New tutorial: Creating SIS files for distribution from Adobe mobile and devices developer center. With this tutorial, you can learn how to pack a Flash Lite project with many files, into one Symbian SIS package. There is also a sample ZIP file, which includes tutorial files. Alex offers also a PHP solution instead of PKG, might be handy if you do not want to deal with PKG syntax.
I tested installation on 6680 and N80. It works fine on 6680, except a usability issue on SIS installer, and a small bug in application. On N80, installer problem is not there, but the bug is present less remarkably. Furthermore, there is an unintended (not in the files list) unsigned SIS file for 3rd edition in the sample ZIP package, which of course does not install. None of the problems I mention are important ones.
While installing on 6680, it warns that application may not be compatible with the phone and asks to quit installation. If you are a “next&next” person as I am, you may read this message quickly and press “yes” directly, thinking that the question is if I want to continue, and it may naturally exit the installation. This is a usability issue of Symbian installer in my opinion. It’s weird to put a quit action on left soft key (negative-positive action on a positive key).
There is also a small bug in the application. I think Alex used a small trick to improve playability and performance of the pacman game, and set the quality one level lower. However, quality is not changed back to higher one when you quit, causing remarkably worse display on low resolution screens. So, if you select pacman and quit, quality still stays lower and application displays lower quality screens. After entering and quiting invaders game, it comes back to higher quality.
On N80, I tried to install unsigned SIS, naturally didn’t work. Signed SIS works fine as expected and installs nicely. Bug in the game is not so remarkable after quiting Pacman, due to the high resolution of the display, but still there.
Uninstallation works fine on both models without any problem.
I also looked for possible signing solutions for 3rd edition, however, it’s not mentioned in the tutorial. I think it is the biggest issue on creating installers for 3rd edition and will be a problem for beginners while trying this tutorial. It would worth to mention that point.
As a conclusion, the tutorial is nice, however, doesn’t offer a complete solution for the common Flash Lite installation problem on Symbian platform, especially 3rd edition devices. It also doesn’t come up with a good start-up solution, which would enable users to run the Flash Lite content from menus with a dedicated icon. Users have to use a browser application to execute the content. I do not find that approach formal, usable and practical. But ok for testing purposes, if your application has many files and you do not want to deal with them every time you update. I would still recommend you to check the previous tutorial I posted some weeks ago. This one seems to be the most convenient way to present Flash Lite content for market currently (unfortunately still not a complete solution). I hope Adobe comes with better and complete solution to overcome this problem in near future.
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