Adobe invited me to participate in the prerelease programs for Flash CS5 and AIR for Android. I took some time and built a game for the iPhone called Fruit Smash Organic which is currently in the iTunes app store. While I love my iPhone, Apple sure does make you jump through some ridiculous hoops to get an app on it. Even if it is your own testing device! The biggest frustration I had was with just getting my game onto the device.
With the latest crApple news it was time to get my hands on an Android device. My Nexus One arrived yesterday (FedEx Saturday delivery FTW) about 4pm, and I had Fruit Smash Organic ported to the device and running beautifully by 7pm! That includes downloading and installing the SDKs, walking through a Hello World tutorial, charging the device for a little while, and making some minor code edits. Kudos to Adobe and Google for making the process easy instead of a nightmare.
Also, the game performance is great! It doesn’t even think about dropping below full frame rate, and easily out performs the same app running on the iPhone. I look forward to creating more games for Android using Flash!
Short 45 second video showing primary game play.
A slightly longer video showing primary game play and some secondary elements. And you can see the reflection of my and my flipcam š
hey, looks really great! i esp. like the performance. how much of a boost did you see between nexus/iphone?
Kisi,Thanks!Between the iPhone 3Gs and Nexus One I didn't notice that much of a performance difference, but there is a difference. Between the older iPhone and iTouch devices there is a HUGE boost.
Awesome, thanks for sharing. Is there a packager for the android like there is for the iphone?
Garth,Yes. It is in development by Adobe currently.
So we'll have access to it when CS5 is released, right? I've only seen screen shots of the iphone packager. Any chances that you can post a screen shot of the packager? Please š
Garth,I'm not sure if it will ship with CS5 or be an add on to it later. I'll see what I can find out.Currently the process is 3 manual steps that will hopefully be made into 1 automated step later.1) Compile your SWF2) Package into a *.apk file via command line. Takes like 2 seconds.3) Install to device via command line. Takes like 3-4 seconds.It is accessible on the device immediately. You can see the icon pop in there.
Garth – I forgot to say this, but it was implied by my last response: I can't take a screen shot because it is 3 steps. I also can't post a screen shot without Adobe's permission, but in this case there is nothing to post.
Thanks Jobe, I understand why you can't post a screen shot, that's cool. And thanks for the steps that will be involved. I've been curious about the steps involved with the other mobile platforms. There's been a lot of hype around the iphone packager, but there are more mobiles than the iphone. So thanks again for info.
Wow, this seems at par with some similar iphone games. Paricularly liked the secondary features using the tilting, thats awesome. Got a doubt if there is a little bit of slowness in response for the Nexus when compared to iphone? For the touch and tile responses, seems not as smooth as the iphone..or is it just me.Anyways awesome job, hope Adobe will release a preview for this packager soon for all of us to join the fun. š
Is it a nexus one or Android 2.1 capability ? Can we expect find it on HTC Desire for example ?
Thank you very much for making the process clear. I had doubt about the packager for android.
I like what is see. Ordering an android phone this week.In your comment you listed the steps:1) Compile your SWF2) Package into a *.apk file via command line. Takes like 2 seconds.3) Install to device via command line. Takes like 3-4 seconds.Can you give the command line commands for step 2 and 3?And do you have to generate a key for the application to deploy it to your phone?Also is the flash version on the phone flash lite if so should we avoid any certain Action script methods or classes because of flash lite.?
Juwal,I agree, the actual Nexus One's OS interface feels a little less responsive and slides a little less smoothly than the iPhone. But when I got into my app, it performed better. Overall I'm still just getting used to the device. I've had it less than 48 hours.
Alan,It is Android compatibility. If the HTC Desire runs android, then the answer is yes.
Mike,This line packages:adt -package -target apk -storetype pkcs12 -keystore mycert.p12 FruitSmash FruitSmash-app.xml FruitSmash.swfThis line installs:adb -d install You asked about generating a key. If I understand you correctly, here is the answer: your application is signed just like an AIR application would be signed…because it *is* an AIR application. The certificate is created right out of Flash CS5 at the click of a button. If you can publish an AIR app, then you should be able to publish one for Android (once the tools are available).
Thanks for all the inside information on the Jobe wow amazing.. cant wait for this one!
Hey, I bought the iPhone version and left a snarky comment for Apple :-). Package it for Android and I'm there on my Nexus One. I love this game.
Are you able to publish it to marketplace for us to try out??
Unfortunately I cannot publish to the marketplace yet. The Adobe AIR runtime for Android is required and isn't publicly available yet.
Nice, I am getting my company to order a HTC Desire/ Incredible/Nexus One so that we can start playing with AIR for Android. One thing been bugging me though. How will we get AIR onto the mobile OS? Will it be through an OTA update sent out by Google/HTC? Or is it like the desktop version where we will have to install the AIR runtime first before having the ability to install AIR apps?
This is most excellent Jobe! I, too, have been bummed by apple's recent behavior, and this moves me one step closer to trying out an android. Really happy to hear the performance is there as that's been my main concern. Thanks for sharing!
@Bradster I think we can assume at this point it will be an OTA update for Froyo (2.2)
Good work. Keep it coming
Hi Jobe, very good work here. Could you post something about battery performances with this kind of game?Fennec
Frennec,I'm sorry to say that I don't have any information on that. In fact, I wouldn't know how to measure it.
Hi Jobe,I am trying to test an AIR application on my Droid Incredible, using the CS5 IDE.I installed the lastest Android SKD, but didn't find a tool that would convert my Air app into an .apk file:Specifically, I couldn't find the adt.exe you are mentioning anywhere within the SDK dir. Where is it?Any help would be greatly appreciated.- Pascal
Pascal,AIR for Android is currently unreleased. You can't find it anywhere. Watch Adobe for announcements about when it will be released. I'd guess probably summer time.
Jobe,Thank you for your reply. I was going mad trying the adt.bat from CS5, then the one from Flash Builder, then from the Air SDK, re-signing the app, trying it unsigned, etc. Anyway, I'll just have to wait :)- Pascal
Hey Jobe!I really need your help. I have some flash files, .swf extension, actually it's a flash based game, and I want to package into .apk for Android so I can make it work on Droid, I use Windows environment, I don't know how to do it. I'm new to android dev, and honestly new to development, I need your help. I do my development for Android in Eclipse Galileo.Waiting for your kind response.
Muhammad,You have to wait for Adobe to release the AIR for Android packager sometime in the next few months. I was able to write about this since I have access to the beta, and Adobe gave me permission.
Oh ok.Thanks a lot Mr Jobe.Really appreciated that.Are you on Facebook?
they have a beta out, I would like to test some more games on it but do not have that ability to right now with out an apk, kinda sucks
So men, what the "hello world tutorial" u've followed…thanks!
Hi Jobe,what are the security implications for the flash games? Like you I have developed 100s of games and I am worried these will be ripped and used to create Android apps.Is there any way to protect things?cheers!
Jobe, I read form your blog post that Adobe will release "AIR for Android packager" in the second half of 2010. Perhaps, its not yet released and i need to publish a very simple app for demo purpose. If i give you the SWF, can u plz publish its .apk file for me? Do tell me what else would i need to send you other than the swf file.