One new thing about ActionScript 3 documents that you may have noticed is a new behavior related to MovieClips. Prior to ActionScript 3, you could create a button on the stage, lay a MovieClip over it and click through the MovieClip to the button below. Now, at times this was cool – but at other times, like when you want to make an area go modal, it was a pain because you had to add a mouse event to the MovieClip that was the overlay or change that MovieClip to a button in order to prevent clicking through to the items behind/underneath it.ActionScript 3, by default prohibits you from clicking through a display object to items underneath. So, how do you get around that? I stumbled upon a quick explaination over at Reyco1’s Flash Blog. Check out the demo below… You will see that in order to click through the MovieClip to the button behind we need to set two properties: mouseEnabled and mouseChildren. The mouseEnabled property sets whether or not the mouse registers on the given clip while the mouseChildren sets whether children within the given clip register the mouse. Setting both of these properties to false ensures that we can click through the MovieClip to the elements below.

I am trying to get back into experimenting with different things since I have been so lazy about updates on the blog. Today I finished up a proof of concept that swings a MovieClip on an axis point. In the demo below you can play with the result. If you are interested in downloading the code you can do so here. I got the original code math formula from Blog About Flash. They provided a really nice and efficient way to handle the pendulum motion by simply using the Math.cos() method. My Swinger class basically takes that formula and allows you to work with some interaction and friction settings. As always – should you wish to add to the code let me know and I will post your updates. Hope you enjoy it.

Back in September of 2007 I posted about getting my iPod Touch. I have been in love with it since and use it constantly. Actually, that post has been one of the more visited and commented posts on my blog for some reason. Fast forward to yesterday, the MacWorld Keynote in SF. Apple released the 1.1.3 firmware for the Touch – yea! Then they let everyone know that the apps that I have been craving, Mail, Notes, Maps and Stocks are available for the Touch. But wait – you have to pay $20 for them. Okay, so that wouldn’t be a huge deal (though I could argue with the price point) if the following were not true… Apparently if you purchase the Touch today you will fall into one of two categories: 1)If you go to an Apple Store and buy a Touch without the new apps you will get a $20 discount on the price. 2)You will get the apps on the Touch and pay exactly what I paid for the Touch as an early adopter back in September.

I think that is bogus and since this is my blog I took the time this morning to complain about it. So, those of you who waited – congratulations – you get more for free. To boot, I am typing this on the brand new 8-core Mac Pro that just came out… Wonder if I will get punished for getting it so early.

***Update***
Hey, thanks to all of you who commented to the blog post! Many of you thought you were first because I have “must approve” comments on. I finally got on the Mac today to see many comments waiting for approval. I have gone through the list and sent those few of you your New Years present. The promotion is now over.

Hey everyone – I know that at the time of this post it is not yet 2008 but I thought I would get a jump on things! I have been slacking on the posting lately and feel kind of bad about it so… I will be giving away eight copies of PixelStyles Pro to the first eight commenters on this blog post. Simply post your email address and I will send it along when I am able. PixelStyles Pro will be discontinued in 2008 and will no longer be updated.

PixelStyles Pro works only for Flash 8 and only on a PC. Thanks to all of you who purchased the product and supported Pixelfumes. Happy 2008 and a late Merry Christmas! It should be a great year to be a Flasher!