Building ios Newsstand App with AS3 for iPad?

[Zainuu]

Hi,

How do I build an IOS newsstand App with AS3 for iPad? I will not need any updates for this app. It will be just a pdf magazine inside, same contents forever.

I cant find any tutorials/introduction on how to build this.

I get the idea on how to create normal ios App, but creating Newsstand App really confussed me.

Hope I can get a good start here

Help is appreciated!

[sinious]

Take a look at the StageWebView class. It's able to open an OS-level web browser which is capable of showing PDF, XLS, DOC, PPT, etc. You can display your PDF in there (I do it all the time). However you have very little to no information on what your user is doing inside the StageWebView. There is an old project (I'm not sure if it's updated) called the StageWebViewBridge which integrates more access into the StageWebView that might help.

Ultimately what you need to know about StageWebView is it is OS-level and runs "OVER" flash content. That means if you open a StageWebView the entire size of the screen you will have no way of closing it. You need to open it smaller than the screen size and give the user a way to get back to your "news stand" to open other PDFs. So keep the viewPort rectangle smaller than the devices size, provide that one control and it's pretty easy from there.

[Zainuu]

Hi, regarding 'How to publish a newsstand App'.

Is this similiar to how we publish my normal ios App into the appstore?

Just curious how does apple know its a newsstand App so that they can install inside the news folder etc...

PS: I dont have any knowledge on how does ios works.

[sinious]

Ah you want to integrate your pdf into the newsstand app itself directly? I thought you wanted to create your own news stand like app.

You don't need an app for that, you need to contact Apple about getting your content included. People just load the newstand app and can directly download magazines Apple hosts. It's just about getting them to host your magazine.

[Zainuu]

I'm a bit lost. What's the difference between making a Newsstand App in newsstand store and having apple to host my pdf?

So after contacting Apple, my pdf will appear inside the newsstand store and people downloaded it to open. How will the interface look like? Just like a normal pdf interface?

Currently, What I'm thinking is that I emblem my pdf magazine (just a existing printed magazine) in flash and then publish it in AIR for IOS. After that I need to send it to apple appstore. Is this how it works for the newsstand folder?

[Zainuu]

Regarding StageWebView, by using loadURL, does that means I have to be connected to the internet everytime I open the app?

Maybe I should convert the PDF into swf files and use Loader Class to load the swf. Do you have any links for free tools that convert PDF into swf magazines?

UPDATE: Argh! Even when I use the Loader Class, my converted file((the file that i converted into SWF from PDF) needs to be in the same folder. When I remove the file, it loads nothing >.< How do I put the whole thing (the file that i converted into SWF from PDF) inside my flash so that it can run standalone at runtime(without the file that i converted into SWF from PDF)?

[Zainuu]

Hi sinious, take a look at my files http://www.mediafire.com/?rt9k0rt42q6eunk

I already imported the swf into flash but I can seem to load it properly. Please open up the downloaded file and see it looks weird.

[sinious]

Sorry I've been busy.

Have a look at this newsstand app tutorial that's in 2 parts. This is for native iOS however the packaging is the most important.

http://www.viggiosoft.com/blog/blog/2011/10/17/ios-newsstand-tutorial/

http://www.viggiosoft.com/blog/blog/2011/10/29/at-newsstand-and-subscriptions/

The in-app subscription is something you're going to have to tackle. Are you selling this magazine on a subscription basis? If you are selling it, things can get tricky or possible. I'm not fluent on the latest in-app purchase integration or if there is any planned integration. A look on the ANE download page (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/native-extensions-for-air.html) doesn't show any ANE support for it. You could google around for an ANE that supports in-app subscriptions of course.

Hope that helps.

Please be sure to read the entire 2 articles listed above. I realize they do not strictly have to do with Adobe but they do outline the process of getting an app on newsstand and it's just up to us as developers to translate tutorials like that into our world.

[Zainuu]

Hi sinious,

Thanks for the link, I read it. After reading it, I have some questions:

1) Enabling for Newsstand with Flash? Possible?

I'm not selling this magazine on a subscription basis. I'm not having any in-app subscription.

I would like to sell it like how normal paid apps are sold in apple store. 1 time payment Newsstand magazine. But this time, my app needs to be in the Newsstand catagory and will be installed inside the Newsstand folder upon installation. Is this possible or tough to do?

PS: have you take a look at the mediafire link i posted previously?

[sinious]

I'm sorry at the moment I lack the time to look at your files. The link I posted is a full tutorial on the configuration necessary to get a standard iOS app in the NewsStand app. By looking at that it should give you some hints on how to configure the XML at least. Perhaps no special configuration is necessary at all, you simply upload your app in a special place to be considered a Magazine for NewsStand. I can't tell you, I was just trying to be helpful with some links as I've never done it myself.

I think the latter will be the case. When you submit your app you can specify where it gets submitted to the dev team and signify it's a newsstand magazine to be sold for X price. Just a presumption although briefly scanning the tutorial seemed to suggest they really expect the subscription paradigm over the one time cost model like an app.

[Zainuu]

Thanks for your help.

I'm just a little worried if as3 supports making ios Newsstand App. If it does not support, then no point continue doing.

[sinious · Accepted solution]

You should give this a read:

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201110/101211AdobeDPSNewsstand.html

[Zainuu]

This is cool.

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to create IOS newsstand App! I suppose the programming language is as3 too?

Thanks sinious!

[sinious]

I have a hunch they'll do if not all, most of the coding for you to make it very simple.

You're welcome and good luck!

[Zainuu]

Btw why cant I find any trial downloads for that product?

[sinious]

Here's the suite family but I also do not see a trial download:

http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-publishing-suite-family.html

I can't tell you why Adobe decided against a trial. Perhaps you can call them and request one?