• Google Announces Swiffy, SWF to HTML5 Conversion Tool


    An engineering intern at Google has created a tool that allows SWF (Flash) files to be converted to HTML5. The project is centered around advertisements, but many different types of SWF content, like some games and animations, are able to be converted. Adobe announced a similar project, named “Wallaby“, a few months ago, but it is designed primarily to publish Flash code to HTML5, not convert existing SWF files.

    Today we’re making the first version of Swiffy available on Google Labs. You can upload a SWF file, and Swiffy will produce an HTML5 version which will run in modern browsers with a high level of SVG support such as Chrome and Safari. It’s still an early version, so it won’t convert all Flash content, but it already works well on ads and animations. We have some examples of converted SWF files if you want to see it in action.

    Swiffy-converted files will work in Chrome and Safari (both desktop and mobile), so iOS users will benefit from the additional content. Of course, this also means that ads will be easier to display on iDevices. If you have a SWF file that you would like converted, head over to the Google Labs page.

  • Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 Ad Pranks iPad’s lack of Flash Support


    Samsung has released an Ad for its new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and again, like all rivals nothing but mocking the iPad for its lack of Flash support. Watch it below:

  • Purported iPhone 5 Parts Suggest Separated Camera and Flash?


    Components purported to be for the fifth-generation iPhone have sparked new rumors that the device’s camera and LED flash will be separated, and will no longer sit snuggled up to one another in the corner. Strengthening these rumors is a case discovered on trade site Alibaba for an ‘iPhone 5G’, which features a mysterious new hole in its rear.

    As noted by cultofmac, these images were first published by Taiwanese site Apple.pro – a site which often gets its hands on Apple component and hardware leaks – and show redesigned components for both the front- and rear-facing cameras. While it’s difficult to establish any technical details at this point, the most obvious difference is that the new rear camera for the iPhone 5 has no LED flash attached.

    It’s unlikely Apple will do away with the LED flash completely, so these components lead us to believe that the camera and flash will be separated on the fifth-generation iPhone – possibly to prevent light leakage from the flash into the camera. Backing up this speculation is a case discovered on Alibaba from Kulcase.

    Claiming to be an ‘iPhone 5G’ case, this snap-on rear casing features two holes at the top, in addition to an iPhone 5 mockup image that reveals a larger, ‘edge-to-edge’ display and a thinner bezel. While the two holes initially led to speculation that the device would feature two cameras for taking 3D images, it now seems that one is for the camera and the other for the LED flash.

    This isn’t the first time case manufacturers have revealed product designs well in advance of their launch. You may remember that cases discovered last year revealed the iPad 2′s new size and design, as well as its rear camera and redesigned speaker. Some manufacturers clearly manage to get their mitts on design specifications for upcoming Apple products way before they’re supposed to.

    If these two separated holes on both corners happen to be a camera and flash LED then Heart Rate App (and the like) will not be working on the new iPhone. If the two holes are actually two cameras then this allows for 3D photo shooting, which is a potential possibility?!

  • Adobe Releases Flash-to-HTML5 Conversion Tool to reach iOS Safari & Other Devices


    Adobe has finally released a pre-release version of their ‘Wallaby’ Flash-to-HTML5 file conversion software. The software is easy for developers to use and allows developers to drag and drop their Flash content into an Adobe Air application that will then convert it to HTML5 code.

    The new code can then be completely edited in programs like Adobe Dreamweaver or manually by hand in text editing software. This new application from Adobe is a huge deal and developers can now easily convert their Flash websites and web applications for use on non-Flash devices like the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

    “Wallaby” is the codename for an experimental technology that converts the artwork and animation contained in Adobe® Flash® Professional (FLA) files into HTML. Wallaby is not a final product and is still in the testing and validation phase. We are not yet able to commit to a roadmap for this experimental technology.

    Here’s a video of the software: