Screentime Media Blog

Just a quick heads up….

We released a new version of mProjector PC that adds support for the Flash Player 10.3. The version bumber is still 4.0.40 but the installer now included the latest Flash 10.3 player.  If you bought within the last year,  you get the update free. Contact sales@screentime.com to get your free update or purchase an update through our online store and we will get you the software ASAP.

We have updated the flash application sample apps for PC.

For now on the Mac recompile your applications to include the Flash 10.1 player as Adobe has made some major changes to the Flash Player on Mac. We are working on a Lion/10.3 update.

B.

We released a new version of Screentime for Flash PC that includes the 10.2 player. If you bought within the last year,  you get the update free. Contact sales@screentime.com to get your free update or purchase an update through our online store and we will get you the software ASAP.

We wil be updating our Mac version and flash screensaver samples in the next few days.

Brian

I started my St. Patrick’s Day Flash screensaver project today by looking for some inspirational effects. One of these two might work?!

Spinning Boxes

Colorful Circles

Thanks http://tutorials.flashmymind.com/

B.

I just ran into this randomLines component on FlashLoaded.com. A couple years back Brown+Ryan made a cool screensaver for Banana Republic using this technique and I loved it.

I can’t find it the screensaver now but B+R has similar “squares” animation online. What do you think?

Might be cool to tie the colors to Kuler.

First, you’ll need a SWF.

There a a ton of inexpensive Flash slideshow components and that might be the place to start.

If you want to roll your own, RepublicOfCode has a good flash AS3 XML based slideshow tutorial. I found a good AS2 XML slideshow tutorial on ActiveTuts+.

Transition effects can really enhance a slideshow. Here are some really sexy ones.

Once your SWF plays just the way you want it, run it through Screentime for Flash.

If you want your screensaver to dynamically update, download a new XML file periodically using our STF.checkNetConnection() and STF.downloadFile() commands.

If you are having any trouble with your Flash screensavers or desktop applications, let us know. We are testing Screentime and mProjector with the latest Flash Player and so far things look OK. B.

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen someone create a Flash screensaver from an animation of a tag, image, tweet, or blog post cloud. Anyone game?

Here’s a still image of old one that Getty Images created for Flickr Collections. I loved it but Getty has taken it down.

Here’s a link to some cloud sample code and a great cloud example for WordPress by Roy Tanck to get you started.

We’d love to see what you make. I’ll give a free copy of Screentime for Flash to the first person to make a cool one.

B.

More Flash screensaver ideas…

My personal fav for the day: Particles – demo 9!

It may be too processor intensive when playing fullscreen as a screensaver, especially if you are running a mulitple monitor system.

I’d try increasing the movie size, reducing the frame rate, and clicking the “play on main monitor only” option in Screentime and see if that helps.

A couple more cool Flash sample code finds:

Bouncing Photo

Bars

B.

Sharing the love… Just made a quicky Flash screensaver with Screentime for Valentine’s Day.

PC screensaver
Mac screensaver

Brian