LAdobe :: Los Angeles Adobe User Group

Major news for Illustrator users and those looking to get into HTML5, in particular. Adobe has now released their version of the HTML5 pack for Illustrator CS5. The release is available on Adobe Labs and will drastically change the way you design vector illustrations for the web. This pack allows graphic elements created in Illustrator to be directly displayed in SVG capable web browsers or converted to CSS3 code to render directly in the browser.

As HTML5 gets close to becoming a web standard, one of the new features is called Canvas and allows for Scalable Vector Graphics using the SVG format Adobe first designed years ago as part of the original LiveMotion ‘Flash-killer’ app. SVG hasn’t been used that much since its’ introduction but now with HTML5 Canvas, it’s now possible to programmatically create vector graphics either in HTML5 or CSS3. With the new Illustrator HTML5 pack, you can do this without learning how to code or at the very least, reduce the need to code as much as you currently might.

The features in this release include the ability to efficiently design for web and devices by exporting Illustrator Artboards for unique screen sizes using SVG and CSS3 media queries. You can also create web widgets with Illustrator by generating dynamic vector art for data driven web work-flows and take advantage of the latest enhancements to SVG and Canvas to generate interactive web content. You’ll also be able to map artwork appearance attributes from designer to developer tools export from the Illustrator Appearance Panel to CSS3 for streamlined styling of web pages.

In order to use these new features, you will need the latest update to Illustrator CS5 (Illustrator 15.1) and then download the Illustrator HTML5 pack from Adobe Labs and install it.

We’ll have a lot more on this at our HTML5 and the Future of Web Design meeting on Thursday night, September 23rd at 7pm at the offices of Border Stylo in Hollywood.

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Adobe’s Corporate Communications department just released this information regarding Apple’s surprising announcement regarding the ability for Flash CS5 to create and develop iPhone and iPad applications:

Apple’s announcement today that it has lifted restrictions on its third-party developer guidelines has direct implications for Adobe’s Packager for iPhone, a feature in the Flash Professional CS5 authoring tool. This feature was created to enable Flash developers to quickly and easily deliver applications for iOS devices. The feature is available for developers to use today in Flash Professional CS5, and we will now resume development work on this feature for future releases.

This is great news for developers and we’re hearing from our developer community that Packager apps are already being approved for the App Store. We do want to point out that Apple’s restriction on Flash content running in the browser on iOS devices remains in place.

Adobe will continue to work with key industry partners, including Google, RIM, Nokia, Motorola and Palm/HP to enable their device users to browse the full web through Flash Player 10.1 and run standalone applications on AIR. We are excited about the great progress our partners are making as they deliver the first smartphones to market with full Flash support.

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Now that Apple has decided to at the very least, allow for third party development of iPhone and iPad applications, it was only a matter of time before representatives at Adobe would come up their response:

“We are encouraged to see Apple lifting its restrictions on its licensing terms, giving developers the freedom to choose what tools they use to develop applications for Apple devices….”-Adobe

For those interested in Google’s response, more about online advertising models (as Google Ads can once again be incorporated into apps) rather than Android development, here’s their response via this link:

http://googlemobileads.blogspot.com/2010/09/update-on-apples-terms-of-service.html

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In a major surprise, Apple has decided after its’ original ban on creating iPhone Applications in Flash, that they will reverse the ban on using third party programs to create iPhone and iPad applications. This is a major victory for Adobe as well as for similar software programs such as Appcelerator’s Titanium and Unity 3D who were shut out this past spring, just as Adobe was about to release Creative Suite 5 to the masses, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs’ mentioned that Adobe Flash was ‘buggy’ and “Adobe is lazy” and “The world is moving to HTML5.” However, with AIR for Android development already commencing with a number of Flash and ActionScript 3-based Droid apps and sales of Droid OS phones rising and passing iPhone’s in overall sales, Apple it seems, has given in to demand and allowed developers to now start creating iPhone and iPad applications in Flash CS5.

The ability to create iPhone apps in Flash CS5 has always been included in the program. This means developers can start creating Flash-based iPhone apps right now with no need to wait for Adobe to make a software upgrade. It should be noted though that even though Apple has lifted the Flash ban, there is still no guarantee that any potential iPhone or iPad application will be accepted by Apple to be placed for sale in its’ iTunes Store.

There are some serious issues with Apple’s statement this morning. Most importantly the fact that while Flash can now be used to create iPhone apps, it does not allow for Flash-based iPhone apps that download code. This would still create issues and dilemmas in creating dynamic Flash based content. As this story continues to develop, we at LAdobe will continue to follow and report on this saga as it unfolds over the course of the next days and weeks.

More on this will be discussed at LAdobe’s September 23rd meeting at Border Stylo in Hollywood. Which focuses on the future of web design.
Read the Press Release from Apple concerning the changes in App Store Guidelines –>

More on this from VentureBeat –>

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