Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer (“Sparkle”)

Is the last Microsoft child aiming to be a Flash concurrent?
Sparkle uses Windows Presentation Foundation, which also introduces Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), which enables developers and designers to use an XML-based model to declaratively specify the desired user interface (UI) behavior.
I’ve just downloaded it and the first impression is that the graphic UI is really ugly… but it’s just my very first impression 🙂
Then I will try to do some deeper tests…
some tutorials and examples can be found also here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/expression/articles/516697.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/interactive_designer/id_free_trial.aspx

CVS or SVN, to be or not to be?

I use CVS from many years and I’ve always appreciate its features.
Team development can’t stay without a source version control.
I currently went accross some pages describing differences between cvs and svn (for example: http://www.pushok.com/soft_svn_vscvs.php) and I must admit svn has some cool features which cvs doesn’t have.
I was just curious to know which do you use currently..
http://www.pushok.com/soft_svn_vscvs.php

NetConnection Debugger Alternates

Today I’ve started a new Flash project which will also involve Flash Remoting.
So I decided to try this ServiceCapture tools for debugging the amf messages as replacement of the builtin NetConnection debugger.
I’m really suck of the flash NetConnection Debugger (it works 50% of the times for me). Sometimes I need to close and re-open it in order to make it works again, sometimes it doesnt display anything at all…
Btw, ServiceCapture can capture every kind of HTTP traffic, not only remoting calls and it has also a bandwidth simulation feature. (and these are cool features)
However the full license costs $34.99, which is not so cheap for this kind of tool.
http://kevinlangdon.com/serviceCapture/

MySQL 5.0 is here!

Finally the long awaited new major version of MySQL (the most popular database over the net) has been released!
Some of the most important new features are:

  • Pluggable Storage Engine
  • Distributed Transaction Processing
  • Stored Procedures
  • Triggers
  • Views

Moreover within MySQL 5.0 is distributed an Enhanced Graphical Management Tools: a new Query Browser and Administrator Tool.
A White Paper with all the new features is available after a free registration
http://www.mysql.com

Nightwish. End of an era

Today I’ve read a shocking news, too much for my old heart..
Tarja Turnen, singer of Nightwish, has been Sacked from Nightwish!!
I’ve become too attached to them.. and I fear they wont be the same anymore.
Tuomas and the three other members of Nightwish have published an open letter to Tarja Turunen and fans of Nightwish regarding her position with the band.
Coincidence they recorded “End Of An Era” 2 days ago?
http://www.nightwish.com/english/lettertotarjaen.html

Macromedia Labs

Macromedia launched “Macromedia ” with these words:
“Macromedia MAX 2005 – Anaheim, CA – October 17, 2005 – Macromedia, Inc. today announced Macromedia Labs, a new site on macromedia.com for developers to download early versions of Macromedia technologies, share feedback and insight, and help shape the direction of new products and technologies. Beginning today on Macromedia Labs, developers can download the public alphas of Macromedia Flash Player 8.5 and Macromedia Flex Builder 2, part of the Macromedia Flex 2 product line announced earlier this month. The Flex 2 product line and Flash Player 8.5 are the foundation for building effective rich Internet applications that blend the responsiveness of desktop software, the cross-platform reach of the web, and the breathtaking expressiveness of the Flash Platform.”
Actually on Macromedia Labs we can find info and download about Flex 2 Alpha, Flash Player 8.5 Alpha, and Actionscript 3 Alpha. It’s the first time that Macromedia reveal its future software and features this way, and I think that’s very useful for developers, because in this way the can read and try new features/languages and so migrate to them step by step!
http://labs.macromedia.com

Paradise Lost…

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Holidays are finished also this year…
Back from Paradise, it’s so difficult to switch mind to the all days’ things.
This Summer we’d different holidays as we used to do; no warm sun, no beach, no hot sand.. but they were so incredible and unforgettable.
But they are finished!
So let’s start a new year.. Welcome back to everyone.
Many news will come for everyone of us with the next release of all the Macromedia products

Here the source code of the fader:

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