Category Archives: Video

Getting Started with ActionScript – Lynda.com

Publication, Tutorials, Video, ,

Very pleased to announce that I’ve started a new publishing relationship with Lynda.com and the first course in their library is “Getting Started with ActionScript”!

lyndaauthor

How did this come about? After my former publisher, video2brain was acquired – a number of us authors were asked whether we’d like to join the Lynda.com team and were given the opportunity to have certain existing English language courses included in the Lynda.com library. This is the initial result of that agreement – though I also have a much fresher course already recorded for them as well. Look for that in the next month or so…

Getting Started with ActionScript
ActionScript is an object-oriented programming language that has a wide reach on the web, the desktop, mobile devices, and beyond. In this workshop, expert software engineer Joseph Labrecque teaches you the fundamentals of programming in ActionScript 3 using both Flash Professional and Flash Builder. Learn how to use core constructs and object types such as variables, arrays, and functions, as well as more advanced types like video, sound, XML, and JSON.

Topics include:

  • What is ActionScript and why should I learn it?
  • ActionScript 2.0 vs. ActionScript 3.0
  • Implementing external source code
  • Working in Flash Professional and Flash Builder
  • Understanding language fundamentals
  • Working with ActionScript objects

Getting Started with Flash Professional CS6

Flash, Video,

Over the weekend, my newest video course with video2brain was published.

Getting Started with Flash Professional CS6

Step-by-Step Basics to Get You on Your Way

In this course, Flash authority Joseph Labrecque takes you on the straightest path to proficiency with Flash Professional CS6. You’ll learn your way around the interface and get comfortable working with assets like symbols and text. Then you’ll start making things move, adding animation and interactivity to your projects. And finally you’ll see how to output your files, and not just to SWFs; content created in Flash Professional CS6 can also target desktop, mobile, and even HTML5.

This course is an introduction to the powerful tools offered by Adobe Flash Professional CS6. After becoming familiar with the interface, you’ll learn how to create projects, work with assets, and add animation and interactivity. The contents of this course include:

Introducing Flash Professional CS6
In this introductory chapter, we’ll explore some basics of the Flash Professional CS6 application and build a foundation for the lessons to come.

Becoming Familiar with Flash Professional CS6
In this chapter, you’ll learn the basics of working in Flash Professional CS6 and become familiar with important elements of the application interface.

Project Explorations
This chapter demonstrates the entire workflow of a basic Flash Professional project that targets the Adobe Flash Player.

Creating and Manipulating Assets
This chapter looks at the different types of assets that you can use in Flash Professional application, including symbols, filters, and text.

Animating Assets
Flash Professional is used to provide animation for numerous projects for the web, television, and devices. In this chapter, we’ll look at the basics of Flash animation.

Enabling Interactivity
In this chapter you’ll learn how to use the programming language ActionScript to enable interactivity in a project. You’ll see how use code snippets, write ActionScript directly on the Timeline, and use EnterFrame and Timer events.

Additional Output Options
While Flash professional traditionally outputs a SWF file for use with the Flash Player, content created in Flash Professional CS6 can also target desktop, mobile, and even HTML5. You’ll learn about these output options in this chapter.

StageText (AIR 3 for Mobile)

AIR, Video, ,

This is another new features demonstration which I originally wrote for my upcoming AIR 3 book showing the StageText class in action on a device!

Native Text Input UI (mobile) — Mobile apps can now take advantage of the native text input controls on mobile platforms, including platform-specific user interaction behaviors such as magnification and text selection. Native text controls are available on Android, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and iOS operating systems.

Vibration ActionScript Native Extension

Video, , ,

I’ve had this example of the Vibration ActionScript Native Extension (ANE) on my DROID3 for some time now and am just thrilled with the expanded capabilities of ANE in Adobe AIR 3 for both mobile and desktop. Wanted to share this example which I originally wrote for my upcoming AIR 3 book which displays the Vibration ANE in action on a device!

Native extensions for Adobe AIR are a combination of ActionScript classes and native code that provide easy access to device-specific libraries and features that are not available in the built-in ActionScript classes.

Want to use it in your own projects? Adobe has made it available for download here :)

…and a few others are also available from the Adobe Developer Connection repository! I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of these pop up in the weeks and months to come.

Mobile Development with Adobe Flash Professional CS5.5 and Flash Builder 4.5: Learn by Video

Publication, Video, Writing, , , ,

This publication is a set of DVDs (7 hours, 20 minutes) along with a 48 page book covering mobile application development using Flash Builder 4.5 and Flash Professional CS5.5 targeting both Apple iOS and Google Android. I had the opportunity to co-author this title along with the excellent Peter Elst earlier this year. Happy that it is finally available!

Mobile Development with Flash Professional CS5.5 and Flash Builder 4.5: Learn by Video
Create Android and iOS Applications with the Flash Platform

Authors: video2brain, Peter Elst, Joseph Labrecque
Publisher: Peachpit / Adobe Press (September, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0321788109
ISBN-13: 978-0321788108
Pages: 48
Hours: 7.20

In this in-depth course you’ll learn everything you need to know to start developing for mobile and devices on Android and iOS using Flash Platform technology. Top Flash Platform experts Peter Elst and Joseph Labrecque will walk you through the entire workflow from application setup to development and deployment, covering best practices for mobile development and how to debug the applications you create on the desktop or on a device. Along the way you’ll learn how to work with gestures, touch events, hardware APIs, data, multimedia features, and much more. After completing this course you’ll be well on your way to making your mobile projects a reality.

The following videos are FREE:

As always, you can get to all of my major publications through http://josephlabrecque.com/books/.