Adobe® Flash® Professional CS5 will include a Packager for iPhone that will let you publish ActionScript 3 projects to run as native applications for iPhone. These applications can be delivered to iPhone users through the Apple App Store.*
Example Applications
There are many applications built using ActionScript 3, including the following, which are now available for you to download from the Apple App Store.
Demonstration Videos
Watch the following demonstrations of applications from the Apple App Store built using Flash technology:
Video demonstration of Boost Your Brain, Digg Pics, and Adobe Acrobat Connect
Video demonstration of Fickleblox and Chroma Circuit
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- When will Adobe Flash Platform tooling support building applications for iPhone?
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Flash Professional CS5 will include the Packager for iPhone when it ships.
In October 2009, at Adobe MAX, Adobe announced that this capability would be included in a public beta of Flash Professional CS5. In order to ensure the earliest possible delivery of the final version of Flash Professional CS5 with the included Packager for iPhone, Adobe changed plans and is no longer making the beta of Flash Professional CS5 available publicly. Flash Professional CS5 is currently in private beta. For more information on this go to http://www.adobe.com/go/fpbu.
If you have an existing ActionScript 3 project that would be appropriate for delivery on the iPhone, please let us know at [email protected].
- How does the Packager for iPhone included with Flash Professional help developers?
- The Packager for iPhone allows developers to use Flash technologies to develop content for iPhone and iPod touch, devices that were previously closed to them. Developers can write new code or reuse existing web content to build applications for iPhone. Because the source code and assets are reusable across the Flash Platform runtimes,—Adobe AIR and Flash Player—it also gives developers a way to more easily target other mobile and desktop environments.
- How is this different from Adobe Flash Player 10 coming to iPhone? Will iPhone users be able to view web content built with Flash technology in the iPhone browser?
- The new support for iPhone applications included in Flash Professional CS5 will not allow iPhone users to browse web content built with Flash technology on iPhone, but it may allow developers to repackage existing web content as applications for iPhone if they choose to do so.
Flash Player uses a just-in-time compiler and virtual machine within a browser plug-in to play back content on websites. Those technologies are not allowed on the iPhone at this time, so a Flash Player for iPhone is not being made available today.
Flash Professional CS5 will include a Packager for iPhone that will enable developers to build applications for iPhone that are then installed as native applications. Users will be able to access the apps after downloading them from Apple’s App Store and installing them on iPhone or iPod touch. - Can applications for iPhone built with the Packager for iPhone be delivered through Apple’s App Store?
- Yes. Developers can deliver applications built with the Packager for iPhone just like any other iPhone application. This will require the developer to be a member of the iPhone Developer Program and follow the program guidelines.
- Can applications built with the Packager for iPhone be monetized?
- Yes. Applications can be monetized in two ways. First, ads can be placed in applications. Adobe has partnered with the mobile ad network Greystripe to enable ad placement in applications built with the Packager for iPhone. For more information go to www.greystripe.com/flashiphoneapps. Second, developers can monetize their app by selling it in Apple’s App Store.
- Do developers need to participate in Apple’s iPhone Developer Program in order to develop or deploy applications for iPhone using the Flash Platform tools?
- Yes. A developer certificate from Apple is required in order to test and deploy applications to iPhone. Apple provides information on its developer programs at http://developer.apple.com/iphone/.
- Are applications for iPhone built with Flash Platform tools interpreted at runtime?
- No. iPhone applications built with the Packager for iPhone are compiled into standard, native iPhone executables, just like any other iPhone application.
- Can applications load SWF files or other code at runtime, such as a module from a website?
- No. iPhone applications built with the Packager for iPhone are compiled into standard, native iPhone executable packages and there is no runtime interpreter that could be used to run ActionScript bytecode within the application.
- Which version of the iPhone SDK/operating system is supported by the applications?
- Applications can be built targeting iPhone OS 3.0 and later.
- Will applications built with Flash Platform tools work on iPod touch? iPhone 1.0? iPhone 3G? iPhone 3GS?
- Applications should work on all iPhone and iPod touch devices. However, as the hardware specifications of the devices are widely divergent, content performance may vary between devices and device generations.
* Delivery through the App Store requires participation in the iPhone Developer Program and approval of the application by Apple.
