Sodium Interactive

I’m sure this isn’t original thought, but thought I’d post it here for posterity. (not much point being right about something retrospectively)

So here it is: I think the next Apple TV will be a Mac mini in a sexy new form factor (and called Apple TV). The Mini is (was?) basically a media centre with benefits, and Apple has always been good at streamlining their product line-up to avoid cannibalism. Why have a compact computer that makes a good media centre when you have a good media centre that people would like to be a compact computer.

Apple TV is already running a slimmed down version of OS X, a few UI nips and tucks here and there and it would be perfectly usable trans-living room (where is this resolution independent UI we’ve been hearing about for ages anyway?). Also: a wireless version of the wired keyboard form factor with an über trackpad replacing the number pad/arrow would be very nice.

Pray with me people. XBMC(Plex) and EyeTV in your Apple TV, just think about that.

What’s going on here! Having bravely written a few posts sporting that ubiquitous WordPress theme we’ve come to hate, I finally collect what few design skills I have into a meagre pile and knock out this. It’s not edgy or eye catching, but it’s mine (and customisable to boot, check back for exciting new header and footer images each week.. month!)

With that out of the way, I decided I had nothing further to contribute to the blogosphere and migrated to less committed climes (twitter and tumblr). Figures.

Anyhow, lets call this an ice breaker, hopefully signalling a torrent of posting to come. I’ve got a new camera, job, stories and projects to share so please, continue to wait patiently.

I’ll crack this blogging thing one day.

I was completely blown away by this video of the new Flex 4 skinning system, so much that it inspired me to get this out there before I’m accused of plagiarism.

Spark is a set of UI and layout components that uses XML for skinning and application mark-up. It’s lightweight, carefully thought out (it’s been in pre-alpha for 6 years so you’d hope so) and definitely a work in progress. I know, I should be using Flex (and I do) but the mad scientist in me just can’t stop tinkering.

Check it out here.

Feedback more than welcome.

Welcome back.

I’m going to put that complete lapse in communication down to a couple of things. First there was a period of craziness at work involving pitches, projects spiralling out of control and such. As a result (and for various other reasons) I’ve resigned, which in turn brought about a frantic scramble to polish off the old CV and finally get a portfolio online (you build websites all these years but never make one for yourself).

To cut a long story short, I’ll be a full time freelance/contractor starting July 4th, which will mean much more activity here in the form of samples, examples and tutorials. Looking forward to the fresh air.

And you thought I’d flat lined on you. I’ve been working some crazy hours on couple of 3D animations for the Spirit of Youth Awards 2008. I work at Frost Design which, as my flatmate pointed out yesterday, means I’m a Flash Developer working on a TV ad in Maya for a company primarily focused on print design. Certainly keeps me on my toes!

It’s been fun getting to know Maya again – it really is an amazing piece of software both from an output and user interface point of view. Concealing such an awesome array of tools and functionality behind an intuitive user interface is a feat in itself. It’s inspired me to brush up on my skills and try to marry it with my interactive work. I’ve been experimenting a lot in PaperVision3D lately (more on this later) so I’m sure it’ll come in handy.

I’ll post the animations when they’re finished (if I’m allowed). In the meantime, check out this amazing animation I found on my travels around the internet today:

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Someone posted an amazing news visualisation to the PaperVision3D mailing list today. I’m not sure how much the 3D floating headlines add to the news consuming experience, pretty though it may be. But the rest of the interface is simply gorgeous! Colourful, minimalist, utilitarian designs like this always do things to me. Kind of makes me wish they had an easier way to actually read the stories. Hopefully they have plans on evolving the visualisation side of things to add a bit more structure to the content now they’ve nutted out all the hard stuff.

Make sure you check out the webcam mode if you have one, it selects storied based on whatever you wave around in front of it. Frankie (our Staffordshire Terrier) fell in the top headline/blog category for some reason.

Adobe is causing trouble again with it’s stance on openness. This time however opposition seems to be coming from bizarre directions. Mozilla Europes founder Tristan Ninot claims that Adobe and Microsoft are only in it for the money, outrage and further outrage ensue.

As tool makers Adobe and Microsoft have little to gain by pushing their platform on end users other than increased sales of the software used to create content for them. The recent announcements mean that, in Adobes case at least, the last vestiges of control over content authoring have been removed. Adobe seem confident in their abilities as supreme creators of authoring tools and opening the platform to all players affirms that belief.

I think Adobe realise the Flash player has evolved into something out of their control. They do have a vested interest in the continued advancement of the technology but they seem more focused on end users than shareholders in its evolution. I believe in the power of completely open software to succeed where others fail. But to shoot down a company that is succeeding admirable down an alternate path screams of stubbornness.

Welcome to the Sodium Interactive blog, thoughts and lessons learnt on the Flash Platform and the many things you can plug into it. If you’re an existing reader looking through the archives then firstly let me express my concern that the blog has lasted long enough to warrant an archive (this was extremely unlikely at the outset) and secondly, go easy on me, we’ve all got to start somewhere.

My name is David Peek and I’m a Flash Developer living and working in Sydney Australia. I’m completely addicted to technology, interactivity and user interface design. While I’m definitely a Flash Developer by title I try to maintain an active interest in all aspects of computing.

In some ways I’m a chronic Jack of all trades justified, I hope, by mastery of one. I frequently dapple in Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, graphic design, animation, programmatic motion, Apple Scripting, Maya, After Effects, ProTools, Cocoa, system administration, percussion, trombone, guitar, piano, French, Spanish, bee keeping… you get the idea.

I’m certainly not highly skilled in any of these areas. The fact is I’m completely addicted to the initial discovery phase of learning a new skill and not the practice-makes-perfect phase required for expertise. It feels like a terrible waste of enthusiasm, but we’ve all got to have a hobby. Mine is learning.

So what is this blog all about? Firstly, I need to work on my communication skills. I’ve always been much better at lurking around the Flash community than contributing to it and I’m beginning to feel like my writing skills are getting rusty. Secondly I hope it will serve to consolidate that myriad of interests into something resembling expertise, it’s much easier to move forward with something with a record of what you already know.

Anyway, here’s hoping!