My first post on this marvellous but bewildering resource... I am a designer/art director heading in the direction of development - and I am presently baffled by the number of varieties of possible data transfer, and don't know what to use. Almost all the data that I wish to display is visual or audio - print work, video, some sound production - and I don't know whether I should be storing my data in a mysql database and uploading it via AMFphp, Zend, Weborb or somesuch - or loading it from an external xml file and image/video/thumbnail folders. I would like to have optimum conditions for viewing the work at a good size without pixillation, but of course I want it to be fast enough to retain attention. Should I use modules to separate the image gallery from the video material? Would a framework help me? Would I be better off remaining in pure flash, avoiding the added Flex overhead? Or is there a way with actionscripted components of reducing and streamlining...? Would I be best off using HTTPService, Remote Object, Webservice, or NetConnection classes for my remote transfers? ( All my material can reside in the same domain...)
There are so many amazing alternatives out there, I am spoiled for choice, and sometimes disappointed by the result after I have set everything up and compiled. Which may be my naivity in some area, rather than a problem with the method as a whole. I have made several stabs at using various open source and Adobe tutorial solutions - for instance, I rebuilt Video Jukebox only to find that the file size made it all far too cumbersome to be workable anywhere but locally... I would like the .flv's - varying from 15 to 180 seconds in length - to look respectable at 50% screen size, but this means many video players become sluggish. Is it because I am not using the best way of loading the data? I would be very happy if someone could give me some pointers. p.s: I can't afford to use Live Cycle/Cold fusion options - but should I be looking into Blaze DS, or Red 5, or is that overegging it for my needs? I won't have lots of dynamic data updates - but perhaps streaming is a big improvement on progressive? Wish I knew...
