brilliant job at encouraging the learner and motivating them to keep progressing at a fast pace, no matter what level of programming they begun with. Definitely a title to check out if you are interested in breaking into the massive mobile app market. 9.5/10.

The Journey Begins

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:39:07 +0100

For quite a long time now I have been planning. Planning the things I wanted to achieve, and how and when I was going to do them. But after spend all that time scheduling out my future, I came to realise today, that I have yet to actually start doing anything.

I mean… I have done some things. Just nowhere near as much as I would have liked to. I have made my own website, but it’s not really that great. I have developed my first flash game, but I’m not going to lie, it was pretty bad… And to be honest I could have got so much more done.

Anyway, after all that moaning, I realise that it’s not about what I could have done. It’s about what I need to be doing.

I decided to make a start today by making this blog, and making my first post, but things can’t really get going until after my exams. I’ve got two more exams tomorrow, and after them only a handful more. And after that is the time I am waiting so eagerly for… the Summer holidays.

I have temporarily shut down my site until a point where I can actually create something original and interesting. Anyway the site isn’t even that important… As of the summer, I will be starting work on what I consider to be my début flash game (since the last one was so bad). I have some ideas that I think will really interest people if I can put pen to paper, so to speak.

Anyway, I’ve rambled on enough today. I just wanted to let people know that today was the day I realised something. Something that I will hopefully look back on in life, and understand when I truly started to work towards my dream. I realised that today is the day the journey begins.

Danny PG

Review: Flash Development for Android

The Journey Begins