Attest Version 2.0

Dec 10th, 2008 by Dave

Yes I'm still alive....sorry about my absense from the blogosphere, but I can't complain as it's been one busy year! With that said, let me get to the point.

Just about every day since Adobe released the Flex 3 Certification Exam, I get emails about the availability of Attest V 2.0 for Flex 3. Sorry to say, I've been SO busy I haven't been able to hit the deadline for Adobe's release of the exam, but it's coming....it's coming!

Attest V 2.0

Part of what's taking so long has been my crazy schedule, another part is that Attest has been totally revamped. I won't say much now, other than to say it's COMING

But I will say this:

If you liked Attest before, you're going to love it now
You'll love the price of Attest even more
Because activating Attest in version one was such a pain, there won't be any activations anymore
Attest won't be alone for long, it's going to have friends eventually. This next release can be easily updated to include many extra goodies (in the future)
It'll be an exam simulator PLUS a learning tool, and will include new content in upgrades

Because of some of the pains I've run into with the licensing, the program's business model is completely redone. I can say you're going to dig it, and it will continue to provide value for years to come.

Attest got quite a following since its release, more than I expected, and because of that, it's my aim to make it a very valuable asset to the community and grow the project to become something much bigger. For those inquiring and emailing, bear with me as I work the strings and turn the corporate wheels to get version 2 out.

Technorati Tags: adobe flex 3, attest, certification, exam, version 2

Posted in Adobe AIR, Adobe CS3, Adobe Flex, Mashups, PXL info | 22 Comments

22 Responses to “Attest Version 2.0”

on 25 Dec 2008 at 4:03 am1ravi marella

gr8 2 here the plans for Attest2.0…hope this will help me in getting thru the test as much as th V1.1 helped me in getting thru the flex 2.0 certification test…
on 29 Dec 2008 at 10:43 am2sri

I am planning to take Flex 3 Exam around jan 10, any chance of releasing atttest 2.0 before that. If not, can i use 1.1 for Flex 3 Exam, any major changes apart from AIR questions.
on 29 Dec 2008 at 10:55 am3Dave

Hey Sri,
I can say for certain it won’t be available by Jan 10th, sorry. Time constraints were pretty tough over the second half of 2008 so I didn’t get to stick to schedule on internal projects like Attest, playing catch up now.

Attest 1.1 probably won’t be very helpful for the Flex 3 exam, as it also covers AIR content. If you still want to try 1.1, let me know and I’ll get you a copy.
on 30 Dec 2008 at 6:19 pm4Santiago

Hi Dave,
Do you have target release date for Attest 2.0? I would like to use Attest 2.0 to to study for the Flex 3 exam. I plan to take the exam within the first half of 2009. I’ll wait to take the exam so I can study with Attest unless you don’t think that Attest 2.0 will be out until the last half of 2009. Thanks!!!
on 30 Dec 2008 at 8:11 pm5Dave

Hey Santiago,
It’ll definitely be out in early 09. First or second quarter worst case ( I’m planning on the first quarter definitely) It was supposed to be ready by now, but I got socked over the past two quarters of 08. You can definitely use it to study early in the year, it won’t take that long.
on 07 Jan 2009 at 12:31 pm6Daniele Barell

Hi Dave,
great news!
I found Attest 1.1 very well done and I definitely courious to see the all-new next version

dan
on 08 Jan 2009 at 7:32 am7Andrew

Could you please notify me about new version of Attest? I would like to buy it.
on 09 Jan 2009 at 3:46 pm8Dave

Hey Andrew,
Will do. When it’s ready for release, I’ll be plastering it all over the PXL Blog and elsewhere, you won’t miss it
on 17 Jan 2009 at 5:12 am9George Cook

Hi,
Any chance you can release just the test component of this? The rest sounds great, and I’m glad that you’re making an educational platform, but tbh, I don’t need those features, just something to do mock tests..

Attest 1.5? perhaps? I think by the time you get 2.0, a lot of us would’ve taken our exams and passed. Remember those of us who did the 2.0 test have 90 days to upgrade.. so for me, that’s about 30 days. After that, I’ll have no use for attest 2.0, nor will anyone else who has past.

Are you really focusing on the features your customers need?
on 17 Jan 2009 at 3:43 pm10Dave

Hi George,
Yup, the mock exam would be the first step. My plan is just to go straight to 2.0 and start a whole new version because there’s huge changes in the program itself and the way it’ll be deployed.

I originally planned to have it ready by Adobe’s release but a few things happened. Q4 of 08 I got socked to the point where I got nothing done besides one huge Flex project. I was the lead architect ( still am technically ) and basically worked around the clock. 2. If I heard correctly, there is no upgrade anymore. Adobe said all along we’d have those 90 days to upgrade, but from what I read, since the Flex 3 exam incorporates AIR, there won’t be an upgrade at all.

The learning features are for the future, my main goal is to get the mock exam out first with good solid material to cover the actual exam. The good news for me was being so busy last year, but the bad news is….well being so busy means I had to slack on some things, Attest was one of them.

If anyone knows for sure about the upgraded short test for Flex 3, let us know. But from what I’ve heard, there’s no longer an upgrade unfortunately, Adobe doesn’t list it on their site anymore http://partners.adobe.com/public/ace/main.html and I thought that the Flex Dev blog mentioned there is no upgrade because of AIR.

I’ll keep you all updated on this blog of any Attest progress.
on 20 Jan 2009 at 11:24 am11MT

Hi Dave,
Since this Attest 2.0 is not ready i was wondering if you can give me a copy of Attest 1.1. Or do i have to download the trial version?
Thank you
on 20 Jan 2009 at 3:48 pm12George Cook

Hi, I dont think you understood what I meant. I know there’s no upgrade, that’s why I’m even more eager to pass as soon as possible, because my flex 2 qualification is going to be retired in about 30 days.

Most people with the 2 cert are going to be wanting to upgrade to 3 asap, as there is no upgrade.

So that’s my whole point. As I said, kudos to you for your ambitions with this… I just hope you don’t lose a bunch of sales by missing all of us who simply want some flex 3+air questions to practice on. I’m sure we wont be back till flex 4
on 21 Jan 2009 at 10:34 am13maru

HI I am planning to take the flex 3 Exam by Feb 20 2009.I have read in earlier post from sri that 1.1 would not be that usefull for Flex 3 exam.Do you suggest still going through 1.1 would be a little benficial for flex excluding the air
Regards
on 21 Jan 2009 at 7:49 pm14Dave

Hey George,
No, I hear ya. I got pretty mixed up on a few things late last year that put the screws to Attest 2. First, Adobe launching the exam with no upgrade, and including AIR, plus Download.com has been a horrific source of grief, and I got inundated on a huge project for months that took up way more time than I planned.

In 09 I’m hoping to grow PXL a bit and possibly team up with other developers for many reasons, but a major one is to alleviate some of the stress of getting projects/software out alone. I almost had big league help with Attest from the start but had to go it alone, so this next phase is hairier than the first version.

My apologies to all for being so late on this, but I still don’t have anything close to a release. The fortunate part is, once I do have a full version release, it’ll be very easily upgradable with little effort, but I can’t divulge too many secrets yet

I had to make a bunch of last minute decisions on timing of projects vs Attest ( and a huge list of other internal projects that are on the back burner ) but unfortunately for now, Fannie needs my part of their bailout money ha!

I will definitely keep everyone posted, and in a few months time it’ll be much more apparent why I’ve slacked on blogging, Attest, etc but there’s just not enough time in the day for everything.

The first release of version 2 will be purely a mock exam though, at least with minimal testing material. I’ll get that out before I implement the bigger pieces later down the road.
on 21 Jan 2009 at 7:53 pm15Dave

@Maru,
It can’t hurt, though I don’t think it’ll be that useful for the Flex 3 exam. If you want a copy of 1.1, shoot me an email dave AT pxldesigns DOT com
on 21 Jan 2009 at 7:56 pm16Dave

@MT
You can do the trial or email me dave AT pxldesigns DOT com
on 02 Feb 2009 at 3:44 am17anggie bratadinata

I’m gonna take flex 3 exam sometime this year and I’ll wait until attest 2.0 is available
on 03 Feb 2009 at 1:02 am18Dave

Hey Anggie,
A quick update; I will be releasing a 1.5 version as a quick mock exam before moving on to the full 2.0. So check back soon and I’ll have the mini version so people can study.
on 03 Feb 2009 at 11:56 am19Leonardo

Awesome Dave! I check daily this post looking for a message saying its released!
Please release the 1.5 asap Ill be happy to give a try as a way to prepare for the certification exam, kudos!
on 03 Feb 2009 at 9:42 pm20Dave

Hey Leonardo,
Thanks for reading! It’s on it’s way, and here’s a hint for everyone moving forward: I’m thinking of not fully supporting Microsoft anymore. That is to say, Attest will run fine on Windows, but PXL is going to expand it’s horizons this year with more Mac and Linux.

If I have it my way, I want to be M$ free by the end of 2009 if possible. I decided after Attest 1.0 I’m not using MS products to build the next version, and going forward Attest will run on Win, Linux and Mac. I will also have some big blog posts coming soon that’ll explain what took Attest SO long to get out to everyone, and why I’ve been so busy but until then……back to burning the midnight oil!
on 13 Feb 2009 at 5:39 am21Jay

Hi Dave,
Please could you tell me if Flex3 studies will be avalaible soon ? I pass my 9A0-082 on thursday and it could be a nice add on for my study.

Thx
on 17 Feb 2009 at 6:23 pm22Dave

Hi Jay,
Sorry it’s still so late. The next version is much closer but still not done. I’m kind of right in the middle of working some extra magic ( possibly ) with Attest that would be very cool if it works out. So let’s say the corporate wheels are slowing me down a bit.

What I plan on though, is to have at least a few mini tests available by the end of Q1 ’09, if not the entire app. Keep an eye out.