Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
business traveler. With the right
AIR
application, the business traveler could go ahead and get started on
something like a multipage form while on an airplane with no
connectivity. That data could very easily be stored locally and then
pushed online once the traveler arrives at his or her destination and
gets connected.
“
sometimes-connected
”
Freedom of Design
Continuing with some of the benefits of AIR, let
'
s move into the
fact that you have a huge amount of freedom in the design of your
application. Not only have you broken out of the browser by creat-
ing an AIR application, but you can also escape the boring
'
ol box
in which it
s built. While the browser and most other applications
are typically constrained to four sides, you can utilize some of the
AIR features to remove that box and shape your application the
way you want it shaped. The great thing about a feature like this is
that you can really compliment the brand with the right window
design. For example, if your client is a movie theater, your applica-
tion could provide show times and be shaped like a movie ticket
with the notches cut out on both sides.
'
TIP
When you are designing a custom shaped window chrome, remember not
to get too crazy unless the brand truly calls for it. Someone looking for a
good price on an airplane ticket doesn
'
t necessarily need an application
that
s shaped like an airplane. However, a little more creative license can
probably be taken when designing a game targeted at children.
'
re
designing your application. Although you may want them to perpe-
tually interact with it, most users are going to want a way to close
the application at some point and you really should provide it to
them in the form of what? If you said a
User controls are another aspect to think about when you
'
you win!
In addition to the close button, think about the controls that you
see on so many other applications. Controls like the minimize/
maximize buttons, the handle to resize the window, the scrollbars,
and scroll arrows. Although some of these are must-have controls
(close button), others may not be as important and can be left out.
It
“
close button,
”
s up to you if you want the user to be able to do something like
change the size of the window.
Something else to put on the design plate for your application
is the icons. I would be willing to bet that just about every appli-
cation that you work with has icons associated with it. There
are the small icons you see when you come across the application
inWindowsExplorerorFinderontheMac.Therearetheicons
'
