• FLASH multimedia is a very powerful
and flexible medium.
Consider the logo at the top of the page - global presence with a message. Need we say more.
Active images with live information compared to a static image such as the two clocks displayed below:
The Flash clock (above left) provides dynamic functionality
and design, yet is smaller than the standard static web image file
used to display an image of the same clock without the dynamic content
(above right).
The FLASH clock above left is 1,248 bytes in size and provides
functionality: the current time at the computer in two forms - analog
and digital.
The static standard .gif image shown above right of the
same Flash clock picture is 6,794 bytes in size and doesn't provide
any real time information or functionality.
An example of a Flash animated
logo can be seen here. It is 8,007 bytes in size. Compare
that with the standard .gif image of their logo here. It is
23,218 bytes! Now, the animation is extensive and would not be the
type of animation to be used on every page. Programming features
can be used to only allow the animation to occur on the first page
visited on the site and thereafter only a static image be displayed.
On the ProDigitals.com website, (no longer in business),
the animated logo is only used on the home page. A simplified
version is used on the rest of their web pages. It still utilizes
Flash but only subtly modifies the image in real time.
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There are many features that can be programmed using FLASH and
actionscript. These examples are here to show that animating features
and providing dynamic content do not necessarily mean large file
sizes and long page download times. An
example of a slide show written entirely in Flash actionscript
requires only 1,293 bytes and yet can display a photographer's complete
image portfolio online. A set of flower photos are used in the
above example. Each is cross faded into the next. A little soft
background music could be added for additional effect.
Flash can be used to stream audio content without paying the high
costs of hosting a website on a streaming server that streams "Real
Audio" or "Windows Media Player" audio in real time
(playing audio as it is being downloaded). An example of a radio used
to stream a free song being offered can be seen on the "Wings
of Freedom" website. Audio content can be compressed
in MP3 format at a variety of bitstream rates. The example above was
compressed to 64kbs stereo.
A good use of Flash to provide streaming audio might be for a company
to make available its talks or sessions that they normally offer
live. This is a great opportunity to keep in touch with the people
that may have missed the talk session. They can go to the website
and click on the play list to hear the session over the Internet.
Play lists of content and associated sound files can be uploaded
through a simple web form as they become available without modifying
any programming.
Designer Software can animate your business logo, provide streaming
audio, or design a mix of anything in between for you using Flash.
So, if you think you are in the mood for something a little "flashy"
for your website, please contact EngineerBill [at] Engineer [dot] com
to discuss your idea! If you don't have a website to put your newly
animated logo on, we can design that for you, too. Find out more
about our web design here.
Boy, does Designer Software have the service for you!
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