Macromedia Brings Flash to Sony Clie NX devices

Posted By: Ryan Tuesday, November 5, 2002 10:24:30 AM

Macromedia, Inc. and Sony Corporation, today announced that Macromedia Flash Player is embedded into all of Sony's new CLIE NX-series devices. The devices are the first to feature Macromedia Flash Player support on the Palm OS. Macromedia Flash Player is the leading rich client for Internet content and applications across the broadest range of platforms and devices.

"Macromedia is excited to augment the incredible multimedia capabilities of the CLIE NX-series handhelds to include Macromedia Flash Player," said Peter Meechan, vice president, Macromedia.

"The Sony CLIE product line is about redefining the role of a handheld device," said Toshinori Nakamura, general manager, Sony Corporation's Handheld Computer Company. "Sony selected Macromedia Flash as the vehicle for amplifying Sony's multimedia and content vision given that Macromedia Flash is the standard in creating dynamic multimedia applications and services. The CLIE handheld includes an interactive CLIE Demo application created with Macromedia Flash that highlights the new features of the device. Sony looks forward to working closely with Macromedia and its more than 1.6 million creative Macromedia Flash designers and developers to revolutionize the handheld experience."

Macromedia Flash MX is one of the fastest ways to create Internet content and applications across a broad range of platforms and devices. For developers, Macromedia Flash MX includes templates that enable the quick creation of rich content for devices, as well as other enhancements that will increase developer productivity and reduce their time to market.

The CLIE PEG-NX70V and PEG-NX60 models are the latest Sony entertainment handhelds powered by a 200MHz ARM-compliant processor and enhanced by the new Palm OS 5 operating system. These new devices enable users to take photos and record video clips, record voice memos, and wirelessly browse the Internet on a Wi-Fi (802.11b) network with an optional Sony wireless LAN card--in addition to playing MP3 audio files and video games.

Thanks to Matthew McClintock for the tip!

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finally!!

dhchung @ 11/5/2002 10:59:40 AM #
I herad that they have the player ready for over a year. but the prev dragonball was too slow to run the flash player.
can't wait to see flash on PalmOS PDA

RE: finally!!
Ronin @ 11/5/2002 11:03:40 AM #
Aside from the tech appeal, what purpose would Flash serve on a handheld? Heck, most days I find Flash on the web to be more of a nuisance then anything else. Perhaps, someone more knowledgeable can shed some light on the practical applications for Flash.

Also, if a PDA is going to run Flash to any real effect, it seems to me that is has to have a lot more available RAM than 11MB (I have read that this is the amount of RAM available on the NX out-of-box) or be able stream data from an expansion card. Even as frugal as the Palm OS is with RAM something like Flash has got to use copious amounts of it.

When Sony says they are emphasizing entertainment, they are not kinding. :)

In the Spirit of Umoja,
Ronin

RE: finally!!
smiley1081 @ 11/5/2002 11:07:31 AM #
> can't wait to see flash on PalmOS PDA

Just what we need, a tool to create elephantic applications...

RE: finally!!
ganoe @ 11/5/2002 11:19:15 AM #
> most days I find Flash on the web to be more of a nuisance then anything else.

I'd agree 100%. In theory, you could use Flash to do most things you do in other real (for lack of a better term) programming languages. Unfortunately, it most often gets used for things you could do much better in straight HTML (or HTML, style sheets and JavaScript). The things you might actually want to use Flash for usually get done in a "real" programming language like Java. If you get the logic, most of the Flash content you see is the wrong application used for the wrong purpose. If you want to see Flash put to good use, see the virtual tour of the Sydney Opera House at:

http://www.soh.nsw.gov.au/h/t_virtual_tour_fs1.html

If course it's huge, and you need Quicktime VR to use it, so that won't be coming to a Palm soon.

RE: finally!!
MaryJoS @ 11/5/2002 11:33:18 AM #
First of all, Flash is a very compact way to do multimedia apps. You can get some really great stuff into files as small as 1 or 2 meg. Still would be ideal to run from a card, but still possible to run from RAM.

As for possible applications, Flash can be used for all kinds of things. It is of course great for doing cartoons and entertainment, presentations, slides shows, etc. but can also be used to do games, learning tools, or other types of interactive applications, without having to have knowledge of special programming languages, just a little knowledge of Actionscript. I think this is a great bit of news and look forward to what people come up with.

Here's an example...a site I worked on called Mathmastery.com. The site is a huge collection of math lessons for kids done in Flash, complete with quizzes, tests and games for each chapter. This would be great to download to a Palm, to be used anywhere.

RE: finally!!
clevewaterman @ 11/5/2002 12:26:47 PM #
"without having to have knowledge of special programming languages, just a little knowledge of Actionscript."

Mary Jo, you are absolutely correct. Flash has great depth, but you don't have to be an expert to create good content. Flash on the Palm OS will allow "content experts", rather than "programming experts", to generate exciting new content. Flash on Pocket PC has been around a long time, but I think it needs to be on Palm to really take off.
Cleve

sample .swf file please
inthetin @ 11/5/2002 1:10:37 PM #
do you have a sample math lesson.swf file that I could download to the NX for try-out in the classroom. thx.
RE: finally!!
I.M Anonymous @ 11/5/2002 1:34:06 PM #
Hey, if I can watch StrongBad Emails on my palm, I'm all for it! It's crazy go nuts!

RE: finally!!
MaryJoS @ 11/6/2002 9:59:55 AM #
Sorry, I no longer work on the site and do not have access to their files. You would have to email them at info@mathmastery.com. You might let them know about this development for the Palm, they may want to look at providing all the lessons for the Palm.

Why Flash?
ray00pal @ 11/6/2002 4:42:42 PM #
Some people think Flash is just for the look and not meaningful. This is so typical engineer thinking. I bet you 99% of the CPU work is to make things look good in PC. Otherwise, a 486 CPU is good enough for he real job.

People buy more good looking useless stuff then useful ugly stuff.

It IS very important to have 1GHz CPU to enable smooth 3D animation on a PDA.


not on Tungsten T?

Bmann @ 11/5/2002 11:00:56 AM #
so palm didn't include the Flash player on the Tungsten T and I don't see it on the macromedia site for download other than for PPC or Nokia communicator?

that is odd. what's up palm?

Same as Real Mobile...
Solo @ 11/5/2002 11:55:45 AM #
There is a version for PPC and for Nokia 7150, nothing for Palm.

I guess Palmsource isn't very political oriented.

Solo

RE: not on Tungsten T?
cdawson @ 11/5/2002 12:15:57 PM #
I am very disappointed that Flash is not available on the Tungsten.

I have a feeling that Palm is so focused on the Enterprise market to the exclusion of multimedia technologies like Flash, video and MP3 players.

Very very bad move!

-Chris

RE: not on Tungsten T? Relax...
fireproof @ 11/5/2002 12:24:08 PM #
Actually, I don't think that the Flash player won't be available for the Tungsten (after all, it's a PalmOS 5 application) -- rather, I think they've worked out a deal to bundle it with the Sony devices to promote the "entertainment" value of the NX series.

We'll undoubtedly see this application for other Palm OS devices once there's been some hullabaloo for Sony's new products.

RE: not on Tungsten T?
Galapagos @ 11/5/2002 12:36:54 PM #
Perhaps the Flash-layer developed for Sony doesn't work on the Tungsten. Apparently the Audible Player developed for the Tungsten doesn't work on the NX-Series. This could be the beginning of the SH§/MIPS/ARM-Fuss we had over in the Pocket PC-Court a year ago (and the ARM/XSCALE-fuss that is to come).

Some software will only support certain PalmOS 5-devices. Add to this the older Dragonball-PalmOSes and the newbie-consumer better get some catching up done before s/he tries to install a new program!

RE: not on Tungsten T?
painted_dog @ 11/5/2002 12:45:38 PM #
Maybe i'm misunderstanding, but the article said 'embedded' to me this means encoded on an IC, which if true, in the first place if true i'd hope it'd be flashable. I'm thinking that since hand held devices are getting graphics chips, maybe there is one or part of one that has the Flash instructions on it???
If it truly is 'embedded' it would run faster than with it just being a software pgm ....


in which case, Tungsten wouldn't have it immediately unless Macromedia realease a Flash pgm for Palm OS...

just some thoughts of which i'm sure i'm wrong.

-painted dog

RE: not on Tungsten T?
Bmann @ 11/5/2002 12:49:17 PM #
the fact is that if you want to have a serious web surfing hand held device, you'll need a Flash player. I have a 3com Audrey and it came with Flash but not java, and that locked out some fun sites and kinda limited the Audrey's abilities. The same thing could happen to the web hand helds. They need to have the same capabilities as the desktops. I have an palm VII and the web clipping didn't go far for that reason.

I'm sure that macromedia will release the Flash player for OS5, but they might be giving Sony the lead here. Everything counts when you are trying to sell the same widget.

RE: not on Tungsten T?
bcombee @ 11/5/2002 1:41:49 PM #
Palm OS 5.1 has a streaming audio manager. The NX70 implements Sony's older Audio API from the T615C and NR70, but doesn't implement the new Palm OS API. The Tungsten implements the new API, but still has some quirks. I think this API nonsense should be straightened out by the time the devices get thei OS 5.1 upgrades.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: not on Tungsten T?
Bmann @ 11/5/2002 2:38:45 PM #
I've read reports that even Flash programs created for PPC work fine on the NX with Flash player, even the sound. I think that Flash will use your system sound set-up.

RE: not on Tungsten T?
rsc1000 @ 11/5/2002 4:31:49 PM #
>Perhaps the Flash-layer developed for Sony doesn't work on the Tungsten.

Nah. Macromedia has said that they developed this for Palm OS over a year ago but performance qasn't there - so they were waiting for OS 5. There is no way in hell they would limit themselves to only 15% of the market. Palm sells over double what Sony does. We know it is technically possible to do on any ARM based PalmOS 5 device. As Ben said, Sony has decided to stay with their proprietary audio API - for now - so Flash *might* be temporarily on hold as far as standard OS 5 audio API support is concerned. But it is more likely that they simply have a deal with Sony that gives temporary exclusivity to Sony - i bet they have a general OS 5 release very soon. There is no technical reason why this can't work on the Tungsten.

RE: not on Tungsten T?
bcombee @ 11/5/2002 6:35:23 PM #
It will be an interesting installer -- the current Flash library uses "super large" ARM code resources that would have to be recreated using an on-device installer program, since the resource is larger than what HotSync or beaming can handle.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: not on Tungsten T?
rsc1000 @ 11/6/2002 1:59:45 PM #
>>the current Flash library uses "super large" ARM code resources that would have to be recreated using an on-device installer program, since the resource is larger than what HotSync or beaming can handle.


What is the limit?

RE: not on Tungsten T?
bcombee @ 11/7/2002 2:08:47 AM #
HotSync cannot handle a resource larger than 64K with its current device-to-PC protocol.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

Flash Provides Meaningful Content

sralmas @ 11/5/2002 1:04:32 PM #
Flash is singularly responsible for the most meaningful website I've found on the Net to date:

http://www.whitetrash.nl/pmf/



RE: Flash Provides Meaningful Content
I.M Anonymous @ 11/5/2002 1:37:21 PM #
Don't forget HomestarRunner.com!

Not Sure if this is old but NX-70V spotted at Circuit City

Len DeJesus @ 11/5/2002 2:14:02 PM #
Not sure if this is old new, but I spotted the NX-70 at Circuit City Hilltop (Richmond, CA) - as I recall, it does indeed have the flash player on it, but didn't have any samples to play.

RE: Not Sure if this is old but NX-70V spotted at Circuit City
cp31 @ 11/5/2002 5:52:29 PM #
because u need 2 add it off the cd

RE: Not Sure if this is old but NX-70V spotted at Circuit City
Bmann @ 11/6/2002 9:37:13 AM #
There is a Sony Demo on the NX that is Flash where you zoom in and out of a grid of features

Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files

djsl @ 11/5/2002 3:05:11 PM #
Can the NX flash program use the same files developed for Pocket PC? Hope that is the answer is yes. I remembered coming across some sites with some compelling flash apps.


Where are the 128 + sticks?

RE: Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files
twizza @ 11/5/2002 3:34:17 PM #
FLash files are platform indepenent, meaning that they will run the same no matter where they go. THe kool part about Flash on mobile devices is that the PPC version of things will easily go the the PalmOS side of things. This makes web developers very very happy :D

RE: Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files
ska @ 11/5/2002 4:04:14 PM #
except there is no such thing as Flash player for Tungsten. It's Sony specific software.
RE: Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files
Fly-By-Night @ 11/6/2002 4:50:29 AM #
Only at the moment you fool.

RE: Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files
JKingGrim @ 11/6/2002 4:41:34 PM #
Palms will not be able to run the exact file of a PPC. PPCs can sync anything onto the device. A palm can only sync .prc and .pdb. To run flash files, a conversion utility would be needed.

RE: Can NX use Pocket PC Flash Files
bcombee @ 11/7/2002 2:03:22 AM #
The player on the Sony device will play Flash files stored on an external Memory Stick, while the Flash library that the player uses looks to be able to handle both VFS files and in-memory file streams. The SWF files used for the Sony CLIE demo are stored as 'strm'-typed databases on the device. I don't know how the library is called, but I hope information on programming this is released when Sony releases their NX70V SDK.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

Native ARM code?

PFloyd @ 11/5/2002 3:34:26 PM #
Does anyone know if Flash for the NX is native ARM code? It looks good and it's quick so I'm guessing it is.

RE: Native ARM code?
bcombee @ 11/5/2002 3:47:19 PM #
The Flash player application "MMFlash" is a 68K program, but it relies on MMFlashLib, a ARM-based shared library. This library is ROM-only library, since its main ARM code resource is almost 595K, which is much more than HotSync Manager allows. In fact, this kind of library really can't be installed in RAM, because HotSync Manager may try to back it up, and it would fail horribly -- these large resources will silently fail on Win HotSync Manger, but will crash the Mac OS one.

I don't think the current Flash binary shipped on the NX70V is portable to the Tungsten T for a few reasons.

1) As a licensee-shipped ARM shared library. It is likely that its been compiled to take advantage of the extensions of Intel XScale processor on the device.

2) It may be making direct calls to the OS as built for the Sony device, rather than calling the operating system through PACE. It could be using special OS extensions that Sony put in place for the Flash library.

I don't see any reason why this couldn't be rebuilt for the Tungsten T, but it will take Palm working directly with Macromedia to get it to happen.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

Had a chance to play with an NX70

Kaitou @ 11/5/2002 8:37:25 PM #
and the Clie Demo is flash, and that runs in full 320x480. That may be why it's on the NX only for now.

RE: Had a chance to play with an NX70
Bmann @ 11/6/2002 9:39:17 AM #
Good point, all of the PPC Flash stuff is 320x480. So even when the Flash player is released for the TT, all of the existing Flash programs will not fit the 320x320 screen.

I guess that a single platform format will never happen.

RE: Had a chance to play with an NX70
Fly-By-Night @ 11/6/2002 10:32:29 AM #
I'd imagine most PPC Clone Flash works at 240x320 (standard PPC resolution I believe), so would site happily one a 320x320 or 320x480 OS5 device.

FBN

RE: Had a chance to play with an NX70
rsc1000 @ 11/6/2002 2:04:57 PM #
>>Good point, all of the PPC Flash stuff is 320x480.

Huh? This would be weird - since all pocketPCs are 320*240.

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