Flash Builder sneak peek: Mobile application development

Posted by on Apr 7, 2011 in devices, Flash Builder, mobile | 11 comments

I’m sure you all know that Flash Builder will enable you to build applications with Flex and/or ActionScript and then compile them for distribution on the Android Market. An upcoming version of Flash Builder will also enable the same workflow for iOS and BlackBerry Tablet OS applications. You’ll even be able to package these different types of installers in one go.

11 Comments

  1. Flashpapa
    April 7, 2011

    COOOL
    …and when it’s scheduled for?

  2. Lode Schoors
    April 8, 2011

    Serge,

    How about performance when doing this? I heard right now it’s better to use titanium for multiscreen apps…can you comfirm?

    Personally I really like the flex enviroment so, titanium or others would costs me extra learning time. In near future I have to build a multiscreen app which needs to run on iphone,android and blackberry phones… I am struggling with the choice of technology. Can you help me?

    Thank alot! I am waiting for the multiscreen feature since announcement on the RIA event @ adobe HQ in Brussels.

    Greetz

    Lode

  3. Irfan Suleman
    April 8, 2011

    it’s just Awesome, when it’s due date?

  4. Georges Jentgen
    April 8, 2011

    Awesome Work!
    The video shows how to package the final app for all 3 mobile device platforms. But what about testing/debugging the app? Is it possible to run the app using the iOS simulator (and Android/Blackberry) in a fast and easy way?

    Are there any plans for device-specific components that mimic the look and feel of the platforms? I know that a standard flex-button would look awful on an iOS device where you’re used to a certain look and feel.

  5. viaria
    April 8, 2011

    yes, when it’s scheduled for?

  6. Benny
    April 8, 2011

    I would love to use Flash Builder 4.5. for future cross platform mobile development but these concerns are what might hold me back:

    - dependency on AIR. Are users on e.g. android phones willing to install air for apps which are not very important to them or will they back out installing an air app when they learn they first need to install Air?

    - GUI: will GUI components look and behave native to any of the platforms?

    - Will Air apps be more a hit on the device battery than a native app and if so how much % more on average?

    - Will speed be comparable with apps build in java on Android or Object-C on iOS? … if not how much % slower on average?

    - Will I be able to call native (Java/Object-C/C++) code per platform where needed/required/desired?

  7. Avinash
    April 9, 2011

    Hey Serge,

    Any idea regarding the release date?

    Thanks,
    Avinash

  8. Santosh
    April 9, 2011

    Awasome !!!, I am very excited to know release date of this version.

  9. Steven Peeters
    April 9, 2011

    @Benny
    AIR will automatically be installed (or at least the user gets prompted) when you download your first AIR app on the mobile device. That’s exactly the same as on the desktop, so what would make the difference for the user?

    The GUI is not native. It’s Flash, you know. On the PlayBook you can work with the QNX library to get the native look though.

    Native development will always be faster. But that’s a small price to pay when developing cross-platform applications, no? Well, at least if it is not more than 10% slower or so.

    Calling native applications is something that should be possible, since it’s the same AIR runtime as on the desktop.

    @everyoneElse
    Yes, I have an idea on the release date ;-)

  10. Serge Jespers
    April 9, 2011

    As far as the release date goes I can only say: Soon ;-)

  11. Sanjay Bharekar
    April 12, 2011

    Hi,

    I am Sanjay Bharekar, new in mobile devlopment.

    I have made one application in Android and Blackberry Tablet. I want to make same application in iphone. can you guide me how add sdk in flash builder.

    Thanks
    Sanjay