Macromedia Flex Seminar

Kevin Hoyt conducted an online Flex seminar. If you have missed attending it, you can watch the recording.
This seminar would really help someone who wants to understand Flex and get started with it.
Recorded session can be watched at: http://seminars.breezecentral.com/p39772995/

ICQ-2-GO using Flash 7 as front-end

ICQ-2-GO is using Macromedia Flash 7 player as front-end. I came to know from Zeh's blog.
I just gave it try and its really fast and better than previous Java based front-end.
ICQ is also using Flash 7 for its IRC client.
Wow! I am feeling very good and happy to see such things....

Nice Flash Debug Tool

Today on flashcoders list, I got to know about John Grden's debugging tool for flash applications. Which is still in beta phase & it seems that he posted the link by mistake. However, he is kind enough to open the site to show it to everyone. What he has made so far is really interesting, nice & useful.
Don't miss to watch the video clips out there, it shows the usage of the tools.
Go get it here. If you are planning to test it, please do give the feedback.
This tool has an Official Blog .

J2ME application - A simple tutorial

Cesar has shared his experience of making a very simple DICE J2ME application, which I believe could serve as a good tutorial for J2ME starters.
Though same thing can be done with few lines of code in Macromedia FlashLite. But I really find it worth mentioning here.
Tutorial Link: http://www.design-nation.net/en/archives/000445.php

Tsunami Videos

Manish has put up the Tsunami video clips on his blog. I might also put those clips on my server in next few days.
Tsunami Clips: http://manish.revise.org/archives/2004/12/30/tsunami-videos/

How Macromedia helping Tsunami victims!

What Macromedia doing for Tsunami victims.
Ben Forta says:
"Yesterday an e-mail from Sankalp Saxena, Managing Director of Macromedia India, was sent to all Macromedia employees worldwide. The message described the unspeakable tragedy that devastated parts of Asia this week, and initiated a fund drive, requesting that donations be made to the International Relief Fund via the American Red Cross. And the part that made me proud was Macromedia's pledged to match all donations. Amidst all the pain this week, a beacon of kindness, compassion, and giving, shines through."

True Ben, Macromedia is great place to work. Though I already dontated couple of days back but I will do it again.

Tsunami Victims: They all need our help

Update: Some important links
Tsunami Help
World Changing
Command Post


Dear Friends

The titanic Tsunami has caused death and destruction of a magnitude that requires relief and rehabilitation on a massive scale.
We all can join hands in the humanitarian task of raising funds in aid of the victims of this national calamity.
It is a tragedy beyond human conception. Tsunami (Japanese for Harbour Tides)battered the coasts of Eastern India, Andaman & Nicobar (partly Western Coast as well), Srilanka, Maldives and many other small minor islands in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. A tragedy beyond even the magnitude seen in the Gujarat Earth quake a couple of years back in India.
The guess estimate losses have run into Billions though it is very early to predict the exact damage. We share the agony of thousands who have been stranded and the relatives / friends who have lost their near and dear ones. Mere words can't console their feelings. They will take months if not years before they rise above this human tragedy which has struck many of them unawares. Just do a web search for the "Tsunami India Victims" and see the graphical details posted in many web sites showing the enormous damage that Mother Nature has wrought.
Government is doing their best in this trying hours but they need help too. They need every one of us to share in their work and lighten their mammoth work.
Like any tragedy where we can either help or standby and watch. After all, like good things, bad things are cyclical in nature too. You never when we may need the help of the Society. Like the old saying goes "When you help others in an hour of crisis God provides help in an hour of your crisis".
We have 2 options now in front of us:

Option 1:
Many NGOs and Government themselves have setup relief funds. Few of them are listed below for you to help in making donations - you can courier a Cheque / Draft for your donation amount to one of these :

Central Govt.
Refer : http://pmindia.nic.in/relief.htm
1. The Prime Minister has issued an appeal to all citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to help fund the relief and rehabilitation measures.
The donations can be made by cheque or draft in the name of "The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund" and sent to the Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi 110001. As per directions on the subject the nationalised banks are not to charge any commission on preparation of drafts favouring the PMNRF.
Contributions can also be made directly to the branches of the following banks:
State Bank of India
Central Bank of India
Union bank of India
Dena Bank
Syndicate Bank
Corporation Bank
Bank of India
Indian Overseas Bank
Punjab National Bank
Indian Bank
Allahabad Bank
Citi Bank
Contributions can also be sent through Money Orders with no commission chargeable. Contributions to the PMNRF have ben notified for 100% deduction form taxable income under section 80(G) of the Income tax act.

2.Tamilnadu Government :
Refer : http://www.tn.gov.in/misc/cmprf2003.htm
Contributions to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund are most welcome.
The Contribution may be sent either by cash or cheque or Demand Draft drawn in favour of "CHIEF MINISTER'S PUBLIC RELIEF FUND" addressed to :

The Joint Secretary to Government and Treasurer,
Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund,
Finance Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.

Receipt will be given immediately on credit of the amount contributed to the fund Account which is entitled for 100% Tax Relief under Income Tax Act 1961.

3. THE HINDU DAILY : Refer : http://pay.hindu.com/thrfpay/thrfpay.jsp
A relief fund has specially been set up to receive contributions, which may be sent as cheques or drafts payable to :
"The Hindu Relief Fund"
Kasturi Buildings
859 Anna Salai
Chennai 600 002
INDIA

You can also alternately find a local NGO who may be partaking in the work through whom you can channelise your donations. Those of you who are located near the affected areas can offer material relief as well in the form of used clothes, vessels etc.
Option 2:
A much easier route to many of us. Forward this mail to your friends, help it being posted in discussion forums, blogs etc. to spread the message.
Remember, when we help others we are sowing the seed of future help to ourselves in such trying circumstances.

Thanks for reading this message.

I got this mail from a friend. Let's help them.

Condolences to tsunami victims

This is really sad, thousands of people lost their lives in south-east Asia including India due to tsunami.
People say that we could have saved many lives, if we have better tsunami warning systems. I hope we have such things soon.
I offer my condolences to tsunami victims. May their soul rest in perfect peace.

I am back

It's been almost a month, there is no post here. I came back from San Francisco on Nov 24 and then went to see my parents. I came to Bangalore on Dec 6 and after that I have been quite busy in work.
I am expecting, I will be busy for next couple of months.
I am really disconnected from Flash/Flex community because I am not very active in mailing lists or any other community forums. I am not doing any things except Flex at work.
But I will be back...

Time to go back...

Two months back, we came to San Francisco in september and now its time to go back.
Its really nice experience being in SF. Nice people, nice weather, nice places and nice open culture where anyone could easily fit.
I have very mixed feeling while going back, one side I am quite excited and otherside I am sad and know that I will miss San Francisco. I hope, I would come here again in future.
India, I am coming back...