Introducing: Buzzr: a multi-user, multi-platform quiz game
This idea has been in my head for quite some time. I actually came up with it when I was building the demo for my MAX keynote appearance last October. I just never found the time to actually build it but I started on it this week.
The idea is simple. You open up a browser, surf to the game’s website and start a new game. Then you take out your Flash/AIR enabled device, surf to the site or download/install the app and join the game. All devices just connect using Stratus, our P2P service. Family fun without the need to buy anything new. While the app is very much still in very early development phase, I just wanted to give you a little sneak peek.
I finally found a use for those cool arcade buttons in Flash! :D Stay tuned for more!
Start playing with Adobe Stratus (client to client communication)
Want to build a video chat application, multi-player games or voice-over-ip applications for the Flash Player or AIR without worrying about setting up a server infrastructure? Stratus (which we showcased at MAX) is your new best friend.
Stratus is a beta hosted rendezvous service that helps establish communication between Flash Player or AIR clients. Once two clients are connected to Stratus, they can send data directly client to client. The APIs in Flash Player 10 and Adobe AIR 1.5 allow for point-to-point communication between a small number of subscribers. Publishers have to send data to all subscribing clients, so the number of subscribers is limited to the available bandwidth on the publisher end.
The Stratus technology page is now live on Adobe Labs at www.adobe.com/go/stratus. Developers can use their Adobe ID to sign up for a unique developer key that is required to connect to the Stratus Service. While it is in beta, the Stratus service is free for developers to use.
To help you get started, we’ve also provided a sample video phone application. The working sample is live on the Adobe Labs site and we’ve provided the source code and a developer center article to help you build your own applications.
For more info about Stratus and answers to Frequently Asked Questions go to: http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Stratus:FAQ
Weekly blend – The MAX-edition
With so many announcements at MAX (and after), I thought it was a good idea to do a round up of all the cool stuff we announced/showed/released this week.
Alchemy: Alchemy is a research project that allows users to compile C and C++ code that is targeted to run on the open source ActionScript Virtual Machine.
Bolt: Bolt is the code name for a new Eclipse based development tool that you can use to build applications for ColdFusion. Click to sign up for the beta.
Centaur: Centaur is the code name for the next release of ColdFusion. Beta applications are now being accepted. Click for more info.
Cocomo: Cocomo is a Platform as a Service that allows Flex developers to easily add real-time social capabilities into their RIA.
Configurator: Configurator is an open source utility that enables the easy creation of panels (palettes) for use in Photoshop CS4.
Durango: Durango allows developers, designers and end-users to easily mashup independent components to create new applications or extend existing Durango-enabled applications.
Flash Catalyst: Flash Catalyst is a new professional interaction design tool for rapidly creating application interfaces and interactive content without coding.
Genesis: Genesis is the code name for a new product initiative at Adobe with the objective of joining business applications, documents and the web on every knowledge worker’s desktop with integrated collaboration capabilities.
Gumbo: Gumbo is the code name for the next generation of Flex.
InContext Editing: InContext Editing is an online service that allows designers to create, manage, and control editable web pages.
PatchPanel: A first glimpse at combining the dynamic control of ActionScript with the power of Adobe’s Creative Suite.
Pixel Bender 5: An image and video processing infrastructure with runtime optimization on heterogeneous hardware.
Stratus: A new communications protocol called the Real-Time Media Flow Protocol (RTMFP). The most important features of RTMFP include low latency, end-to-end peering capability, security and scalability.
Text Layout Framework: The Text Layout Framework is an extensible library, built on the new text engine in Adobe Flash Player 10, which delivers advanced, easy-to-integrate typographic and text layout features for rich, sophisticated and innovative typography on the web.
Wave: Wave is an Adobe AIR application and Adobe hosted service that work together to enable desktop notifications.
Wow… That should keep you busy for a while ;-)
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