[thelist] Macromedia & "Rich Internet Applications"

[John.Bedard at trw.com]

If a mistake was made by MM, it was trying to make a RIA out of the homepage. A homepage, especially one focused almost solely on marketing is not an "application." And when things go wrong, as we've seen they *really* go wrong. 

When I think of an appropriate (IMO) use of RIA I think of the Broadmoor.com site (I have issues with some aspects of the design, but hey, we're talking RIA here). The main function of the site is marketing, much the same as the MM site. But it is mostly HTML based, and they use RIA for the room reservations. It loads quick (unlike MM.com) and has a very functional and streamlined interface. But inevitably a user will have problems (or will have chosen not to install Flash) with the RIA, there is an HTML form to use as a backup.

I love what Flash can do and I've dabbled a bit myself, but what many people here and at Macromedia always seem to forget is that there is a time and a place for everything, Flash included.

Is that better, Tom?

John

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Dell'Aringa [mailto:pixelmech at yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 6:45 AM
To: evolt.org mailing list devoted to the web
Subject: Re: [thelist] Macromedia & "Rich Internet Applications"


--- John Dowdell <jdowdell at macromedia.com> wrote:
> Hi, there was quite a bit of discussion here about the Macromedia
> site this past week, so I figured you'd want to know that we've 
> got the first round of changes in, as well as an interim progress 
> report on feedback and changes. Here's info:
> http://www.macromedia.com/special/progress_report/

NOTE: This is a bit long, but I think its a worthwhile discussion. I
really want to hear what developers thing about this technology. Is
this something that we want to spend our time becoming a part of?
Will it benefit my career? I don't know...

John and All,

<trimmage>