Rating: 
Summary: Smaller File Sizes Don't Lie, Very Informative
Review: The best thing about this book is Chapter 2, "Optimizing, Loading, and Playback". The other books that I have read about flash don't even touch on this issue. It was worth the price of the book. Learning how to use the movie report option in flash, and how to properly bring in images for use from Illustrator has DRASTICALLY reduced my file sizes. My bitmap files look 20 times better, and are WAAAAaY smaller. The animation chapter was also good. That chapter also had cool optimization techniques, like the modify>optimize pallate that I had never used before. Using it on all my drawn symbols reduced my file size by about 30 percent, and the drawings didn't look any different. This book has a lot of information in it, I think it definately has something for everyone, especially if you are new to flash. I think this book gave me the basics on just about everything. It was a decent read,and the book is really nice to look at with TONS of color pictures, and I like that Smashing Ideas Robot Guy. The Sound chapter is also really good, especially for non-sound people like myself. I picked up a lot of new techniques here that I had no clue about. I have definately referred to the optimization techniques in this book in every flash project I've done since. I do recommend picking up this book if only for the drastic reduction in file sizes you will experience after reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: An Intermediate-Level Variety
Review: The book is a bit spendy, but a solid piece best suited for intermediate users. While it doesn't start at beginner learning-level Flash or go into deep advanced depths, it does do a good job of covering the wide range of possibilities with Flash. Flash Studio Secrets is similar in structure to other books in the Studio Secrets series, but with a focus on the diverse projects within one studio, namely Smashing Ideas . The book touches a range of topics including motion graphics, flash interactivity and gaming, action script, some stuff on simulating 3-D and video, optimizing files, rich media and viral advertising, some Generator, a bit on sound and "broadcast quality animation." Each chapter is on a different subject, so it doesn't really build in complexity, but looks at a different application of Flash created content. That is a lot different from a tutorial book, so I would not expect to start at square one and have it teach you everything there is about action script. The advantage of this resource is broad coverage: cartoons, gaming experiences, rich media, immersive ads, entertainment players, and personal expression ideas. While there is no CD, there is a packed companion web site that allows you to view virtually all the projects and download the files. This was very helpful for going through the book, but something that isn't made real obvious at all in the text or on the cover. I found Flash Studio Secrets to be a good overall look at possibilities with Flash, showing the variety, and taking you through some tips, tricks and insights.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This book is tremendous compendium for FLASH afficionados. I already had a strong background with experience using and developing in FLASH. But to see the ideas, code and they way it was architected by Smashing Ideas and other experts is really great. Also, I found it very inspirational to read the thoughts of industry marvels like Jason Alan Snyder and Glenn Thomas who have been incredibly innovative with their creative use of FLASH in the areas of advertising and marketing. I highly reccomend this title to anyone who wants to gain additional insight from the best and brightest the industry has to offer.
| 
