But the adventurous, curious, forward-thinking and/or more well-rounded developer types out there are getting to know HTML5 and CSS3, if only to add to their primarily Flash-y toolbox. Yeah, these technologies aren’t 100% ready yet and may not be for a while…but since when did waiting around in this industry (or marrying yourself to one technology) do you any good?

At any rate, one of the better primers on HTML5 right now looks to be HTML5rocks.com. And be sure and check out their slide presentation on the new features.

A while back, I upgraded to Coda. I really love the interface, and it has nice built-in tools for FTP and SVN. But I want robust JavaScript functionality, and while the code completion is satisfactory (aside from some minor built-in typos), JQuery support isn’t what I was looking for.

I had given Aptana Studio a quick look as a helper for building AIR with JavaScript. But I recently gave it a full test drive as a JavaScript editor and I really love it. The code hinting and auto complete is great, JQuery support (as well as the support for other frameworks) via easily installed plugins is fantastic. There’s also debugging, robust HTML/CSS code assist, live preview, aq DOM outline view, and FTP. What’s more is, having built a ton of ActionScript applications with Flex/Flash Builder, the Eclipse-style interface is very familiar to me, even though it’s more cluttered than Coda.

Not to mention: it’s open source! Check it out.

Today, Steve Jobs issued an open letter on the subject of Flash, and it’s somewhat telling. Many of the points are merely interesting, debatable or even sometimes unclear. But what seems very much to the point is this paragraph:

“In addition, Flash has not performed well on mobile devices. We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash performing well on a mobile device, any mobile device, for a few years now. We have never seen it. Adobe publicly said that Flash would ship on a smartphone in early 2009, then the second half of 2009, then the first half of 2010, and now they say the second half of 2010. We think it will eventually ship, but we’re glad we didn’t hold our breath. Who knows how it will perform?”

So, for all the time (a few years now) that Adobe has pushed or expressed interest in or hoped for getting Flash on the iPhone and now the iPad, it’s failed to get a reliable, non-Flash lite version of the Flash player on any of the other mobile platforms that would welcome it with open arms. If that changes soon, with Android or a Google-powered tablet, would Apple reverse course?

While it seems inevitable that HTML5 will take a big chunk out of some common Flash tasks like delivering video, there is a balanced opinion coming from many RIA developers about the likelihood of Flash dying off when you stop to consider how far ahead of the standards plug-ins generally are.

Here’s a good article from an RIA developer who argues that predictions in this area, especially those slanted towards the death of plug-ins like Flash, are probably premature. You can also read it on read it on the original author’s blog.

This site was created to encourage Seattle Seahawks season ticket holders to renew for the 2010 season. Animation, video and static content educate users all about the new head coach and his staff, draft strategy and prospects, and more. Technologies used: Photoshop, Flash, OOP ActionScript, FLV.

Visit the site

Artwork and animation production/project commissioned by LitFuse Design

This interactive storyline introduces users to the bakery and its history, complete with animations and sound effects. “More info” modal windows from the popup panels are provided in HTML and animation sections are deep-linked for SEO. Technologies used: Photoshop, Flash, OOP ActionScript, JavaScript.

Visit the site

Graphic design/project commissioned by Ratio Interactive

In a separate post, he demonstrates compiling a Flash file into a native iPhone app.

As an aid to education and fundraising, this multimedia version of the printed Unitus Annual Report was developed using the new Adobe InDesign-to-Flash CS4 export format in order to closely match the print version of the report. It features animated navigation and content, as well as videos. Be sure to check out the three interactive charts & graphs in the “Results” section. Technologies used: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and XSL, Flash, Actionscript.

See the annual report

Graphic design by Henry Yiu

He says he’ll open-source the software behind SixthSense to open its possibilities to all.