Recently I’ve been kept SUPER DUPER busy with many different development projects that are all seeming to wrap up at the same time. Soon you’ll see some new Flash work coming out of an innovative ad delivery company in San Fran, plenty of Flex Mobile and Feathers Mobile work that you won’t see – all internal stuff.
This blog has been neglected for a LONG time. First it was because I was spending time writing a book. Then it was because I spent too much time with too many clients building too many apps. Then it was because I spent just the right amount of time learning (a lot) of new stuff.
As I’m wanting to get back into my blogging I’m using this as my kickoff. If I have some time I’ll update the look, but for now it will have to stay the same.
So what have I been up to?
I know that my blog posts have gone to almost zero for the last few months, but there is a really good reason for that… I wrote a book! Almost 400 pages in all, this book focuses on using Flex to build mobile application for Android, iOS, and QNX platforms using Adobe Air.
Flex Mobile in Action teaches you to use the powerful Flex Platform to create applications that can stretch across Apple iOS, Android, and BlackBerry devices. It focuses on practical application development techniques such as accessing native device capabilities, choosing the right architectural patterns, building data access models, and more. For developers new to Flex, the book provides a quick overview that will get you started in no time.
I am quickly wrapping up this book with final versions going out soon, now is a great time to get into mobile with Flex and AIR. Making one application that targets multiple platforms has never been easier. Go ahead and get your copy now.
360Flex is a conference that I always look forward to. No other conference has the ability to bring together new and old initiates into the community and end with everyone as close friends. Every year I look forward to the conversations, drinking, long walks on the beach… you get the idea.
This year my talk is going to be a bit different than any other song and dance I’ve done before. Could be bad. Could be great! We’ll have to see.
This is where you come in.
I am looking for questions from the community now and all the way till we are all in the same room together about mobile development. Over the last 2 years I’ve been fortunate to have a long string of mobile projects – both for clients and home grown. I am looking at spending this time to discuss theory, best practices, code, and whatever else may just be slowing you down in your mobile development. Please post questions here in the comments or contact me at @jonbcampos.
I will be presenting in a general session on wednesday.
In additional to my presentation 360Flex is an exciting time because that is when my book, Flex Mobile In Action, will be released. I will be giving away 5 copies of my book at 360Flex to the 5 best questions that I receive.
I look forward to your questions.
This is the first ANE that I made for my own project… hopefully my other ones can be released soon.
Anyways, let’s get right to it.
The ApplicationFinder ANE is something I created to help you find other Applications on your Android system. You can get information 2 ways.
isAppInstalled(package:String):PackageInfo
This method looks to see if a particular application (by app id) is installed. If the application is installed ApplicationFinder returns the name, package id, version number, and version name of the application. If the app isn’t installed you get null.
getInstalledApps():Array
This method just returns to you the entire list of installed apps. Go nuts, search and find what you need. Like the isAppInstalled you get the name, package id, version number, and version name of the application.
Later I’ll add things like also returning the app icon, possibly some app management methods (startup, shutdown, etc).
I’ve included my test app here so you can run it, and then the ANE also. Enjoy!
I wrote a book detailing how to get into mobile development for Android, iOS, and QNX devices using Flex and AIR. You will learn all the in's and out's of Flex mobile development along with some advanced techniques utilizing ANEs, User Tracking, generating Ad revenue, ANT scripts and Unit Testing. Make sure to check it out!
