Using the Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer

The Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer is a cross-platform desktop application built on Adobe AIR that we created to help you discover the rich and engaging interactive solutions in Flash and AIR enabled by Flash Media Interactive Server 3. This application hosts over 30 examples of streaming and multiway communication solutions, including basic server connection examples, complex video streaming, and authentication routines. You can also learn to build video messaging and VoIP solutions.

Install the AIR application and download the server-side assets (linked to below) that you can deploy with the free Flash Media Development Server. Every example contains the source MXML, ActionScript 3.0, and server-side ActionScript code you'll need to test out these solutions.

Here is how you set up the samples for the Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer:

1. Download and install Flash Media Development Server 3 or Flash Media Interactive Server 3. (These samples do not work with Flash Media Streaming Server 3.)
2. Download and unzip the server-side code and video samples (linked to below) to the /applications folder of your Flash Media Interactive Server installation.
3. Install the Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer AIR application.
4. Run the Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer.
5. Click Configure Servers at the top of the application window.
6. Enter the Flash Media Server URI, administrator name, and password of your Flash Media Server.
7. To test the multipoint publish example, enter the URL of a second Flash Media Server.

Requirements

To get the most out of this article, you'll need the following software and files:

Flash Media Development Server 3

• Download

Flash Media Interactive Server Feature Explorer

Server-side code and video samples:

fms_explorer_samples.zip (ZIP, 55 MB)

Photoshop Express adds new features

The peeps behind the Photoshop Express online image editor have been keeping busy, adding drag-and-drop upload, more printing and editing options, and more. According to Macworld,

A couple of the new updates use Adobe’s AIR technology. The Photoshop Express Uploader enables photo uploading from the desktop of any Internet-connected computer. AIR is also behind a feature that “bridges the real-time, dynamic capabilities of the Web with the computing power and data capabilities of the desktop computer,” according to Adobe.

Another handy feature is the ability to drag and drop photos directly from your photo application into Photoshop Express. Users can now also print photos through Shutterfly.

Dynamic slideshows can now have music created exclusively for Photoshop Express. For organizing, the addition of tags allows for easy viewing and searching by name, party, venue, subject and anything else you find useful.

A one-click Resize tool with presets for mobile, Web, e-mail or online Profiles is now available and you can now download photos from anyone’s public album and keep a collection of their favorites.

All of the new features are available immediately by logging into the Photoshop Express Web site.