I am looking forward to the launch of Adobe CS5. Although I have never been an early adopter of major software releases, preferring to read others feedback and take my time to understand the benefit of new features before shelling out hundreds of dollars, this release has my attention.

Adobe Flash CS5
I just got through watching a sneak peak of Flash CS5 at gotoAndLearn.com and it looks like Adobe is hitting the suite spot when it comes to what developers are looking for.

Text handling and fonts have always been a weak point when working in Flash. I am impressed with the features in CS5 that address text flow, better multi-lingual character support and the new font palette.

Flash has established itself as the most popular video streaming platform on the web today. Being able to scrub the video on the stage and add ActionScript cuepoints will be extremely useful timesavers.

Flash’s real power lies in it’s powerful ActionScript programming language that gives developers the freedom to shape the user experience without limits. Code snippets and a host of new features make it easier for programmers to control Flash using ActionScript. The XML-based source files are interesting too. From what I can tell at this early stage it looks like Flash is opening up their traditionally closed, complied SWF files for developers to be able to edit it’s properties and library items on the fly. Not only will this help with using version control, but also unlocks some interesting possibilities with custom content management systems.

The most hype about this release is centered around it’s wide distribution feature. In a nutshell, Adobe wants to allow a project created in Flash to be deployable across any platform (web, desktop, mobile, tablet). Ahead of this release Apple has announced it will not support applications developed using 3rd party (Adobe) software on the operating system running their widely popular iPhones, iTouches and iPads. This latest plot twist in the friction between Apple and Adobe definitely puts a crimp into this feature. However even without the Apple devices this feature will make it easier for developers to port their applications created in Flash to other popular mobile devices running Google’s Android, Windows and others.

I am much more excited about the release of Adobe’s CS5 than I was for the launch of the iPad. This one looks like it might actually be worthy of the hype.

I realized yesterday my iPhone still is not capable of displaying Flash content. After Googling some articles on the subject I did not come up with anything more recent than February of this year when Bloomberg spoke with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen. It sounds like Adobe is on the case, but what Jobs is thinking may be another story.

CEO Steve Jobs said last March that Flash runs too slowly for the iPhone, and a slimmed-down version, called Flash Lite, “isn’t capable enough to be used with the Web.”

The idea of an iPhone specific version of the FlashPlayer makes sense and I am hopeful Adobe will deliver a solution that is agreeable for users, developers, Adobe and Apple. As a developer I would even accept having to publish to a separate version of Flash content for iPhone users.

If Jobs’ primary concern is the speed of content delivery on the iPhone he should direct his focus focus on AT&T, not Adobe Flash Player.

New Flash interface design for Koast2Koast / D-Town Records. Design was done in Photoshop then brought into Flash for animation and interactivity. This is a concept to be used on the artist CD. These guys are great to work with. Fun project!

Here is the clients response:

“Ross is an amazing talent, I first discovered his work when he was with 4What. Just looking at how he focuses on detail made me believe this was the web designer for me. Since then, I hired Ross to create a web design for one of my artist 3riple Threat. We were on a tight deadline trying to close a deal with Universal, and not only did Ross get right on the job, his work left everyone on my team speechless. His work displayed to Universal that our company is committed to working with only the best. I would recommend Ross work to anyone looking to enhance their companies image through viral marketing.”

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This version of my company website was developed in 2005. Ad Design Concepts is a website design company in Naples, Florida.

Flash screen presentation designed in 2005 for Heaven Cigar Company, a cigar manufacturing and distribution company located in Naples, Florida.

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Full Flash website developed in 2004 for Dolphin Transportation, a transportation company located in Naples Florida.

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Flash website developed in 2004 for Harvest Pak Foods, a food production and distribution firm located in Naples, Florida.

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This full flash site in 2003 for Polini North America, a motocross distribution company located in Naples, Florida.

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