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Ok, I didn't necessarily "lie" per se, but I did leave out some vital information in one of my ActionScript 3.0 tips of the day, for..in and for each..in. There I claimed that ActionScript 3.0 "maintains array element order (using numeric array indices) when using for..in and for each..in". But does it?

Another thing that throws me off about Flex is the validation system for the GUI. Yes, I understand that you want to defer screen rendering until the end of the frame, but that shouldn't mean that property inspection is all over the place. If I set something, whether or not its updated visually, I should be able to get that value back when I check it immediately afterward.

Here's something fun to try. Create two circles of the same size, next to each other in Flash. Give them both radial gradients from black to white - use the default in the color picker (and if you're clever enough, you ActionScripters out there can play along too).

Not too long ago, I received my copy of Pratique d'ActionScript 3 from Thibault Imbert. And while yes, it is in French, and yes, it is correct that I don't speak French (beaucoup), I am super excited to have it! And not only because I'm mentioned in the Remerciements and on page 463 ;), but because its just such a massive book that covers about everything in Flash Player 10. Great job Thibault!

I wrote this a short while ago for a mailing list, and I think it does a pretty decent job of putting some cross-domain policy concepts into perspective, covering why these files are necessary and touching on why server-based proxies work as a way to get around them. The original question revolved around the inability to use BitmapData.draw() despite the fact that the image could be loaded and displayed in the SWF. My reply was as follows:

Alan just posted an interview of me on Fireworks Designer. It focuses in large on my Burnout Paradise™ Paradise City Interactive Locations Map and how Fireworks was used to make it possible.

Turns out I haven't touched the map in what seems to be exactly a year, which is sad because I just noticed a bug where map graphics defined within query variables were getting cleared out after the map graphics loaded. I quickly found the source to fix it only to notice I had a lot more planned for the project, including a race editor as well as other tools for users to define their own maps! Seems I never got around to hooking them up, and sadly probably never will.

Thank you Daniel Finke for pointing out that you can test your Flex applications through the Flash standalone player rather than the browser. It's a little hidden (compared to Flash's fairly straightforward test movie vs. preview in browser options) but can be set using Project > Properties > Run/Debug Settings > [Project Configuration]: Edit... > URL or path to launch. This "URL or path to launch" setting allows you to specify what gets launched when running, debugging, or profiling your application. By switching to a SWF URL from HTML, the app will launch in SAP instead of the browser.

The day before Yesterday I made the decision to use Flex [Builder] for a project I was working on that had already been prototyped in Flash CS4. Up until now, my experiences with Flex Builder have been extremely limited. I'm not, by any means, new to Flash or ActionScript (which I imagine, if you're reading this, you already know), but Flex is not something I've really worked with before.

I have to say, this is easily one of my favorite Adobe T-Shirts; it shows the selection model in Fireworks. And now (somewhat disappointingly to me, given that I had one of, if not the last of the original batch) you can get it, and others, for yourself courtesy of Alan Musselman! Now, while I did get mine for free (woohoo!), you'll have to pay a small premium. But it's totally worth it.

Looks like the Adobe MAX conference is heading to Los Angeles this year and will take place October 4th - 7th. Additionally, it looks like there will be no MAX Europe, at least not this year. Options for spreading the love are being looked at. You can find more information at http://max.adobe.com/. Hopefully I'll be able to do more at MAX this year than last. We'll see.