Yahoo! Yippee! Etc! Yahoo has just released two new APIs for its mapping service. Web developers can use the new Yahoo Maps AJAX API and the Yahoo Maps Flash API to create their own Yahoo maps in any web-based (or just web connected) application. Now Neave will need to roll the Yahoo info into his Flash map. The API includes hooks for other live data from Yahoo sources like their trakkic tracker and more. Plus the Flash API comes in a Flex flavor for RIA developers looking to roll maps and live data into their applications. I would like to see this added to a live pizza ordering application that shows a highlighted delivery route and availability map that allows a user to click on their house and even draw out a map. Heck, while we're thinking of map drawing, let's create an interactive app that multiple users can log into at the same time and watch a leader draw a live route on the map (with notes) to give directions to a meeting (or something).

Macromedia has released the first update for the mobile templates you find in Flash 8. This is important to note, even if you aren't currently developing for mobile. The update means more devices are becoming available on the market that support Flash. More devices means more screens on which to show your content. The more screens, the more viable the market for your content is. Macromedia has been touting the mobile market for the last two years. This may be the year that it becomes a reality for American developers.

[via Bill Perry]

Google has been releasing new stuff left and right. Sure Google Talk is cool, but what about that new Google Sidebar. Though Sidebar (and Google Desktop) is currently Windows only that will not stop development. Sidebar features user customizable panels and a full API for creating your own plug-ins. Unfortunately that API is based on the Microsoft Windows Component Object (COM) and may be something Flash developers don’t want to deal with. Then how do we get into plug-in development? Via Flash and the ActiveX plug-in display. Sidebar’s settings include a Panels and Alerts box. You can view the ActiveX plug-ins installed on your machine (including Flash) by:

1. Click the menu arrow button at the top of Sidebar
2. Select “Add/Remove Panels…”
3. Check the “Show ActiveX plug-ins…” box
4. Check the box next to “Shockwave Flash Object” (and other plug-ins if you want)
5. Click OK.

Now to add your Flash file to the Sidebar. Click the down arrow on the new panel and select Options to view the Flash panel’s properties. If you’re using an online Flash file type its URL into the Movie URL box (the file path should also work here). Select Quality and other properties to change the display. Click OK and see your Flash in the sidebar. Now you can use a Flash-based RSS reader or a Flash mp3 player or a Flash anything inside your sidebar. Plus Flash developers now have and easy in for all Sidebar users, all we need is someone to make a panel creation plug-in that asks for a URL and automatically inserts our Flash.

Click through for Disclaimer and screen shots via the Wireless Weblog.

So you open a new project and need to add a scrolling text box but you’re tired of the UIScrollBar component (included in the Flash 7.2 update), what do you do? Careful even that scroll bar should follow some rules of design. Jakob Nielsen’s latest useablity column dives right into the best ways to create scroll bars and will even show you some of the worst ones he has found. He starts with five basic rules including the always broken “Avoid horizontal scrolling.” Neilsen is known for an infamous Flash Usability report he produced before Flash MX was released. After you check out his opinions tell me why you break the rules or even when a client has forced you to.

John Garden over at AcmeWebWorks.com has developed a Flash AdminTool that looks pretty cool. If you've ever done much coding in Flash, then you know how it doesn't have the most robust of debugging tools. The AdminTool looks like a good tool to add to your box....and it's free! Check ou tthe video demo of the latest features here. I'm looking forward to giving it a runthrough and seeing how it fits into my workflow. More on it at a future time.

[via Zac Belado]

Ericd.net has tutorial up that describes a way to import your tag cloud into a Flash using MX 2004 Professional and the XML object. He uses an external ASP page to load a personal TagCloud (tag based RSS aggregator site) RSS feed. The ActionScript in the Flash project creates an XML object that is loaded with the ASP loaded RSS. This is then parsed and dynamically formatted into a text box inside the Flash Project.

This project could also be accomplished using the XMLConnector component that is bundled with the default install of Flash MX 2004 Professional. This would allow the developer to pass multiple RSS calls to the TagCloud feed, but might slow down the project. Maybe another version of this could also be built for the non-coder out there. Have the HTML of the page the Flash Project is on include a reference to where the feed you want to call is located or even just a reference to the TagCloud username and either create the feed link using ActionScript in a distributed SWF. Or, pass the username to the ASP feed reader (if the component isn’t used) and have the ASP grab the feed based on username.