Oscar Trelles

For some time now, I have noticed that pieces of software like Sothink SWF Decompiler are becoming very popular downloads. As the naming suggest, decompilers make it possible to de-construct movie files (*.swf) and recreate the structure of the original Flash source file, though not the file (*.fla) itself. Opening an SWF file with this tools lets you have access to all the elements of the movie –including image and sound files, that you can export independently to your hard drive. You can also export the ActionScript code to a text file.
I have learned a lot from source files made available to the public, by authors and members of the Flash community; but by decompiling an exported file — for which a source file is not being provided, are we doing the right thing?. Some people are really concerned about their work being copied or their materials reused somewhere else. Although the creators of these decompilers encourage you to use the tools only with your own files, the fact is that most of the people don’t download decompilers with that in mind, or do they?
In any case, I must assume that the existence of decompilers is completely legal, but what about the use of the objects one can get from a decompiled swf? As far as I know, there is no way to avoid potential abuse of swf files; so, if you really need to protect your materials, what can you do? Here are a couple of things to may want to have in mind when publishing your files:
- Include copyright information about your code, images, sound files, etc.
- Avoid placing private information within your code (e.g. passwords)

If you haven’t voted yet, this is your opportunity. The official logo for WhatIsFlash.com will be elected from five finalists. Come on! help us decide; voting is open to everybody, even you haven’t registered your support to the WIF initiative.

Nick Peterson from Electric Rain will be the featured speaker for this meeting. Nick will be showing tips, techniques and tutorials on how to use Swift 3D and some of its more advanced features. He will also be discussing and demonstrating Optimaze, a product that optimizes and reduces the file size of your SWF files. Copies of this products will the raffled among attendees.
For more details, go to the LIFUG’s website.

I was about to get some sleep, when I noticed this in my last review to the news. Greg Burch’s blog just got a facelift and there are some cool features he has added on the sides. The new URL is http://www.gregburch.com/blog/. Check it out. The only thing I couldn’t find is a link to my blog

It seems like the new Macromedia web site is almost ready. They have been running some tests live, and some people got confused, thinking that the site was already changed. I didn’t see it. When I read the postings about the change, I pointed my browser to Macromedia’s web site, but it was still looked the same…. so, I wondered if the changes were only in the backend, or something like that. As pointed by Mike Chambers, the new site will be launched shortly, and it does have a new visual design and has been built with pure MX technology (Flash, CF) and good old HTML, of course.
Also, the Designer & Developer Center has been revamped and renamed Macromedia DevNet. Greg Burch have been working in the Exchange section, making it a lot easier to update already submited Extensions, since you won’t need to go through the whole submission process again. That’s good news for Components authors: the last time I submited and Extension update it took almost a month to be published.
I can’t wait to see the new site up an running, and try all the cool new stuff.

Yesterday, Jeremy Allaire announced in his blog that will be no longer working at Macromedia, without precising an specific date. He will be moving on to face new challenges but promises not to be an stranger to all the people working with Macromedia’s products and the mailing lists; in fact, he’ll still be talking and writing on behalf of Macromedia, now in the role of “Founder Emeritus”.
The best of luck Jeremy, and keep blogging!

I got this from the LIFUG’s mailing list: imaginationatwork.com. It’s a drawing board by General Electrics, and although I don’t find any direct relationship between their products and this game(?), it is pretty cool stuff.
But there is more, you can save your drawings for you, or send them to your friends. For example, here is something I drew; if you feel like adding something to it, you can draw over it and post the new link in the comments.

Votation has started over at WhatIsFlash.com to decide which of all those great entries will be the official Logo for the project. Submission of logos ended last night, giving place to an open election where everybody is invited to participate, even if you haven’t signed up to support the WhatIsFlash.com initiative.

I found about this on the Screenweaver coders list. It is basically a way to summarize all your include files in just one, without the need of writing the whole list or even knowing the names of all the files; INCA generates a wildcard file for all the folder containing your library files, including subdirectories. So, if you work with lots of independent AS files, your files change a lot, or you keep on adding files to your library every day, this tool could come in handy. By the way, it was made with Screenweaver.

Today is a very sad day. All seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia were killed this morning, when the spacecraft broke up just minutes before it’s scheduled landing time. More information: Reuters, CNN, ABC.