Flash MX

Flash is a rich media authoring tool that allows Web designers to create vector based Web-sites including streaming MP3 audio, graphics, motion, and interactivity. To view sites created with the product, users must have the free Flash Player plug-in, which is already bundled with many major browsers and operating systems. The successor to the latest Flash authoring enviornment (Flash 5) is entitled Flash MX.

Flash features include streaming MP3 audio capabilities, support for text entry fields, and Actions that enable functions such as draggable interface elements and conditional logic. Authoring improvements in later versions of Flash include Inspector palettes and drawing tools including a Bezier pen tool, simplified layer management, and a "Publish" command allowing the author to output their work in multiple HTML versions, compressed bitmaps, and QuickTime.

Key features in the latest version of Flash (Flash MX) include video support, pre-built components and templates, and accessibility enhancements.

With Flash MX and the new Flash 6 player, authors can import and utilize "...any standard video file supported by QuickTime or Windows Media Player." Imported video can be manipulated, animated, and scripted; and the addition of the Sorenson Spark Codec allows the resulting Flash animation to be played in the Flash player.

Pre-built developer components and templates assist developers in getting a head start on their Flash creations and include buttons, scrollers, and other interface elements; as well as templates for displaying Flash media on Nokia and Pocket PC devices as well as templates supporting standard advertisement sizes.

The new Flash Player also supports Microsoft Active Accessibility, allowing it to interface with screen readers and the like for user's with disabilities. The new Flash MX authoring environment allows authors to add descriptive text to content elements within their Flash animations.

In addition to the already existing enhancements of Flash MX, Macromedia has announced the development of new server-side tools that will integrate with the Flash environment, including a new version of ColdFusion (ColdFusion MX), a new server gateway that will allow the use of Flash based applications with external Web application servers, and a communication server that, according to Macromedia, will enable common messaging capabilities within the Flash client, including two-way audio/video and file transfers.

Flash MX is now available from the Macromedia Web site, with a price of $499. Both upgrade and educational pricing is available. Contact Macromedia or visit their Web site for further details.