Category Archives: Web

Coming Soon – YouTube on your TV

  • Posted On: October 1st, 2006
  • Posted In: Web

Wii browser

I am a huge Nintendo fanboy, and I’m very excited about the upcoming Wii console.

One thing that is going to be pretty revolutionary about the Wii is the fact that it includes a free, fully-featured web browser. This means for $250 you get instant-on web access on your TV. This is something that the XBox can’t deliver for fear of cutting into Microsoft’s PC market.

Opera is building a version of their browser specifically for the Wii that includes Flash support and a smooth zooming feature. Also, the Wii controller is perfectly suited to work with mouse based interfaces (assuming you have a steady hand). Check out the browser in action.

The big unknown at the moment is – how do you type in the URLs? Presumably there will be an onscreen keyboard – I’m not sure how easy it will be to type laser-pointer style. There is speculation that either Nintendo will sell a keyboard add-on, or you will be able to plug in a standard PC keyboard via the Wii’s USB ports.

Another sweet feature is the Wii’s Virtual Console. This will be able to load up classic games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, MSX, Turbografx 16 and Commodore 64. Bring it on!

Gabocorp Still Rocks the House

  • Posted On: August 14th, 2006
  • Posted In: Flash, Web

I was disappointed when the FWA’s Most Infuential Flash site of the Decade poll did not include the first Flash site that really blew my mind – Gabocorp.

Rob at the FWA let me know that after 2 weeks of trying to locate Gabo, he’s finally found a version of Gabo’s 1997 site and put it online.

I remember first seeing the Gabocorp site (9 years ago!) and being blown away. At the time I was doing multimedia CD-ROM development using Visual Basic, C++ and Director. It was amazing – not only that you could achieve such smooth, seamless full-screen animations, but that that you could do it on the web! I knew I had to get into flash development.

The cinematic feel, use of sound, and seamless transitions still stand up today.

WTF, where is new websiet?

  • Posted On: June 17th, 2006
  • Posted In: Web

LOLZ!!

Web debug proxy roundup

If you are developing Flash sites that talk to a backend system via XML or flash remoting, you need a web debug proxy.

A web debug proxy sits between your machine and the internet, and displays any HTTP traffic that passes between the two. This is invaluable for debugging Flash RIAs and data driven sites, by showing you exactly what data is being loaded into the browser. Some web proxies also offer bandwidth throttling which simulates a slow internet connection, and is useful for testing flash preloaders. There are currently 3 web debug proxies that are commonly used:

  • Fiddler. Windows only (requires .NET Framework v1.1). IE only. Free. Does not offer bandwidth throttling. Allows you to manipulate the data being loaded on the fly.
  • Charles. PC/Mac/Linux (requires Java 1.2). Firefox/IE compatible. 30 day trial, $50 for a license. Offers bandwidth throttling. Full featured but can be a little slow to load.
  • ServiceCapture. Windows only (requires Java 1.4.2). Firefox/IE compatible. 15 day trial, $35 for a license. Offers bandwidth throttling. Works well with flash remoting data, fast loading, clean interface. (Disclaimer: ServiceCapture is developed by my workmate Kevin Langdon.)

Semapedia – the physical wikipedia

  • Posted On: September 3rd, 2005
  • Posted In: Web

Semapedia is the latest project from my good buddy Stan Wiechers. Semapedia enables physical hotlinks to wikipedia articles, by using printed semacode tags. A semacode is an optical barcode that contains a URL internet address. Certain camera phones have built in semacode readers and web browsers.

An example usage might be that you are walking past Katz’s Deli in New York and see the semapedia tag. You snap it with your cameraphone and are taken to a wikipedia article describing how Meg Ryan’s famous orgasm scene in ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ took place there.

The problem I see is that semapedia tags are easily ripped down. Maybe they should try using some more durable medium, such as spray paint stencils.

Google Sightseeing

  • Posted On: April 18th, 2005
  • Posted In: Web

Why bother seeing the world for real? Google Sightseeing is a great collection of bizarre locations as seen from space, including Devil’s Tower, some strange salt ponds and a guy who wrote ‘DAVE’ really, really big.