Also looks like there will finally be something to replace the oh-so-missed class generator that existed back in the previous AMFPHP versions.

Seeing Flash Builderm I am still not clear as to what the difference is between the Flex builder and Flash builder. Especially seeing a Flex app being built in Flash Builder. but I am sold on the whole Catalyst/Builder concept since first seeing it over at the labs. Yeas I admit it, I have been dabbling around without in my freetime. No matter what some people say, Flash is not about to die just yet.

VIA

The same goes for developers for whom the only way to distribute their content legally is the AppStore.

But it is not Apple’s refusal to embrace the open source universe and the hordes of developers who apparently stand at the ready, but rather the so called battle of the titans that the iPad’s release supposedly kicks of.
Let me admit at this point that I am really looking forward to my first meeting with this newest Apple-Gadget.

Apple has always wanted to depict themselves as the outsider, or the troublemaker, the different thinkers (call it what you want)…they have always been that annoying kid on the block that nag others for this and that (The year-old get a mac ads). But for the first time (that I can remember) a launch of a new product does not seem to have the unison wow-effect. This really gives me hope.

The iPad provides the ultimate browsing experience? (get used to the blue lego’s)

Adobe on their side, made the first step towards this handheld market, when they announced that Flash CS5 you can now compile your FLA directly to the iPod (and with that, I would assume, the iPad).

For years now, it has been clear that the web, as such, will move out of the browsers, and on to platforms. Why is it then then that people like Lee Brimlow (who calls himself a Platform Evangelist) are screaming so loud. A few years ago Adobe launched Air, allowing Flash developers to deploy their Flash creations in a whole new way. Yes there are now browsers that do not display Flash, but honestly, what would a full fledged Flash/Video website like Tackfilm look and feel like on an iPad. I have problems believing that the either a pod or a pad would be able to make this the memorable experience it could be.  In any case, I think this is a question of choosing ones battlegrounds. I think Apple should definetely look into making the Flash player an option, but it not being there by default really does not bother me that much. Give people the choice of what they want to do with their new gadget. But then again has choice ever been in the interest of closed source system or platform suppliers.

The iPad And Chrome OS Netbooks Are On A Collision Course

What I really found interesting in this Techchrunch article was that they where seeing this as a start of an attack of Apple vs Google (and their highly anticipated Netbook) with Microsoft suffering in the middle. The question is, is Microsoft really suffering? If this really is a Mac vs Google issue, doesn’t this mean that Apple has lost focus. Have they become too confident by opening a war on a second front? A two front war is rarely won by those that start it. Is Apple really ignoring the most basic advice of Sun Tzu, who said “Never ever divide your army into two and never fight on two fronts at the same time”. I guess only time will show how this will turn out.

There is not really any point to my post, it is more of a message in a bottle really. Now I’ll throw it out into the sea, see if it’ll land on somebodies shore.

One goal that Mark and I set ourselves was that the site was to be fully Search engine optimized. That part was my job. I added a multitude of tools to the Shanti CMS like autogeneration of a sitemap (that is resubmittted) upon content updates, HTML only page generation linked to the SWFaddress library etc. And I am really happy today as I see that this really payed off.

"Marketel" googled

First off, we got site links. Those links showing right below the Page Title, letting users access pertinent content directly. This is something that is generated by Google, only if the robot deems the site pertinent. Well I guess our code was good enough for them.

The number of pages indexed:
Google: 228
Bing: 164

Including these two as well just for show:
Altavista: 477
AlltheWeb: 479

I am really happy with the result here. So I felt like sharing. Feel free to get in touch if you think your site needs some more Search Engine Friendlier PHP.

Just a thought…

First off, by some reason, Flash does not like namespaces, nor any <soap:something> formulated XML. So to fix  any SOAP XML loaded into XML this Class comes in very handy. AS3:Namespace Remover

Secondly, to actually connect to a webservice, I am using this Class, from the same developer.gofr available for download.

So big ups to Alducente Labs, for all that very valuable sharing…

I am really happy about this as future use of ShantiCMS with Flash sites will be a breeze like this. A week ago or so I built a CSS file for a site template of one of Marketel‘s clients, and it reminded me of what a headache browser compatability. Having spent most of my time, these last years, working on either the deep end of the back end (as in Terminal administration of servers, or classing apps or, when having to create front ends, I would use Flash. There is one Flash player, versions yet, but one version will look the same on either platform, and on either Browser.

(also have to admit that I like AS3 more and more – for those who know me, I had been ranting quite a bit against it)

anyways, enough rant, what ever the front end. My trusted Shanti will stay in the backend. Google, live and ask like my  sitemap.xml generator as well. It really has boosted those sites that I use for indexed content. Especially since I tweaked the ‘priority’ variable. Anyways. I tweak it, what have you done for Shanti as of late?

A few things that need to building:

1. Betterment of the CMS media management
2. Add a custom contact us template or maybe a custom include much like the wordpress [contact]
   1. Add a subscribe Template allowing site owners to collect email addresses.

these I come up with of the top of my head. Also, part of my RubyRails self teaching classes. I am rewriting my shanti classes with RaR.

So while I continue my way through my RubyRail literature I will use this to further use CI!

Now the AMFPHP library has come true.  Will integrate this into Shanti CMS shortly. Now using the CI controllers would be nice too. The library allows AMFPHP services to directly connect to and consume CodeIgniter Models. Nice library!

check out the Library here

download here

PS: Added the library to Shanti CMS, and all is working well…

I know, I know, I so solemnly declared I had found my mountain, Django, pyamf, with a touch of twister on the serverside where what I needed to master. Well as so often in Technology, things aren’t always that simple.

I have managed to work my way through the initial Tutorials and instruction manuals, of both Django and pyamf. And so far things are working smoothly. Though I have to admit that the seemingly simple task of updating my python2.4 to 2.5, including the different modules was quite the hassle when not having been confronted with this language (and this part of server administration) ever. Yes, I admit, EVER. This has been a hassle, and since my attempts to update to 2.5, mod_python is giving me headaches, and the MYSQLdb module is missing. So much on that…

In any case, while I was dabbling with python I stumbled across these most wonderful nerdy piece of blog post (1. Why did rails suddenly become the whipping boy of 2008? 2. ruby vs python). And I must say that I found it most informative. Essentially opening the floor to two very hard headed and vocal communities.  A very subjective comparison of Ruby and Python. All in all a long but at times rather amusing read. And most of all it really gives you a good ‘best of both worlds’ overview. One that that really intrigues me about Ruby (and this attraction is the reason for this posts title) are two things. Today, during my lunch break, I ran by Indigo down the street from work, and sifted through some of the Python Django literature they have there. Amongst all this python literature I do see the gem of ruby shine on a shelf. I remember watching their video tutorials…from way back when. In any case, one thing led to a google. And off I am. So how can I resist the need to peak a little more before I buy, so until then I will continue to deploy AMFPHP and CI apps. Any take you have on either or both ruby and python, let me know. And I really mean ANY take, from ANY ANGLE…

Ruby vs Python, Rock vs Snake, Ball vs String…go! The floor is yours…well my inbox actually

Until then…

read more at sephiroth.it

The Flash (9, AS3) front end draws its data of a database managed and maintained through my own Shanti CMS (the db Structure remains the same as well). The data is fed to Flash via AMFPHP.
We also added SWF address into the mix allowing deeplinking within the site. I also completed a script for SEO google friendly content so that deeplinks can be properly indexed. As of yet, this function remains on the DEV server as Frieda came along. But as such the function is tested ready and true, and it will be my first order of business when back in action.

Just felt like that the news needed spreading, as this site had been in the making for quite some time. I remember hearing talk of a new web site back when I first started @ Marketel for the first time back in 2006 there was already talk of a new website. Many-an Art Director tried his and her luck, but to no avail. Nothing ever materialized. Funny how that goes. It took a determined president and way to little time to push it through. We had, admittedly, been dabbling on the project since the beginning of the summer. But there was no serious production time allocated to the project until Jaques Duval made it clear that he needed a new site, and he needed it pronto. He had a big announcement to make, both internally and externally and for it, a new web site was needed. The two weeks running up to the launch, Marc-Antoine and I clocked in at well above one hundred hours, but to no avail. so instead of launching a half finished product the launch was postponed, the press release, was not.

But look at us now, a good looking site. Deeplinkable, downloaded lightning fast (the site totals at below 200 Kb) and running smooth as a kitten. A result of a couple of late nights, honest hard work, and wayyyyy too much StHubert. But looking at it now I was well worth. With google analytics telling me that many visitors like what they are clicking, and a row of up-coming extensions I think we can be quite happy with the out come. The outcome, which, from the start, we wanted to be a framework that both Front- and Back-end could be taken on and easily implemented in any up-coming productions…

we rock!

and others think so too…