Aral Balkan

I presented a new version of my Rediscovering Fun session at Multi-Mania yesterday and had great fun doing so!

I had originally planned (way back) to show a few SWX examples on the Nintendo Wii (since SWX is Flash Player 7+ compatible and the Wii runs FP7) but later evolved the presentation to include mobile SWX samples instead. (SWX is destined to be the data exchange format for Flash Lite, especially considering that Flash Remoting doesn't exist and XML has an enormous processor hit.)

Anyway, this did mean that I had a Wii on stage (HAH!, I kill me!) and I decided to put it to good use by playing a game of communal Wii tennis with some of the audience at the start of my session. (If anyone has a photo of this, please let me know!) :)

After that little bit of fun, I moved on to demonstrate SWX Beta 1 for the first time ever and took the risk of live coding during the session. For the first time during a live coding session, all three of my examples compiled first time through. This only strengthens my belief that SWX is simple. Very simple!

Oh, and I ended up winning a weekend in Lisbon, which was totally unexpected (the last time I won anything was probably when I was 12!) :)

Multi-Mania this year was at least twice the size of last years' and yet was as warm and friendly as ever. I'm so happy to see that it lost none of its charm in the transition from a single-track conference to a multi-track one with a neat roster of international speakers. I heard on the grapevine that next year it might even be a two-day conference. Oh yes, and did I mention that its free to attend?

I know it's only just over but I can't wait for Multi-Mania 2008. Here's a warm thank-you to Koen, the Multi-Mania crew, and the lovely warm people of Kortrijk! You guys rock! :)

Comments

• The portuguese flash community welcomes you. Have a nice stay in Lisbon :)

  by Ricardo Pereira on 2007-05-28 09:46:56

• hey Aral, That was the best presentation that day!!! btw, SWX is cool!! greetz

  by Gert on 2007-05-31 20:36:29

• Letter to the CEO and Rediscovering Fun : Very informative and most certainly entertaining presentations in Amsterdam! Thanks Aral! Guess I need to dive into Flash, SWX and Twitter now! Hehe ;)

  by John B on 2007-06-02 16:40:34

• With flash, kinda dark: http://img.crowdway.com/2M07/IMG_5467.JPG Without flash, kinda blurred: http://img.crowdway.com/2M07/IMG_5469.JPG Was a great session. Thanks Aral!

  by David on 2007-05-26 07:31:12

• It's great that you always launch important things on Multi-Mania. Last year you had just finished a new release of your ARP framework. This year it was the SWX beta! Did I already mention I am really looking forward to next year's Multi-Mania! :D What's it gonna be next year? ;)

  by Erechtheos on 2007-05-26 08:13:41

• Very inspiring session yesterday! I've been working with Flash now for about 7 years, but the last few months I felt like I was doing it all wrong. Everyone was talking about why you should use OOP and design patterns and frameworks and so. But I don't do all that. I've tried, but it just doesn't feel right for me. I have my own way of doing things, and they work fine. So it was nice for me to hear that it's ok to NOT follow the book ;-) Since yesterday I also get the idea of SWX. I didn't understand at first (when you mentioned it on your blog a few weeks ago). I use remoting for all my projects, and it works, so why change? But know I know. You should put this in the FAQ of SWX: Why use SWX? - Because its simpler :-)

  by Youri on 2007-05-26 08:39:00

• By far the best presentation on 2M07 !

  by Bart on 2007-05-26 14:12:02

• Great session dude! The only session where I wasn't distracted, not even for 5 secs. Anyway, you gave me a better view on the functionally and the use of SWX! Like Youri I also use the remoting components and until yesterday I was happy about it the way amfphp does his work! I actionscripted this and never used Flex! But ok after I saw ur presentation I feel myself oblige to use SWX & Flex, and that's no problem at all! Happy to learn it! Thx for the interesting presentation and have a nice trip to Lisbon :D. Funny that ur card was pulled out of a box full of card from students! And yes, you deserve it! See you next year!

  by Karel on 2007-05-26 14:56:57

• I am really really happy Aral that you were here ! I really liked your session, you definitly rock ! Up to 2M08 ;-)

  by koen de weggheleire on 2007-05-26 15:28:19

• Hi Aral, I was the stalker haunting you down for a photo and a drink afterwards. Sorry I couldn't make it 'till after the award show anymore! I came to have a quick look, but had to leave around 9PM to make it to Paris in time the next day. I hope I didn't step in on your privacy, the reason I'd so much loved to have a quick chat with you is because you've inspired me over and over again, and - basically - you're the reason why I'm doing the job that 'm doing today. Your neverending enthusiasm, your efforts for the community and the wonder of OSFlash got me hooked to "creative computering", and I've hardly been doing anything else for the last couple of years now. So once again, THANK YOU! And I still hope we can have that chat some other time :-)

  by Sven Dens on 2007-05-26 15:41:32

• A trip to Lisbon, Gosh do I get to go in the luggage :) Give me lucky friends

  by aYo on 2007-05-26 19:49:50

• Hey Aral, Great session, enjoyed it a lot (was a bit sceptical about SWX before, but now I see it's place in the field). I put some photos online: http://www.multi-mania.be/2007/app/webroot/files/Image/sessions/DSC_0614.jpg http://www.multi-mania.be/2007/app/webroot/files/Image/sessions/DSC_0618.jpg More will follow on the Multi-Mania website later!

  by Wouter Verweirder on 2007-05-26 20:27:17

• @David: Thanks, man. Leen pointed out to me yesterday that in one of your photos there's Wouter taking a picture. You can see the picture he's taking linked in his comment :) @Erechtheos: Hmm, don't know... we'll have to wait and see! ;) @Youri: Thanks! I'm glad SWX made sense :) @Bart: Thank-you! :) @Karel: Darn, and I was trying my best to distract you guys :P Have fun with Flex and with SWX. @Koen: Thanks for organizing all this. Your energy gives the event its flavour! And, of course, a big thank-you to everyone else on the organizational team: Leen, Ellen, Ronald, Wouter and the many others! @Sven: Sorry we didn't get to hang out, man. I didn't stay out too long after the awards ceremony. Next year, for sure! And thank you for your very kind words. :) @aYo: The way they're losing luggage right and left these days, I don't think you'd want to be in my luggage! Not to mention the fact that I could probably not explain away why I had a 6 foot multi-martial arts champion in my bags! @Wouter: Thanks looking forward to seeing the others too! :)

  by aral on 2007-05-28 10:47:55

• Hey Aral, I couldn't attend your presentation because I'm doing an internship in Ireland for the moment, but is it possible to put your presentation files up somewhere? Everybody is talking big about your presentation and how it clearifies the objectives of the SWX format. Hope to attend next year! Cheers

  by Frederik Jacques on 2007-05-28 11:03:33

• Hi Frederik, I don't think the presentation files would do too much good without the presenter :) I'm going to put up the content that I covered and live-coded on the web ASAP, though. That will probably be much more helpful! :)

  by aral on 2007-05-28 13:06:35

• Thanks, guys! :)

  by aral on 2007-06-02 19:14:24

• Hello guys, Good to be back and I thought I'd add another comment. Its an interesting topic and should be discussed. Anyhow I enjoyed reading your post as it is relevant to today! Ill check back soon for any added comments, thanks. It would be great to get this thread really active again! ----------------------- www.martialarm.net martial arts news and information

  by kravmaga on 2008-02-28 11:18:20