Mark your calendars now, as the Flex 3/AIR Pre-release User Group tour is stopping in Salt Lake City!

Adobe Evangelist Kevin Hoyt will be visiting us on January 23, 2008. This meeting will be a joint meeting of uFlash and FlexUserGroup.org.

Here are the basics so far:

January 23, 2008
6:30 PM

Neumont University
Salt Lake City Campus
10701 S River Front Pkwy Room 200
South Jordan, Utah, 84095

More details coming soon, but so far there will be lots of prizes, food, a big software raffle, and some great Flex / AIR info.

Mark your calendars now!

When:

December 20 - 6:00PM

Where:

mediaRAIN

Why You Should Be There:

Our December is going to be your chance to possibly score up to $2100 of Adobe software or other swag! We’ll be raffling off your choice of Adobe software up to a $2100 value, but there’s a catch - to be entered in the drawing, you must present at our meeting. All you have to do is talk 5-15 minutes on anything in the Flash Platform in December’s uFlash Meeting on the 20th.

For Example:

• 10 minutes on what inspires you or how you get inspired.
• 5 minutes on how you have used Flash for something other than your work.
• 10 minutes on why _____ is the best Flex book you have ever read.
• 15 on why tween package X is better than tween package Y.

Here are the rules:

1. Prepare anything, but it must involve the Flash Platform.
2. You have to talk or demonstrate for at least 5 minutes - 15 minutes MAX.
3. If it is a project, it must to be on CD, thumb drive, or viewable online. No laptops, or installing of or downloading files. (Nothing to slow the meeting down).
4. There will be a timer - once the timer sounds, you will have one minute to wrap up.
5. You must register in advance so that we can prepare for the meeting. Just send an email to me (josh@joshbuhler.com) that essentially says “Count me in” with your name and email address, and estimated time needed.
6. Depending on the amount of people who register, the available presentation time may be less than 15 minutes. Please plan accordingly. If this happens, I will notify all those who have registered to present.
7. Only people who give a presentation will be entered in the drawing.

All questions will be answered on our blog so everyone can see them.

Prizes will be an Adobe Software Suite (1st) value up to $2,100.00, winner will have to download 30 day trial and will be sent serial numbers (no boxed copy), an Adobe swag package (2nd), and other assorted prizes.

Don’t forget - we’re meeting THIS THURSDAY!

Our presenter will be Joe Snow of Helius. A quick summary of his presentation is below.

We’ll be meeting at the mediaRAIN offices, at 6:00PM.

Introduction to the Flash SWF File Format

Understanding the SWF file format and the flash compiler can increase your working knowledge for flash application development. We’ll go through the basics of the Adobe SWF file format documentation together and compile a custom SWF file. We’ll demonstrate some real world examples to expose search engine text and replacing outdated copyright text in an existing SWF file.

If you want to get a head start, begin the free licensing process for Adobe’s SWF and FLV File Format Specification http://www.adobe.com/licensing/developer/

Also, Helius has generously agreed to help sponsor this week’s meeting, and will be providing some pizza and drinks. So… please let us know if you’ll be attending so that we can have an idea of how much food to get.

Just drop me a line at josh@joshbuhler.com to let me know you’ll be there.

Just a quick reminder, in case it’s not obvious, but we will NOT be meeting this Thursday - we’ll be meeting next week, on Thursday, November 29.

Our presenter will be Joe Snow of Helius. A quick summary of his presentation is below.

We’ll be meeting at the mediaRAIN offices, at 6:00PM.

Introduction to the Flash SWF File Format

Understanding the SWF file format and the flash compiler can increase your working knowledge for flash application development. We’ll go through the basics of the Adobe SWF file format documentation together and compile a custom SWF file. We’ll demonstrate some real world examples to expose search engine text and replacing outdated copyright text in an existing SWF file.

If you want to get a head start, begin the free licensing process for Adobe’s SWF and FLV File Format Specification http://www.adobe.com/licensing/developer/

(I already posted this on my personal blog, but I wanted to share it here as well - it’s come in pretty handy so far.)

Sure, there are several places out there where you’ll find this information, but nothing really in an easy-to-print form you could hang on your cube wall.

This list is far from comprehensive, but it’s a list of the ones I use most often, and find the most useful. There’s a reason I made the first one on the list “View all Shortcuts”.

As I’m a Mac user, the shortcuts are for the Mac version of Flex Builder, but I would assume that you Windows folks can just use Ctrl instead of the Command key.

Here’s a nice PDF, ready for printing: FlexBuilderShortcuts_MAC.pdf

If there’s something you really feel strongly about me having left off of the list, let me know, and I’ll add it to the list.

From our friends at lynda.com, here are some discounts specially for user group members:

20% on all Videos or CD/DVD-ROM Training

This discount applies to all CD/DVD-ROM titles (not to be applied to bundles or books). Offer expires 12/31/2007; subject to change without prior notice.

At checkout, use the discount code ugdeals

20% on both year-long subscriptions to the Online Training Library

This discount applies to the Annual and Premium Subscriptions to the Online Training Library. Offer expires 12/31/2007; subject to change without prior notice.

ANNUAL

Normally $250, now $200!

Includes access to all courses in the Online Training Library.

At checkout, use the discount code ug200otl

PREMIUM

Normally $375, now $300!

Includes access to all courses in the Online Training Library, plus access to the downloadable exercise files.

At checkout, use the discount code ug300otl

From the announcement:

We are happy to report that the second public beta release of Flex 3 is now available. This release adds important new features including .NET support, web service introspection, project import and export and major new improvements to the profilers. You can also check out the new Flex Skin Design Extensions making it fast and easy to export Flex skins from Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, and Flash.

Beta 2 is a near-feature-complete version of the Flex 3 release and the quality should be very high. The goal of this release is to give the community an opportunity to continue to provide feedback as we refine the final features and to help identify any bugs and missing
capabilities.

You can get the complete details and download the beta on Adobe Labs at:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flex.

Please be sure to also get involved in the open source Flex project at:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flex.

Thanks,

Dave Gruber

Flex Product Marketing Manager

If you’re interested, here’s a chance to do a little charity work:

Greetings,

The World Organization of Webmasters (WOW), a non-profit professional association, has teamed up with the Adobe Corporation to conduct the
first international Web Pro Community Challenge, to be announced at Adobe MAX in Chicago, IL, October 1-3, 2007.

WHAT IS IT?

The Web Pro Community Challenge is an opportunity for industry professionals to give something back to the community by designing, developing and promoting a fully functional web site and/or web application for a designated non-profit organization.

The idea is very similar to the Flex CodeJam that was run as part of 360Flex - Seattle, where a group of developers got together for a code-a-thon to build an application for a non-profit organization.

WHO ARE WE SUPPORTING?

The Challenge is supporting two charities: Say Yes to Green, and Direct Relief International.

The SayYesToGreen.org initiative Statement of Work surrounds a complete makeover that includes elements of Web site design, development and
business. The SayYesToGreen.org initiative is an international effort to educate the population about energy saving tips and resources.

The Direct Relief International’s Statement of Work surrounds a Flex Based Multimedia Annual Report which will be used within their website. Since 1948, Direct Relief International has worked to improve the quality of life for people in need. Direct Relief provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. According to Charity Navigator this charity is rated 4 out of 4 stars, and your contribution in time will help this charity grow in the future.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Grab a couple of friends or co-workers and join other web professionals in giving something back by signing up your team of 3 to participate at http://www.webprochallenge.org/enter-now.html! Also, feel free to take a tour of the challenge web site for more information.

Ellis Elkins - Displacement Maps

Ellis Elkins began the meeting with a great intro to using Displacement Maps in Flash. He did a great job explaining how they work, and was able to show some great examples on how to use them.

Links:

Psyark Example

Sample Files

John Lindquist

John continued his presentation from where he left off last week at the UDFUG meeting, and was able to show some great examples of exporting 3D models from 3D Max and importing them into Papervision. (Including more of a gorilla than anybody needed to see.)

(I’ll add any sample files or other links when I get them.)

Thanks again to Ellis & John for volunteering to present on these topics - it’s greatly appreciated. If you’re interested in presenting on any topics for an upcoming meeting, just let us know. Drop me a line at josh@joshbuhler.com.

Don’t forget - our meeting on Papervision 3D & using displacement maps is TONIGHT!

We’ve got a lot to cover tonight, so don’t be late! As usual, the meeting will start at 6:00 PM, at the mediaRAIN office.

255 S. Orem Blvd.

(Directly behind the Pep Boys on Orem State Street)