Facebook APIs Get Official Flash Support from Adobe

Facebook is about to get Flash-ier as the result of a joint effort announced Tuesday by Adobe Systems and the popular social-networking site. The companies said the newly available Flash ActionScript 3.0 Client Library for the Facebook Platform, a free and open-source programming library, will support all Facebook application programming interfaces, including APIs for the growing network of sites that back Facebook Connect.

'Simpler Access to Facebook Data'

While developers have been creating Facebook applications with Adobe's popular Flash technology for video and interactive animation, the availability of an official client library expands the possibilities.

Asil Toksal, president of the New York City-based Flash shop Lapis Digital, said now "developers can more easily create all kinds of Flash applications, with simpler access to Facebook data."

The ActionScript 3.0 library, now available as a free download, includes support for 60 new APIs that can ease implementation. In addition to ActionScript, JavaScript and PHP are also officially supported libraries on the Facebook Platform. Previously, unofficial Flash libraries were assembled by Flash developers.

According to Adobe, Flash is installed on more than 98 percent of the world's Internet-connected computers. Flash is used widely on the Facebook Platform and in more than half of its top 20 applications.

On its Developer Connection Web site, Adobe said the two platforms will more easily allow developers to create applications for sharing, having fun, connecting with others, solving problems in a community, and reaching people. Some industry observers have noted that the main impact of the official library will be on smaller independent developers, since it will make development faster and easier.

'More Interesting Applications'

Jeffrey Hammond, an analyst with industry research firm Forrester, said he expects to see "more interesting applications" on Facebook. Up to this point, he added, "the Flash stuff on Facebook has been pretty basic, and many of...