Ryan Canulla has posted a quick and super easy video showing how simple it is to get started building a litl channel with FlashBuilder. With all the tools and sample channels litl provides, Ryan demonstrates how you can be coding and even testing the channel in our Simulator in less than 5 minutes.
I wanted to gauge the performance of the litl with a very processor intensive HYPE piece so I ran it on the MBP (intel) and then on the litl (atom) to see the barrier is.
Despite the lag, the response is not as bad as I thought it would be … there is a lot going on, alpha transitioning, vibration of the objects, and the mouse follow, plus more stuff I crammed into the experiment by tweaking some of the HYPE presets.
This is unoptimized, and an early version I had without the effects ran pretty nicely. I just wanted to push the processor limit on the litl … I didn’t kill the litl which is a good thing.
litl will have an SDK for Flash developers to take existing content or build new content specifically for litl users: families and those looking for a more simple computing experience with our litl webbook and custom litl OS.
litl call them channels, and this is the form of application users can download from litl dynamic channel catalog.
The existing channel catalog will become a store and bring a much needed and very true ecosystem to the Flash developer community.
While developers’ existing content is fully supported in litl browser, adding our SDK to Flash applications will allow developers to create channels and hook into the special controls and ‘views’ the litl webbook features.
In addition to a laptop mode, the litl flips over itself into ‘easel’ mode, where a unique experience is controlled with a scrollwheel and button found on the device hinge. Device controls are replicated with litl remote.
Essentially, including litl SDK in a Flash or Flex project will let developers ‘target’ litl device and offer their content ultimately, for free or fee, through litl store to the litl device owners and users.
The SDK will ship with a Simulator so that those without a litl in hand can develop and test their apps, plus asdocs, guides, tutorials, a custom UI control set (for both Flash and Flex), and sample channels to help developers kick start their channel project.
This coming April, litl is sponsoring a BFPUG event in Boston. Chuck Freedman and the team at litl will be hosting a meeting in which attendees will be able to have some hands-on with the litl platform before the expected Flash 10.1 SDK in May:
Title: BFPUG April Meeting
Date and Time: April 28, 2010 from 7:15pm – 9:00pm
Address: litl HQ (aka Aquent HQ)
33 Exeter St
Boston, MA
(Map)
Description: Chuck Freedman and the team at litl will be hosting a special meeting at their offices downtown. You will see and be able to play with the litl as they prepare to launch the new Flash 10.1 based SDK in May.
In addition to hosting, litl will be providing food and drink.
Litl to Release Software Development Kit (SDK) with Support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 SDK to Launch May 14, 2010 at “Flash and the City” Conference
Boston, Mass – March 23, 2010 – Litl (litl.com) today announced that its litl webbook will soon feature a software development kit (SDK) with full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1. The SDK will enable developers to create custom applications for the litl webbook using Adobe’s popular Flash platform. Litl plans to release the SDK – including a code library, simulator, code samples, and documentation – on May 14, 2010 at “Flash and the City” (flashandthecity.com), a developers’ conference in New York. Developers can learn more and join an email list at litl’s developer resource website (developer.litl.com).
The litl webbook is an innovative new Internet computer for the home. It can go online in a conventional laptop-like mode, rendering websites with a modern browser and built-in support for Flash. However, the computer can also stand upright like an easel when its screen and keyboard are flipped around its unique hinge. In this new mode, the litl webbook’s 12-inch screen becomes an ideal platform for displaying ambient web content ranging from photos and video to music and RSS feeds. The device also connects to large-screen televisions via a plug-and-play HDMI connection.
Alongside the litl webbook’s browser, users can also access web content through custom Flash applications or “channels. Channels transform web content to make it more useful and entertaining, especially in the litl webbook’s new “easel” mode. Channels custom-designed by litl and already available to users include Facebook, The Weather Channel, Flickr, Shutterfly, and BakeSpace. With the SDK’s release, users will benefit from a much larger selection of free and paid channels created by independent developers and partners.
“Our SDK is ideal for talented Flash Platform developers with creative ideas that will flourish on the litl OS,” said Chuck Freedman, litl’s chief channel evangelist. “The litl webbook provides a simple and enjoyable computing experience built on an innovative form factor, cool features and a clean user interface. With the launch of our SDK and Flash Player 10.1, we will provide developers with a very real ecosystem to monetize their development efforts and further enhance the litl user experience.”
“I’m quite excited about litl’s plans to release a public SDK with support for Adobe’s Flash Player 10.1. It represents a unique opportunity for the broader Flash community to get involved creating content for an interesting form-factor and innovative cloud-based operating system,” said noted mobile and device developer, author, and speaker Scott Janousek of the Boston-based firm, Hooken Mobile.
To learn more, developers should visit developer.litl.com and join the SDK’s email list. Developers are also invited to attend “Flash and the City” in New York from May 14-16. Representatives from litl will be on hand to introduce the SDK, share rollout plans, and help developers get started.
About litl
Based in Boston, litl is a new kind of computer company. The company was founded to make the web more enjoyable and entertaining for everyday consumers. Small and personal by design, we invite you to learn more at litl.com.
