However, later that year, Apple relented on the second issue and agreed to allow apps that were created with third-party software. So we can now create iOS apps using Flash CS5.5. Yes, I said 5.5. Over the months since the release of Adobe Creative Suite 5 (which includes Flash CS5), Adobe has built an updated Packager for iPhone which it has included in the CS 5.5 release. The bottom line is that this new Packager converts the Flash ActionScript 3 to native iOS code and you can now publish your Flash projects as native iPhone and iPad apps.
We can't cover the new Packager in detail in this intro article but let's take a look at some of the new features included in Flash 5.5 for iOS app development.
- You will create your iOS app from within the Flash workspace using the same familiar tools. You can code ActionScript and use the built-in code snippets. There a several new code snippets added specifically for mobile devices.
- Flash has some new built-in ActionScript to deal with the mobile Accelerometer and touch events that have made the user experience with tablet devices so very popular.
- Flash will optimize your project to run within the guidelines for iOS devices and output an IPA file.
- You can publish directly to your own iOS device and upload to the Apple App Store from within Flash. (You will need to become an Apple developer.)
- Flash 5.5 has a new dialog for setting permissions for your mobile apps such as accessing GPS and WiFi states, using the device's camera, recording audio and more.