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

The DIGG API for AS3 is set up for use in Flex, not the Flash CS3 IDE (which seems to be a bad trend). Even though you can make it work without Flex, it’s not exactly straight forward. It also does not include any examples to help a developer get started. Unlike the AS2 version of the API, which includes three semi-useful examples.

In my quest to become Actionscript 3.0 / OOP proficient I put together this simple example using the DIGG API to pull the last 10 popular stories. Right now it’s only using the TextField to display and handle the events so there is no useHandCursor option unless you attach it to a Sprite or SimpleButton. But I added a rollover color and these are linked to the articles on DIGG.

Flash Content

Source Code

Note: The source code includes the entire set of Flex 2 classes, as the Digg API requires it and I wasn’t sure how to strip out the unused classes. I wanted to include everything necessary to publish from the Flash IDE.

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.