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

    // Gradly // blog, Download, News, Rants & Raves, Tech. 1 Response

    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:

  • Google ‘Instant Previews’ come to iOS Safari

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, google, iPhone, News No Responses

    Google has finally brought their helpful ‘Instant Previews’ feature from the desktop browser, down to the mobile experience. ‘Instant Previews’ lets you tap the accompanying magnifying for a pop-up preview of the website. This saves you time, as now you can get a quick glance at the site without actually having to load up the page. The neat part about Google’s implementation in iOS Safari is that you can flick through the previews of a particular search query, like you flick through iOS’s native Safari tabs function.

    At this time it does not look like the new Google ‘Instant Previews’ feature for iOS has hit all user devices, as the feature is yet to appear on our iPhone 4 or iPad. Google has yet to announce the ‘Instant Previews’ feature for mobile, so this could be an early and/or limited rollout. Google has been rolling out new features for the Google mobile website, with the most recent additions being ‘Google Instant’ and enhanced Google Docs editing on the iPad Safari browser.

  • iTunes to merge with Safari? Be a web-only app?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News, Rants & Raves 1 Response

    Apple may be preparing a massive move that will propel Safari from niche browser to market leader. The move to merge Safari and iTunes into one software solution appears long in the works, which may arrive this fall at Apple’s usual iPod special event.

    Apple acquired the streaming music services company, lala, for $80 million in December 2009. The purported purposes for such an acquisition was for Apple to spearhead the way towards taking iTunes towards an online service, accessible via any browser, and away from a desktop software solution. That may no longer be the case.

    iTunes now appears to be staying put as a desktop application. Despite Amazon’s (and others) best online efforts to derail iTunes, the software and its sales continue to outpace the competition as a media content platform. As long as iOS devices continue to proliferate so to will iTunes.

    In April 2003 Apple launched the iTunes Store within iTunes software. The integration of the iTunes Store transformed iTunes into a WebKit browser that organized and stored media files. Currently, this browsing experience is strictly tied to Apple’s secure iTunes content, however, Apple integrating the iTunes software into the Safari browser changes the entire landscape.

    While iTunes has been continuing its march, Safari’s growth has been minimal. Safari claimed just 4.46% of browser market share in December 2010, yet Google’s Chrome browser eclipsed Safari in December and has seen rapid growth since its launch. Safari’s weak market position allows for Google to make bold moves, as evidenced by their recent discontinuation of h.264 support within their Chrome browser in favor of its WebM video codec. While this isn’t a direct affront to iTunes or Safari, it is an attempt to further alienate the iOS platform, which also damages Safari.

    It is believed that Safari will be the only browser able to access iTunes, as iTunes is built into the browser itself. “Moving iTunes organizational side-bar into Safari isn’t a monumental task” claimed a source, adding “Safari would skyrocket in use as a result of integrating the software titles together.”

    [via: TG]