Confirmed as a speaker for webDU 2008

The 2008 webDU Conference is starting to take shape, and looks like being bigger and better than ever. And as has been my usual custom for the past 4 years, I've been honoured with a presentation spot.

This year my session is all about Flash Lite 3, and is (currently) titled "The not-so-ancient Art of Mobile FLash Video". I'm still working out the finer details of the session, but it'll be good to again fly the Flash mobile flag in the midst of stiff competition from AIR, Flex and Cold Fusion.

More to come as we get closer to the conference. If you're nearby Sydney arpund June 12-13, you need to make it a priority to come along to one of the most widely regarded web technology conferences.

Moket in Anthill Magazine games article

Anthill Magazine last year chose Moket to be in the Top 50 of their Cool Companies awards. This month, their latest issue also features Moket in their cover story relating to the electronic games industry here in Australia (the full article is available only in the actual mag or to online subscribers).

In it I discuss the growing trend in marketing budgets spanning cross-media platforms, and how Moket is capitalising on this with Flash. We're currently working on a new project for a client that is a web-based Flash game with a supporting mobile Flash Lite version. Moket in general will be seen working more in this "cross-platform" space in 2008, including what we have planned for the Dojo Monkey property.

Device Central Update #5 Available

Device Profile Update #5 is now available on Adobe Device Central Online. Stay on top of new Flash Lite devices from around the world by downloading CS3 Device Profile Update #5, released on February 16, 2008, as well as preceding device updates. This update features the first Flash Lite 3.0 devices available in the market.

Important! Before downloading Update #4, you must FIRST download and install the Flash® Lite™ 3 Update for Device Central CS3 and for Flash CS3 Professional (2 separate updates).

Mobile Life (Australia) #1 - Mobile Gaming Down Under

I'm taking up the invitation offered by Scott Janousek in posting more regional related news about the local mobile and Flash Lite industries.

Just like with MWC last week, I'm sure with GDC on at the moment there'll be some cool mobile game news floating around soon. I just wanetd to quickly highlight though the growing mobile games industry here in Australia.

There's a little company that some of you may have heard about that's doing some cool stuff with Flash Lite games, but I wanted to draw some attention to others as well - like Firemint who just won the Public Choice IMG Award for their cool 3D WRC game. They are based on Melbourne and have been creating some great 3D mobile work for a number of years now, along with some big licensed titles and their own IP.

Australia, and Brisbane and Melbourne in particular, is a popular location for game companies of all persuasions. Here in Brisbane we have EA Pandemic, THQ, Krome, and a growing number of smaller companies doing stuff for handheld consoles like Halfbrick. We are all part of a collective called Queensland Games that is organised by the state government - catch QLD Games at GDC this week (and if you find Mark Fludder, ask him to show you his Moket Phone that's loaded up with some new titles from Moket).

Mobile games specifically though are still something that are yet to take a serious hold in the development community here. Perhaps it's our proximity to low-cost labor markets (India, Philippines, etc) or the smaller consumer market here that has not fostered a lot of mobile game development companies. Moket is the main one involved in Flash mobile games, but we don't have as many opportunities in the immediate local market as we do even in the wider Sth East Asia region, or further beyond.

My prediction though is that it's only a matter of time before the high level of investment in console and PC game development here in this country translates into more being done on the mobile platform.

IMG Award Winners

The IMG Award winners have been announced in Barcelona:

Best Casual Game
Treasure Arm - Tequila Mobile (Poland)

Best IP-based licensed
Furby Island - LemonQuest (Spain)

Best 3D
One - Digital Legends (Spain)

Best Gameplay
Dirk Dagger and the Fallen Idol - Jadestone (Finland)

Grand Prix
Metal Gear Solid Mobile - Ideaworks 3D (USA)

Operators Choice
Metal Gear Solid Mobile - Ideaworks 3D (USA)

Public Choice Award
WRC 3D - Firemint (Australia) - go Aussie!

More FLash Lite enabled devices announced - First FL 3 phone?

I may have just beaten Alessandro to posting about some new Flash Lite enabled devices! Amazing!! Ahh, he's off enjoying MWC in Barcelona, so I don't feel too bad :) Checkout the nice new Nokia 3120 Classic with FL 2.1 (S40 5th Ed. FP1), 6210 Navigator (S60 3rd Ed. FP 2) listed as having 2.1 also, and the 6220 Classic (S60 3rd Ed. FP 2) - listed as having FL3.0!

Now a couple of things. Not sure that even though the 6210 and 6220 are both S60 3rd Ed. FP2 why one has FL2.1 and the other has FL3.0. Anyone?

Also, the picture for the 6220 Classic isn't the right phone! There is an old 6220 (S40 Dev Platfom 1) from 2003, so it seems the product numbering is on the way round the merry-go-round again :)

Anyway, bring them on!

webDU 2008 Dates Announced!

The dates have been confirmed for the greatest thing that happens down here ... if you're a nerd ... webDU! From Geoff:

Clear your diaries, inform your loved ones and pack a clean change of underwear because the premier Asia-Pacific web event for 2008 has been confirmed. webDU will be held on 12-13 June at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

This year will be the greatest yet, with a wide range of speakers who will tantalise the mind and enlighten even the most decrepit developer's soul.

webDU covers a range of topics including Flash, Flex, AIR, JavaScript, ColdFusion, CSS, design, usability and more. If you're tangled in the Web, then this is an event you don't want to miss.

There will also be workshop groups running on 11 June for those who simply cannot wait to sink their teeth into webDU goodness. The conference agenda itself is being assembled over the course of the next month. Stay tuned for further updates at www.webdu.com.au

And yes, I'll be there again for my 5th webDU conference. I'm looking forward to delivering some great Flash Lite news, information, demoes and opportunities this year - more to come so stay tuned!

Japanese women go wild customising mobiles

An article this morning just highlighting again the huge market in mobile personalisation and customisation in Japan - particularly with women.

Customisation goes beyond just wallpapers and screensavers (what we know as "personalisation" here). It goes into adding charms and flashing lights, and even having the casing hand-painted with unique artwork.

Some would say, "Only in Japan". Read article.