API Bridge – More Platform Services For Flash Lite & WRT

I just give API Bridge a try & thinks to share it with other developers. After Platform services API , it is a new tool which provides some other Platform Services. Btw, I like to write my article in form of questions .

What is API Bridge ?

API Bridges is actually a Symbian Server which provides http interface for communication between Server  (API Bridge) & Client (Flash Lite/WRT App). In short, it is a http server which enrich its clients (Flash Lite/WRT app) with different services like accessing camera & taking photos , uploading files , accessing call logs etc.

How a single API Bridge works for both Flash Lite & WRT ?

As we already discussed that API Bridge is actually a local http server. It provide services to all those clients which can send them http requests (ofcourse, only those requests which API Bridge accepts) .  Therefore , it will works for both Flash Lite & WRT .

How to get started with API Bridge for Flash Lite?

Just follow these steps :

1- Unlike Platform Services API, you have to install API Bridge sis package on your phone first . You can find the sis package inside the zip file provided here :

API Bridge

Just send the swf files to your phone and test them .If they are working fine then ur API Bridge is successfully installed.

2- Install the APIBridge sis package in your phone.

3- After installing APIBridge , now u r ready to go to test API Bridge samples. You can find API Bridge samples here :

APIBridge_FlashLiteCode.zip

4- For creating your own contents with Flash Lite API Bridge,  u need Action Script classes which can be found in the above zip file i.e inside a folder with name “si” .Just copy paste the “si” folder in Flash Library path or in the folder where u r saving ur fla file.

5- Just read this article for more details and a clear view of API Bridge :

http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Flash_Lite_API_Bridge_Interface

How to distribute a Flash Lite content which uses API Bridge Services ?

Two ways to distribute these contents :

1 – I want to use Flash Lite Stub using Symbian C++ i.e Kuneri Lite, Online FN Packager , Adobe FL Packager etc

It is a very famous way of distributing Flash Lite contents (also known as swf to sis) . Lets follow steps to explain :

1 – Provide swf file to any of these tools and they give u sis file in return.

2 – Now, u can simply edit the sis file , embeds the API Bridge sis (which can be found inside this zip file  API Bridge ) and self signed it again (because once u modified sis u need to resign ur sis file) .

3 – To acheive step 2 , one can use SISContent , it is GUI application which makes packaging related tasks EASY.

4 – Open your sis file (obtained from any packaing tool) in SISContent . Click Tools>Edit . Click on Contents Icon > Add > Embed Package  & select API Bridge sis (keep the check mark on the statement “Install only when package doesnt exists)  and press ok.Now, Click Edit > sign > key pairs > add your own self signed certificate and sign ur sis . Now, goto file and save this modified sis.

Note : If u dont know how to make ur own self signed certificates .Just read the second last paragraph of this article :

How_to_sign_a_.Sis_file_with_Self-Sign_Certificate

BTW, it is very easy, you just need a makekeys.exe and u have to give command as described in the page .

5- Now , you are ready to distribute .

2 – I want to use Flash Lite Content Embeds into a WRT.

To distibute ur swf using WRT , just read this article :

How_to_Package_A_Flash_Lite_Application_that_uses_the_APIBridge

What is the default port of  API Bridge ?

Its Default Port is 9080 and u can find the port by looking at the text file placed in C:\\inovait\\apibridge\\port.txt (after installing API Bridge SIS).You can try a simple test to check it i.e use this actionscript in swf :

loadVariables(“http://127.0.0.1:9080/newfileservice?fileType=Image”, _root);

and u  will see camera application launched in phto shoot mode . However, u cannot change API Bridge port by editing the text file .

Where to read more :

-  http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Flash_Lite_API_Bridge_Interface By Robert Burdick

- http://dalerankine.com/index.php/2009/11/new-nokia-apibridge-for-extending-flash-lite-applications-on-s60/ By Dale Rankine

- http://dalerankine.com/index.php/2009/12/new-training-video-accessing-the-camera-using-nokia-api-bridge/ By Dale Rankine

Wish u easy Flash Programming ……..

Best Regards,

Sajid Ali Anjum (SajiSoft)

SajiFS Launcher – Launch Flash Lite Contents in Full Screen

I got many emails regarding the issue that HOW TO LAUCH ANY SWF FILE IN FULL SCREEN FROM END USER SIDE? so, i just write this application in my free time for them. This application seems to be simple to end user and developers but it evolves some magic tricks which let u play swf files in full screen without editing the source of the swf file.As my previous projects, this is also an hybrid application between symbian c++ & flash lite. Take a look at further details :

Description :
FS Launcher is an end-user as well as developer freeware solution to play/test PC mouse based flash games in full screen with a close button without modifying the source of the game. It can launch the swf files in two resolution i.e streched & normal. It is developed using Symbian C++ & Flash Lite.
Preview :


Compatibility :
- Symbian 5th Edition phones only (FL 3.0)
How to get started with FS Launcher:
- Install the provided fslauncher sis file .
- Save your swf files to C:\data\others or e:\others (default direcotories for saving swf files)
- Open FS Launcher , browse saved swf files and play them.
Features :
- supports potrait and landscape mode.
- provide 2 resolutions for launching swf files i.e streched & normal.
- Symbian C++ and Flash Lite powered.
- Can browse only C:\data\others\ + subdirectories and E:\others\ + subdirectories.
- Easy to install and play with.
- Can launch many of Flash 8 PC games successfully.

Download :

- Just go to my website to download sis file of this application.

- You can try swf files available at this site .

Best Regards,

Sajid Ali Anjum (SajiSoft)

Issue – Flash Lite stub does not close on pressing red key (FIXED)

Issue

In few software versions of Nokia 5800, when u run a stub application developed using swfpack.com  (or may be other packaging tools) then it wont get closed on pressing red key. However, there is a work around posted by Risalmin in Forum Nokia .

Fix

Fix of this issue is quite easy i.e listen to red key event in Flash Lite and excecute the fscommand2 for quiting app. Use this AS code , to acheive the task  :

var keyListener:Object = new Object();
keyListener.onKeyDown = function() {
if(Key.getCode()=="endcall"){
fscommand2("Quit");
}
}
Key.addListener(keyListener);

 

Best Regards,

Sajid Ali Anjum (SajiSoft)

SWFxME 1.0 – Extend Flash Lite Using J2ME

I was working on a open source project from last 4 months.Today , i released this project under name “SWFxME “.It is designed for the developers who want to give more power to their applications using a hybrid application (Flash Lite + JavaME) .Here are few details :

SWFxME:
SWFxME is an open source project developed to extend Flash Lite with J2ME via HTTP server (written in J2ME code) and to provide more power to the developer by making a hybrid application.
The developers who want to know the difference between Jarpa and SWFxME? Then Jarpa is an XML Socket Server whereas SWFxME is a HTTP Server .Hence, SWFxME is more compatible (i.e from Flash Lite 1.1 to onwards) .

Compatibility :
The minimum requirements for SWFxME :
1 – Flash Lite 1.1
2 – MIDP 2.0
3 – JSR-75 (File Connection API) Support
It should have to work with a phone having these 3 characteristics provided that the platform doesnt
have any restrictions to write files, launching files or listening to a local port.

Built-In Functions :
Current version has 2 built-in functions :
1 – Write File
2 – List Directory

Samples , Documentaion & Source :
Every Thing is available on SWFxME Project Page

Tested :
Currently tested with S60 phones (E50, N78 & 5800) but i love to know about other phones like (S40 and SE etc)

Screenshots of the sample :

As this is the first release, i want other developers to test it on their devices and provide feedback .So, the next releases are much more compatible and samples for different platforms will be available .

Best Regards,

Sajid Ali Anjum

SajiOS v5 For S60 v3

SajiOS is one of my famous project as i worked on it alot. More then 10000+ downloads at the time of this post. Total time it take from first release to fifth release is about 8 months and i learned alot while programming this project.

                    SajiOS is a powerful shell designed for the people who are bored of one type of interface. It provides a number of features , Some ov them are as under :

- On first time run , it asks your username , usericon and password .Now, you

can protect SajiOS by your own password + set your own username & user

icon.

- Log-In Screen Added.

- Themes Feature Added. Now , you can custominize sajiOS with different

themes .I try to make when i gt free and upload it on my site

& try to post here too. BTW 3 themes included by default .

- A vista style sidebar is created with alpha transperancy + clock + calendar + media player + notification alerts for unread msgs , profile and misscalls..

- You Can Add Your Own Icons and Wallpapers..You can add 12 icons in SajiOS Fl 2 version .26+ common icons are included..

- You Can Make Calls by SajiOS Phone Pad..Just press * key at desktop and Phone Pad Appears..

- Icon manager is created . So , one can easily add icons on the desktop , submenu apps and startmenu shortcuts. As icon manager automatically detects installed apps and No need to remember the paths any more .

- Media Player In the sidebar with file manager to open files .

- A more flexible SajiOS control panel is added to change wallpaper/themes and different seetings.

- KeyPad lock feature added. Now, you can lock your keypad by holding * key in SajiOS .

- You can switch b/w profile silent/general by holding # key.

More features to reveal urself .

How to Install ??

Goto www.sajisoft.net.ms for installation files..

Hope u like it..

Note : The application is freeware but not open source yet (May be open source in future to help developers ).

Best Regards,

Sajid Ali Anjum (a.k.a SajiSoft)

Sajid Ali Anjum (a.k.a SajiSoft) starts blogging… :)

At last, i make my mind to start writing blogs myself and share my knowledge with others. I will try to share all my new experiences and the projects i develop during my mobile programming journey. Keep me alive on my blog by your feedbacks . For those , who want to know who i am and what i do ? please, visit the about page of this blog :  About SajiSoft

Best Regards,
Sajid Ali Anjum