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I've recently been playing with FineTune - a web 2. 0 type of music site where you can create and share playlists. Teknision did the development for the embedded player which I have to say is pretty stylin'. This service was recently "dugg" which is what everyone wants...until you're working on it and trying to get things done... but I can see why so many people checked it out. I'm completely astonished by the amount and assortment of songs on this service- defintely the music buffs out there should check it out. I"m going to get around to embedding the player into my blog on the right hand column, but until then, enjoy one of the many playlists I've made: High School According to the Bitch - Songs I loved in high school http://www.finetune.com/player/embed.html?playlist=p1266285 Check my profile out on Finetune ( bitchwhocodes... duh!) and see the various playlists I've made, from MetalHead styles to purely I'm a pathetic retard Unrequited playlist...

I've read tons about how productive the flex environment is and how workflow is a dream - the lastest being Ted Patrick's blog entry. I'm not about to proclaim Flex unproductive by any means, but I think those who haven't had the pleasure of delving into it need to know that its not miraculously going to transform you into this god of efficiency and productivity. If it did, I wouldn't be writing this blog entry- I'd be making fun of old dudes in banana hammocks off the coast of Florida while spending my afternoons tossing back salt rimmed margeritas. Building a straightforward and relatively simple application - yes Flex is your best friend and you will be up and running in no time with a decent prototype to show to the world. You can then run along home early and enjoy the evening watching Everybody Loves Raymond re-runs and pondering the evolution of Velveeta. But not all applications are simple. Not all are straightforward - and not all are meant to look like you pulled it off the shelf from the flex application aisle. Unfortunately, if you want to really customize your flex application by disguising the fact that its flex with a custom UI and graphics, be prepared to spend as much time in the checkout lane as you did shopping. People have been bitching about skinning Flex applications - they are bitching for a reason, and keep in mind, that Flex, not unlike Flash, it not without its own little lovable quirks to be discovered. Having said all that, I love Flex. And admittedly, a standard brown bag unskinned Flex application still looks better than one created in Flash with the v2 component set. But don't be fooled, building a robust and full featured application takes time, even with all the goodies the Flex framework provides to you. The Flex environment provides a great developer workflow - add Subversion into the equation and your rocking. However, remember the two mantras of interactive development - 1) It's not multimedia until you've done it twice and 2) Know what is the right tool to provide the proper solution. I still find it suprising how many still trip over #2 - using a tool because they want to rather than they should. Definitely believe the Flex hype, but don't worship it. Don't make the mistake of buying in fully without putting it through the ringer.

Happy anniversary goes out to the good folks at http://www.teknision.comTeknision - 5 years of pushing ideas and technology in the world of Flash. Cheers!