MACROMEDIA ANNOUNCES MACROMEDIA FLASH MX PROFESSIONAL 2004
Powerful new product adds forms-based metaphor, enabling a new set of developers to build rich Internet applications
San Francisco, CA—August 25, 2003—Macromedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: MACR) today announced Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004, the Flash development environment for advanced content, applications, and video experiences. Users familiar with forms-based application development are now able to embrace the power of Flash and the reach of the Internet. For more information on Flash MX Professional 2004, which is expected to ship in September, visit www.macromedia.com/go/fmxpro/.
"Flash has been incredibly successful with web designers and developers who are familiar with a timeline authoring metaphor. With the new forms-based programming in Flash MX Professional 2004, Visual Basic and other visual developers will be unleashed to deploy rich Internet applications," said David Mendels, senior vice president and general manager, Macromedia. "We also expect many users from our Flash community to utilize the new video and team workflow features of Flash MX Professional 2004. We can't wait to see what both existing and new Macromedia customers will accomplish when they run with the power of this exciting new tool. "
Flash MX Professional 2004 enables developers to organize and build applications using a forms-based metaphor as an alternative to traditional timeline development. Developers familiar with tools like Microsoft Visual Basic will find this programming metaphor approachable, giving them the ability to design a form, add components, integrate data, and build application logic and navigation.
By using Flash MX Professional 2004 to deliver rich Internet applications, programmers of traditional desktop applications will be able to combine the great usability and richness of their desktop applications with the efficiencies and reach of the web.
"Bringing a proven, broadly accepted development methodology to this rapidly emerging market segment will both speed creation of these new online experiences and attract new customers to create them using their existing skills," said Joshua Duhl, research director, rich media, IDC. "Reducing as many barriers as possible to developer acceptance is absolutely crucial for companies pushing new forms of expression and an engaging user experience on the web."
Flash MX Professional 2004 also offers connectivity to server data with robust, scriptable data-binding that supports Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web services, XML, and Flash Remoting. Development teams will benefit from integration with the Microsoft Visual SourceSafe source control system to manage project files.
"I'm convinced that the addition of features like forms-based development in Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004 will be of great value to us in the development of new enterprise-class applications like our Blue Iris product," said Andy Nelson, director of products for MITEM Corporation, a Macromedia Alliance partner. "With this new release, we now have the ability to bind server data with web services and XML, which is a powerful addition to our core application integration technology."
Flash designers and developers will use the video capabilities in Flash MX Professional 2004 to deliver high-quality video with unique interactivity and custom interfaces. Video quality is significantly improved through performance optimizations in Flash Player 7 that allow full frame rate, full size video, and progressive downloads. Pre-built video components help users build custom, interactive interfaces to convey brand image, and to composite video and audio with animated graphics, images, and text. Video quality is improved dramatically through a streamlined development workflow with leading professional video editing and encoding tools including Anystream Agility, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Xpress/Media Composer, Canopus Procoder, Discreet Cleaner, and Pinnacle Edition (see separate release).
"The video capabilities of Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004 open up a new era in Internet video publishing, allowing us to provide a more interactive and holistic view for our users," said Candy Meyers, senior vice president of editorial development, CNET Networks. "We not only get the largest possible reach with Macromedia Flash, but also complete control over the experience surrounding the video assets."
Developers deploying content to mobile phones, PDAs and other device platforms will benefit from the ability of Flash MX Professional 2004 to streamline development and to test content and applications using emulators for targeted devices, such as the NTT DoCoMo i-mode 505i series mobile phones. Now, any Flash developer can be a mobile device developer simply by deploying Flash MX Professional 2004 content to devices. Device-specific templates, text optimization, native device sounds, and sample content are also available to help developers target this emerging market.
"With Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004, developing device content is made dramatically easier across a wide array of device operating systems," said Tim Chambers, senior vice president, advanced platforms, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment. "At Sony Pictures Digital, we are always looking for compelling ways to deliver our content in relevant ways and to many relevant devices."
Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 also include the MX Elements for Flash, application components that enable developers to rapidly create great experiences with a consistent look and feel. The MX Elements for Flash include templates for common projects such as presentations and online advertisements, as well as helpful user interface components such as a data grid, a media player, and an accordion pane. The MX Elements have the distinctive Halo look and feel.
Flash MX Professional 2004 joins other products announced today in the MX 2004 family (see separate releases), which share core new features including site definitions, file management, and Property Inspectors. The product also includes integration with Macromedia Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and other design and development tools in Macromedia Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional (also announced today, see separate release).
Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 are "Designed for Windows XP" and "Built for Mac OS X."
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Introductory pricing for Flash MX Professional 2004, available for
Mac OS X v10.2.6 and Windows, is $699 and it is expected to ship
in September. Upgrades from Flash 5 or Flash MX to Flash MX Professional
2004 are priced at $299. Flash MX 2004 is priced at $499 and is expected
to ship in September. Upgrades from Flash 5 or Flash MX to Flash
MX 2004 are priced at $199. Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional
2004 are expected to be available in English in September, with Simplified
and Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean,
and Spanish expected to ship shortly thereafter.
Flash MX Professional 2004 will also be available as part of Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional, which costs $999 for new users, $499 for upgrades from Studio MX, $599 for upgrades from any eligible product, and $249 for education customers. Flash MX 2004 is also available as part of Studio MX 2004, which costs $899 for new users, $399 for upgrades from Studio MX, $499 for upgrades from any eligible product, and $199 for education customers. Both are expected to ship in September. Macromedia DevNet Professional members will receive Flash MX Professional 2004 automatically as part of their annual subscription. Discounted pricing for education, government, and volume purchases is available.
ABOUT MACROMEDIA
Experience matters. Macromedia is motivated by the belief that great
experiences build great businesses. Our software empowers millions
of business users, developers, and designers to create and deliver
effective, compelling, and memorable experiences - on the Internet,
on fixed media, on wireless, and on digital devices.
