Create the content of NTT Docomo 505i, 505is, 506i phone
Flash Lite is designed for consumer mobile devices that are limited to memory, processor speed, and display area. Flash Lite content is compatible with Flash Player 4 content. Therefore, we started to create flash Lite content from scratch to maximize the power of the flash 4 ActionScript command. However, let's think that we still decide to apply the existing Internet-based Flash content to the rapidly growing mobile phone user market.
Flash Lite and NTT Docomo 505i, 505is, 506i series
Although the function of Flash Lite is very excited, we have experienced a small learning curve when creating content for Flash Lite, because the current version of Flash Lite does not support the DOT grammar that we just have, but use TELLTARGET action to apply instructions. Go to a particular Timeline or movie clip.
Flash Lite still supports all necessary features that can be used to create great attractive content on NTT Docomo I-MODE phones and other handheld devices and small waveform factors.
The benefits and restrictions we have experienced when we create Flash Lite content for the DoCoMo 505i phone. (For more information on Flash Lite and 505i, 505is, 506i phone, please read "Flash Lite Creative Guide for NTT Docomo I-Mode Services" and "Flash Lite User Guide", can be found on the Macromedia Flash document page The corresponding link.
Compatibility with Flash Player 4: If Flash content is compatible with Flash Player 4, you can easily post to I-MODE handheld devices by outputting Flash Lite format in Flash MX Professional 2004. However, it should be noted that there are some ActionScript restrictions on external movie access (LoadMovie) and mouse drive events (whose reason is obvious - mobile phone does not support mouse input). Performance Depending on the specific device: On the I-Mode phone, the Flash Lite movie can be used in the operation of time, but also different from the random type. Therefore, the content should be tested on the actual I-MODE series, not just the simulator of the Flash MX Professional 2004. Support full screen, high resolution QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) display: Previously, we could not display i-mode content in full screen mode. Maximum support for the 20KB size I-mode: This limitation refers to the total size of the ChTML and SWF contents of the I-Mode page. The web page greater than this restriction will not be downloaded. However, running movies directly in the I-Mode browser, in which case the SWF file can reach 20KB. Do not support the interaction content in the I-Mode browser page: If you want a user to interact with a movie, you must load the movie directly in the I-Mode browser instead of embedding it into the I-Mode compatible HTML page. Note that a warning lens can be added to inform the user to present the existence of this restriction when incoating content to the I-Mode compatible HTML page. Click the button to achieve sound playback: Flash Lite does not support rolling, sound synthesis, and sound cycles. Only the event sound is supported, and single sound can only be played at the same time. Flash Lite used for 505i, 505is and 506i phone does not support standard flash player sound format; it only supports Melody Format for i-mode (MFI) sound format. Note: For more information on Flash Lite and sound effects for use in 505i, 505is and 506i phones, please read the equipment in the Bill Perry's article "New Features provided in Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for mobile and device developers" The sound support section. Playback frame rate depends on the specific device: a suitable playback frame rate is 6 to 8 frames per second, depending on the type of content and the CPU processing capability of the target device. Transplant Flash content to mobile phone
In our first test, we have created Flash Lite compatible content, we want to convert the most popular electronic cards, ariga-tou (Ants-Ten, as shown below), and convert to the Flash Lite format without changing its overall Display and feel. (Click to play in the yellow circle of the gift box)
The greeting card is compatible with Flash Player 4, made by our own designer, which is also a reason we choose this greeting card - if the design needs to do any changes, our designers can complete. Another reason for choosing the card is that the original SWF file is relatively small - only 44kb.
The test is successful, as shown in the SWF file below.
We only do two-point adjustment to the original content to accommodate the limitations of display size and target equipment:
We changed the location of the greetings. We remove the button action (animation automatically starts playing).
However, it is unexpected, the electronic greeting card cannot be played on the target phone. We got a warning message (see Figure 1), not an animation greeting. Figure 1: Although the file is small, the movie is still playing on the target device.
The problem we encountered must be related to the complexity of the content and the target device restrictions on the runtime memory. The original content uses a lot of vectors. We overlook the correlation of the number of operations and target system CPU processing capabilities in the test - the more CPU processing capabilities need to be used, the more CPU processing capabilities (this is also true). Our situation is that the movie contains too many complex graphics, which proves to have a significant burden on the CPU of the phone, so the phone is directly overcast, not the display.
Figure 2 is an outline diagram of the frame that causes the end of the transmission. Even if the displayed symbol is the same, the target device can not draw many vectors defined for this content.
Figure 2: This is the outline map of the frame that ends our movie display.
Use bitmap instead of vector
At that time, we reduced the number of vector to solve this problem. To this end, we use the bitmap (in this case heavy GIF file, see Figure 3) instead of the vector to define the ant shape.
Figure 3: We use bitmap instead of complex vector graphics.
Figure 4 and Figure 2 show the same frame; the key difference is that the vector we used to define ants has been replaced with a bitmap. This simple change reduces the number of vectors to be drawn on the target phone. Finally, our content contains only four vectors, and the tests on the target device are very smooth.
Figure 4: After using the bitmap instead of vector graphics, our film is played without defects on the target phone.
Note: Use a bitmap to bring a large file, but for mobile phones with Flash Lite features, the problem is clearly less than complex graphics. In any case, in order to achieve the best performance, it should be ensured that the balance point is found between file size and runtime performance. To learn how to use image compression, please read the "Bitmap and Vector" section of the "Flash Lite Creative Guide applied to NTT Docomo I-Mode service" when you read the Macromedia Flash document page.
Smooth playback skills
The following two sections outline the lessons we get when making flash lite contents.
Pay attention to the more operation of CPU
When developing content for telephone with I-MODE features, consider the CPU speed of the target phone and the size of the content file. However, the performance of the Flash Lite movie depends not only on the number of vectors to be drawn. Any one listed below causes the CPU of the target phone and affects the performance and size of the movie:
Too many alpha and hierarchy set multi-symbol parallel operation too many font complex ActionScript operations
In order to achieve the best results, TWEEN combination, key frame animation, ActionScript drive motion, and ensure that the animation is tested on the target phone in all possible situations (different types of I-Mode phone CPU speeds).
Note that Flash Lite also supports device fonts and embedders (but does not support input text fields). To a greater level of controlling content, the embedded font can be used. However, this will significantly increase the size of the SWF file. Conversely, if you want to use the device font, it can only be limited to a single font. It should be noted that the I-MODE phone supports special image characters called Emoji. (For more information on these characters, please read the "Emoji" section in the "Flash Lite Creative Guide for NTT Docomo I-MODE Services".
Pay attention to the size of the SWF file
Flash Lite does not support streaming. Only after the file download is complete, the user can see the first frame of the movie. Different from the Internet users, the mobile phone user I-mode website downloads the content, which means that the larger the volume of the movie, the more users pay, the smaller the possibility of using the service. In other words, to win the consumer, you must control the size of the SWF file, and it does not sacrifice the attraction. You can refer to the SWF file in this case study, which is 20KB, user access, and viewing takes 45 to 50 yen (about $ 0.40). The skills provided in the table will help to control files in a smaller volume, thus getting your user:
Do not use graphical symbols: Graphical symbols increase file size because each graphic symbol contains complex vector graphics that must be drawn separately. Instead, you should use a movie clip symbol, which can be drawn once, without significantly adding the file size. Using equipment font: Although the use of the inline font allows for a greater control content design, the volume of the movie is also increased. Instead, using the device font can help control the volume of the file in smaller. However, for 505i, 505is and 506i telephones, the fonts and sizes of a single (devices) are limited: 24pt. Optimization Path: Before publishing content, select Modify> Shape> Optimize in Flash MX Professional 2004 to optimize the path to distort the graphic distortion at full size.
Follow the rules I have listed, you will be able to surpass the CPU limit of the I-Mode phone, making an interface to colorful, introduce the winning content. Of course, you should be tested on the target device at any time, not just in the creation environment or outside Flash Lite Player (Saflashlite.exe) comes with the Flash MX Professional 2004 to ensure that the file size and runtime memory demand and CPU processing A balance between power. Remember, the CPU speed of the I-Mode phone is different from the model.
in conclusion
In this article, I explain what our team has learned during the transplantation-based Flash content to the mobile phone with Flash Lite features. We found that the use of Flash Lite can easily develop content. In addition to the sound function, the Flash Lite content is the same function with the Flash Player 4 content. I think it means more than accessing the flash movie from the computer. Flash movies on the mobile phone are expected to be more efficient use.
Flash Lite allows developers to create interface-rich content for DoCoMo platforms and other small waveform factors, while giving a content provider similar to us with opportunities to provide users with simple and easy-to-use dynamic content access as described herein. Further, Flash Lite allows companies to extend their website's appearance and feel to mobile phone sites, maintain a unified brand image. However, similar to our content makers and providers must pay close attention to the file size of the content, because the user will pay for the content and service of their mobile phone access.
I hope this article is to give you the opportunity to think about the possibility of Flash Lite.
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