Update: I’ve long since abandoned the idea and HTML5 is the way to go!.
(I’ve left this post up for reference)
After doing some research on Google, i think it maybe possible to do the whole new digiwebbs site design using flash.
I’m going to create a whole website in flash and use WordPress as the back-end for my articles/blog posts. I’m going to attempt this using Tim Wilson’s script PressConnect:
PressConnect is a PHP Script I have developed to connect my Flash Website to my WordPress Content.
The Code interrogates the Database and Returns Posts, Pages, Categories, and Creates Menus in XML
Just Updated with Better Code and New Functions.
New: I have release the .fla file my website is based on, it is available for purchase
more info on the PressConnect script.
Next Problem: Search Engine Optimising (SEO) the Flash Site
The next challenge with Flash based websites is SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), which will be tricky, because the site will be a .swf file, which according to some sources can be ‘read’ by google, others say it can’t be read by google. My intention is to have the content that can be indexed by google in one div (content generated by PHP), but if the browser supports it, then the flash content of the site will be displayed. This would be achieved with some javascript (ugh!), although there is a handy google tool: SWFObject is an easy-to-use and standards-friendly method to embed Flash content, which utilizes one small JavaScript file.
So in the next few weeks, digiwebbs, hopefully will be a working Flash Website with a WordPress back-end, serving all the blog posts,articles and pages! – Never going to happen!
Of course, I’ll be blogging the progress!
Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 (Fiji) – no BBC/ITV HD yet…
Last Month According to, arstechnica.com the much rumored Fiji update has been named Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 and has gone RTM (Release To Manufacture).
VMC TV Pack 2008 (Fiji) is an update to the current Media Center on Vista aka “Media Center Edition +1″. However from reports on The Green Button Community, it appears that this update is only available via OEMs and it requires a re-install of the OS before you can install it! There was speculation that this may be offered as one of the Windows Vista Ultimate Extras, but this still remains unconfirmed.
According to arstechnia.com some possible features of the TV pack include:
Microsoft has been very quiet about Fiji, which is expected to be available for editions of Vista that include Windows Media Center. According to leaked screenshots, the software giant has included a built-in updating engine dubbed “Windows Media Center Update.” The final version is also supposed to include new HD recording preferences, better ability to control the tuners, and the replacement of DVR-MS with WTV.
Microsoft disappointed Fiji testers when it revealed that planned DirecTV support would not be in the product. It is unclear if support for DirecTV will come in Vista SP2 (unlikely) or in Windows 7. While Fiji has RTM and will arrive on new OEM machines, it is also not clear when the new build will be released publicly.
In addition to this it has been said (but not confirmed ) that BBC and ITV HD are NOT supported (no HD for UK free-sat) which is a big blow to me and all the other UK users!!! Freesat HD in Vista *SHOULD* be supported by now…
Similarly the inclusion of Messenger (like there was on Windows Media Center 2005) is not confirmed, but i hope that it is included…messenger in media center was a handy feature, however i believe there already is a messenger plug in for Windows Vista Media Center.
Until the Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 is officially released, there is only speculation to what is actually included in the new version of media center…as is the cost Microsoft are charging us for this privileged…i wunder how the Open Source offerings compare now…its just the lack of support for BBC ITV HD Freesat is a major bummer!
