information designer

Yahoo Maps has released a new API using Actionscript 3. The Maps API contains a core set of widgets, markers, overlays and web services to enable you to interact with the map in every way.

All the examples are built using Flex, but I’m not sure if the Flex Library is required to publish. I’ll find out when I give it a whirl.

Screencast and additional Map API info.

Update: I just fond this great information on how to use this API in CS3, without Flex (a hack, but they say CS3 support is coming soon):
How to use the Yahoo! AS3 Maps API in Flash CS3

ProximityManager for AS3 is a new class released by Grant Skinner who has recently updated it from his AS2 version. This is a great resource for graphing data or creating an interface based on proximity. Looking forward to playing with this one.

Flare Visualization Toolkit is a collection of ActionScript 3 classes for building a wide variety of interactive visualizations. The Demo page shows off some very interesting interactive graphing effects, I especially like the Distortion > Fisheye XY demo. Includes an API set up for Flex and documentation with tutorial.

BulkLoader for AS3 is a minimal library written in Actionscript 3 (AS3) that aims to make loading and managing complex loading requirements easier and faster. BulkLoader takes a more dynamic, less architecture heavy aproach. Few imports and making heavy use of AS3’s dynamic capabilities, BulkLoader has a one-liner feel that doesn’t get your way.

Google Code: http://code.google.com/p/bulk-loader/

ScaleBitmap : 9-slice bitmap class is a simple (AS3) class which allows you to resize dynamically any Bitmap (just like the MovieClip.scale9Grid feature)

John Lindquist, a fellow Utah Flasher has started a blog devoted to our favorite rockin’ Flash 3D engine, Papervision3d. He has started with the very basics in setting up a project with Flash Develop and downloading the PV3D Classes. With plans to get quite deep into all the features available in the powerful engine like, Managing Viewports and Scenes, Dimensions and Scaling, Auto-Culling and Auto-Clipping, Interactivity, Managing Cameras, Importing 3D Objects from Outside Programs, Materials, Lighting, Effects and much more.

The site is set up to allow simply copying the code for pasting into your own demo and video screen capture demonstrations that allow you to follow along with exactly every step of the process. It’s my favorite way to learn.

I personally have been playing around with Papervision the entire year it’s been in beta and it wasn’t until I ran through these demos that I really felt like I had a grasp on it.

Check it out at: pv3d.org

John has recently taken over as President of UDFUG, a local Flash user group. I attended a recent event where he demo’ed the Papervision3d and Tweener API’s using Flash Develop. Very informative. And it sounds like he’s lining up very many excellent events for 2008.