The platform interface looks very similar to Flash. So this looks like it will be very easy to learn if you know Flash and HTML.

Link to software: http://edge.adobe.com

Essentially this is nothing new. HTML5 can do a lot of what Flash does but that 20% is big, because they are the high end interactions and gaming features which is what Flash is intended to do anyway. As I tell my students, at this point in time, you need to know Flash and its going to be long time before its gone so get used to developing in it and clients requesting it/needing it. I also tell them to start learning javascript because eventually it will be the future but at this point HTML5 is too new and its going to a long transition between Flash and HTML5. Additionally, Adobe appears to be the lead developer for HTML5 so you will more than likely continue to buy your authoring tools from them. Also remember that Adobe Air allows one to publish Flash Apps on iPhone and iPad.

Each of these software packages allows you to create mobile apps on multiple devices. So I can develop one app and it will run on the iPhone, iPad, and Android based devices. Thus I no longer need to waste valuable time developing apps for both iOS and Android when I can develop one that deploys on both.

With Adobe Air, you develop your app in Flash and package it for each device. Wait, isnt there a rumor that Flash doesnt work on iPhone? Yes there is that rumor and it is only partially true. Flash does not run in the iOS browser BUT it will run as a stand alone app. So YES you can develop apps in Flash for Apple and they work very well.

With PhoneGap, also owned by Adobe, you can develop apps via HTML5 and then publish to Android and iOS devices. Again these work very well.

Additionally, with both of these software packages I can actually use hardware features of the phone and use them when not connected to the internet. Something you can do with all mobile apps but not the mobile web. The disadvantage to developing an app over a website is that Apple has to approve it (not a problem with Android). Otherwise Apps are much better than a mobile website.

Why would I use one over the other? Flash apps are designed for more sophisticated apps that require large amounts of data (database), high intensity graphics, lots of screens, animations, etc. PhoneGap apps are better for small simple apps. Both are great for development though. Additionally, Adobe is really starting to integrate phonegap into dreamweaver so I would not be surprised if we see these two software packages merged at some point (maybe CS7?).

I will be using both of these software packages in my courses next year, so if you are interested in learning more about them, please contact me.

Adobe Air – http://www.adobe.com/products/air.html

PhoneGap – http://phonegap.com/

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/adobe-cs6-subscription-creative-cloud-photoshop-official/

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/adobe-systems-to-launch-creative-suite-6-will-make-it-available-on-a-subscription-basis/2012/04/23/gIQAQeb3aT_story.html

“Question

And with respect to the CS5 mid-cycle release, is that going to impact the timing of CS6?

Adobe CEO

Well, I think the way you can look at that is the real goals for the mid-cycle release are to continue to enhance the functionality…

And then you can expect another release in 2012.

Question

So then just to confirm, you said the next milestone release after the mid-cycle release will be in 2012. Is that correct?

Adobe CEO

That’s correct.”

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<form name=”form1″ id=”form1″ method=”post” action=”<?=$PHP_SELF?>”>
<p>Name:
<input type=”text” name=”name” />
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Email:
<input type=”text” name=”email” />
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Subject:
<input type=”text” name=”subject” />
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Message:
<textarea name=”comments” cols=”40″></textarea>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>
<input name=”submitentry” type=”submit” value=”SUBMIT” />
<input type=”reset” name=”Submit2″ value=”Reset” />
</p>
</form>
<p>
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$sql = “‘$name’, ‘$email’, ‘$comments'”;
$em = “‘$subject'”;
mail(‘YourEmailAddressHere’, $em, $sql);
echo(“<p>Your message has been sent!” . “</p>”);
}
?></p>

HTML Page using CSS

CSS Page

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