Points to Keep in Mind

1. extensionID

An extension is recognized by its extensionID. Thus, one should try to keep it as unique as possible, as an application developer might want to use more than 1 native extension in his application. Having the same name will create conflicts and the application won’t get packaged or work as expected.

a. Same extensionID should be used in the extension.xml, application.xml and the AS Class where ExtensionContext.createExtensionContext() function is called.

b.  Using “nativeExtension” as the extensionID isn’t really a good idea. Prefixing the extensionID with com.developerName is probably the way to go.

c. Prefix all the resources used by the extension with the extensionID. When multiple native extensions are used, the resources of all the extensions are merged in the application directory. Any conflicts will cause packaging to fail.

2. SWC linking

The most common mistake made by application developers, while using native extensions in their app is to merge the SWC into application code.

a. If using Flash Builder or Flex Builder(<4.6) , make sure that when specifying SWC linkage in the packaging options, for all the native extension SWCs, you have selected Link Type:”External” and not “Merged Into Code”:

b. If using command line to compile your application, make sure that the compiler switch used for linking SWCs is -external-library-path, and not -library-path and path to SWC is provided to this parameter. Another common mistake is to provide the ANE path here, instead of the SWC path.

c. In Flash Builder 4.6, there is in-built support for linking ANEs, and one can just directly go to the Native Extensions tab and specify the path to ANEs there. Flash Builder will take care of the linking.

3. extension.xml

a. For AIR 3.0(native extensions for iOS not supported in AIR namespace <3.0), the extension descriptor namespace to use is 2.5, while for AIR 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, the extension namespace to use is 2.5/3.1. When using namespace 2.5, all the frameworks of iOS 4.3 SDK are linked by default. However, when using namespace 3.1, only these frameworks are linked by default:

If linking to any other framework/library, one needs to use the platformoptions flag of ADT, details of which are available here.

b. Make sure that the initializer and  finalizer  names in the extension descriptor map to actual function names being used in the native code. It is a good idea to prefix them with the extension ID, as multiple extensions cannot use the same initializer and finalizer names.

4. Errors and Warnings

a. When packaging an app using native extensions, sometimes you may encounter errors and warnings similar to the following:

ld warning: unexpected srelocation type 9
ld warning: unexpected srelocation type 9
… (repeating several times)
Undefined symbols:
“_vDSP_vsdiv”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_vsmul”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_sve”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_vflt16″, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_create_fftsetup”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_ctoz”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_fft_zrip”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_vmul”, referenced from: …
“_vDSP_zvmags”, referenced from: …
ld: symbol(s) not found
Compilation failed while executing : ld64

This is probably because the native extension is compiled with an iOS SDK greater than the one available in the AIR SDK(currently, 4.3). In this case, using -platformsdk <path to the latest iOS SDK> while packaging your application might resolve your issue.

b. Sometimes, it might so happen that when using Flash Builder, your IPA does not get compiled, however, there’s no real error you can see. It may be that the ld warnings take up the entire error screen and the actual errors are not visible. In that case, package the IPA using the ADT command-line to view the actual errors.

5. Exception Handling in native Code

Currently, exception handling in the native iOS code(Objective C/ C/ C++) does not work for iOS(might cause application to crash). So, for the time being, extension developers are advised not to use @try-@catch-@finally type of syntax in their extension.

6. Debugging Native Extensions

You may find details of this here

7.Creating high resolution applications for the new iPad

For this, one needs to have access to iOS SDK 5.1+. For more details, read this.

8. When and how to use Entitlements

Details can be found here

9. Using platformsdk switch for iOS on Windows

With AIR 3.3, it is possible to package an IPA using the platformsdk switch on Windows too. You may find the details here

Sample Native Extensions can be found here

We caught up with Heidi and were able to get the down low on her very first sketchbook inspired Touch Apps creation as well as find out where her ideal location to create is – on the couch, with the company of her two canine companions! See what else she had to say by checking out the Q&A below. Also, don’t be shy about sharing your work with us. We’re always on the lookout for the next Touch Apps creations to feature. Feel free to reach out in the comments section below, on our Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter.

Creative Layer: What was the very first creation you made with Touch Apps?
Heidi Schwoerer: I believe my very first creation in Adobe Ideas was inking of my Owl Sparklers sketch from my sketchbook! It is a cute owl holding sparklers! Today it is still one of my favorite inks.

How have the Adobe Touch Apps changed your creative workflow?
Ever since I downloaded the Adobe Ideas Touch App, it has made making art a lot faster and really fun! You can sketch, ink and color all in one place. I can make changes for clients quick and easy and then immediately send them a PDF. I love it!

Where’s your favorite location to create? Outside? Inside? On-the-go?
My favorite location to create is actually on the couch with my doggies! My German shepherd, Bearie, and Chihuahua, Cosie, lie next to me while I watch TV and create! But being able to create anywhere is what I love most because you never know when you will get that great idea!

How much of a difference has direct touch input made to your creations?
Being able to directly draw on the screen using my stylus is such a time saver. I can zoom in and out very quickly with my fingers and can create nice line variation by going over them with a thicker line or use the erase tool.  I will never go back to “hand inking.” I love how everything is vector and crisp.

Of the different Touch Apps, which is most instrumental to your creative process and why?
Adobe Ideas is what I use to create some of my sketches, but I do still like to sketch in a sketchbook. I am pushing myself to sketch in Adobe Ideas and I think I have made great progress! I outline all my designs for clear stamps and embroidery designs since I downloaded the Touch App and I can’t imagine my life without it! I am also working on creating a nice illustration portfolio and trying different coloring techniques.

If you had the opportunity to travel to anywhere in the world with your Touch Apps, where would it be and why?
I would love to travel to Paris, Rome Italy and Ireland! My old friend had visited them all, and from the stories she told, I would love to sit in one of the little villages, sketching away and be inspired by my surroundings.

What are the top three sources you look to for inspiration?
My top three sources that I look for inspiration are books, family and fans!  I love reading how-to and art & crafts books…and just getting inspired to create! I base some of my designs off of family members, my pets and also my surroundings. I also love creating what my fans like too, they all have wonderful ideas and it is great to brainstorm with them on my 2CuteInk Facebook Page.

These are the same template projects that were included on a separate “Contents” or “Extras” disc in the box with previous versions of After Effects, or could be downloaded in a separate “Functional Content” package (that was rather hard to find on our website). We’ve made them easier to find and download for all After Effects users on the After Effects Exchange. This .zip file includes several template projects and associated footage, which you can use as a starting point for your own project or to study to learn how to recreate the animations in these templates.

Download and unzip the file and put the Templates and Footage folders anywhere on your computer. Previous versions of After Effects would install these files in the Support Files folder, and that’s as good a place as any for you to install them.

For more information about template projects, see this video by Andrew Devis and this page in After Effects Help. Note that Andrew’s video presumes that you have already installed the template projects in the Support Files folder.

At the Digital Publishing Event on Tuesday, Adobe discuss how it is working with the MPA  (The Association of Magazine Media) to support recommended tablet metrics for use by publishers, agencies and advertisers. By having a common framework for reporting, brands and advertising agencies are looking forward to the increased transparency provided by these metrics in order to funnel their advertising dollars to this engaging medium. Adobe announced that the Digital Publishing Suite, through integration with Omniture and SiteCatalyst, supports the recommended metric guidelines out of the box, ensuring that publishers who wish to disclose analytics in accordance with the suggested guidelines will be able to do so with complete compliance.

Measuring and reporting accurate consumer experiences with digital publications is also very important for the integrity of our trade and that is why we are happy to have announced an alliance with ABC Interactive. As part of the alliance, ABC will conduct audits of metrics captured by Digital Publishing Suite ensuring that both publishers and advertisers will be disclosing and have access to independently verified analytics captured through the Adobe Content Viewer. For more information about ABCi’s announcement, see the press release here.

With the iStockphoto Plug-in for Adobe® Creative Suite®, you can browse, download and edit photos and illustrations without ever leaving Photoshop®, Illustrator® or InDesign®. Crop them, resize them and make them your own, directly from the Creative Suite.

[Via Lucas Bombardier]

These designs don’t happen by accident–quite the opposite.  Adobe XD (Experience Design) manager Shawn Cheris has posted a thorough tour of how CS6 branding evolved & the thinking that went into it.  He talks about how they started with color, moved into shapes, and ultimately created thousands of individual graphics across the entire Suite.

Marquee speakers from well-known brands, advertising agencies and universities, who use Digital Publishing Suite today, wowed the audience with their dynamic tablet applications exemplifying how tablets are changing the way organizations approach mobile marketing, customer acquisition and retention and drive new business opportunities.

The Summit kicked off with Forester Research delivering an engaging session that sparked a dynamic conversation about soon-to-be-released tablets. The discussion revolved around the changing tablet landscape, the value of an accessible app marketplace in making tablets and tablet content successful, and the types of companies that are using apps to transform their business including pharmaceutical/life science organizations, auto manufacturers and catalog retailers.

Sotheby’s, Benjamin Moore and Red Bull then took the main stage to discuss how tablet applications are fundamentally changing the way they engage with customers.

Sotheby’s, a leader in the auction world, plans to expand its tablet catalogs built with DPS to over 400 by the end of the year, eliminating much of the cost associated with publishing print catalogs.

Sotheby’s discussed why their tablet applications came about, how they perform much better than the Sotheby’s website and print catalogs in driving engagement and providing an expanded set of information about the art collections. Compelling, interactive features such as in-app note taking, the ability to see final sales price within the application and access to the content on the go, has proven to add significant value to the art buyer. The fabulous presentation from Sotheby’s got the attendees thinking about what is possible through tablet applications in their business.

Benjamin Moore, a provider of paints and stains, is a brand well loved by it loyal customers. Benjamin Moore discussed the role of their current iPad apps and recently released iPhone app (all built with Digital Publishing Suite) in driving, deeper engagement with paint products by providing a narrative shopping experience that capitalizes on how paint can spark emotion and drive a very personal purchase decision. A demo of the ColorTrends 2012 iPad and iPhone apps illustrated how applications can successfully   bridge the gap between traditional brick-and-mortar stores and other shopping channels, including the Benjamin Moore website.

Within the Benjamin Moore tablet app, users can request paint chips or order paint with the option of having it shipped or picking it up in the store (setting up impulse purchase opportunities for additional paint items). Additionally, Benjamin Moore discussed how making apps available to people on the go effectively drives location based merchandising and offers convenient store locator information.

Red Bull followed Benjamin Moore on stage. Red Bull isn’t just a high octane company that has sold 30 billion cans of their energy drink. They also produce events, music, entertainment and television content (on Red Bull TV) making them an aspiring media company and using their tablet application to tie it all together. Red Bull inspired the audience with their use of high production, highly creative videos included in The Red Bulletin tablet application built with Digital Publishing Suite – capitalizing on their customers’ love of multi-media to stimulate engagement. Red Bull publishes their tablet application in both English and German and has used it to drive customer and brand engagement worldwide – something they couldn’t do with the print edition of The Red Bulletin.

The University of Alabama took us from commercial applications to those used by higher education institutions to successfully engage with alumni as well as recruit students and college athletes.

Their highly successful Fan Guide and Gameday applications are built with Digital Publishing Suite and are a hit with all who follow college athletics. Both applications include video, slideshows, interactivity and more. The apps are used to successfully profile student athletes and make alumni feel connected to their university by providing a virtual game day experience – for when they can’t be in the parking lot tailgating before kickoff. University of Alabama has big plans to expand their applications to support product placement of university wear, T-commerce, live game day content streams, targeted marketing through integration with CRM systems and much more.

All of the applications showed at the summit are available for free in the Apple App Store or in the Digital Publishing Suite Gallery. Check them out!

For those that couldn’t be in NYC with us, we missed you but we do plan to make video content from the event available next week. Stay Tuned.

Don’t forget to read about major Digital Publishing Suite announcements from earlier this week!

[Via Dan Mall]