Updates and Upgrades

By: Mikio Moriyasu - Revised: 2006-06-13 devin

Introduction

Because the latest version of Flash, Flash MX, was just released, detailed, hands-on operating information was not available in time to be fully integrated into this course or its related instructional material. These notes will be fully updated once Flash MX has been used and evaluated. Until then, however, a brief description of the significant changes to Flash and its related components is presented below.


Flash MX

Officially announced on March 15, 2002 along with Flash Player version 6, MX represents the latest version of the Flash authoring application. Because it is so relatively new, detailed or hands-on information regarding its features and operation was not available at class time. Macromedia appears to be making Flash more professionally oriented than in previous versions and is highlighting ten specific features that have been added to Flash’s already extensive list of tools.
  • Video Support – Users can now incorporate video into their animations.
  • Property Inspector and Answers Panel - Direct user assistance is now available in Panel form. The Property Inspector highlights what tools and objects can be used in related to a specific element while the Answers Panel connects the user directly to Macromedia’s online resource library.
  • Dynamic Loading of Images and Sound - Macromedia Flash Player 6 now dynamically loads external JPEG and MP3 media files during runtime, which results in smaller file sizes.
  • Named Anchors - Flash content can now be bookmarked allowing for the use of the browser back and forward buttons.
  • New Graphic Design Tools and Color Mixer Enhancements - The new tools provide enhanced control over graphic content. The Color Mixer enhancements make creating, editing, and using colors and gradients easier than before with consistent color selection models and interfaces.
  • Optimized Application Server Integration - Use XML structured data to populate visually rich user interfaces to create sales forms, virtual shopping carts, customer surveys, and stock availability matrixes.
  • Develop and Playback Accessible Content - Macromedia Flash Player 6 now supports assistive technologies such as screen readers through support of Microsoft Active Accessibility. In addition, Macromedia Flash MX now integrates tools for creating accessible content.
  • Multilingual Support - Vertical Text and support for Unicode in Macromedia Flash MX enables developers to rapidly build multilingual content and applications. Macromedia Flash MX ships in 11 languages, including three new languages: Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
  • Design for Multiple Mediums - Macromedia collaborates with hardware, operating system, and browser providers to ensure that Macromedia Flash Player is available across leading desktop and device platforms (Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Linux, Solaris, MicrosoftTV, Symbian EPOC, Pocket PC, and others).
  • Pre-Built User Interface Components – Uses can reduced development time with a core set of pre-built, customizable components for common application interfaces, including scrollbars, rich text fields, input buttons, radio buttons and check boxes, and list and combo boxes
For additional information regarding Flash MX, please click here to be taken to Macromedia's dedicated Flash web site.

Flash Player 6.0

Millions of Internet users continue to seamlessly view content created with Macromedia Flash with the Flash Player plug-in. Officially announced on March 15, 2002 along with Flash MX, the latest version of the Flash Player plug-in has been upgraded to play Flash movies created with Flash MX. This includes support for video, dynamic loading of images & sound, and multiple languages.

For additional information regarding Flash Player 6.0, please click here to be taken to Macromedia's dedicated Flash web site.

Flash Software

Macromedia Generator -- With the release of Flash MX, Flash Generator has been renamed Macromedia Generator. Generator will also be phased out later this year as Macromedia moves to its new set of web creation and development applications that began with the launch of Macromedia Flash MX. Macromedia will continue to provide support and maintenance for Generator but will cease all additional development.

For additional information regarding Generator, please click here to be taken to Macromedia's dedicated Flash web site.

Macromedia Freehand -- With the release of Flash MX, Flash Freehand 10 has been renamed Macromedia. FreeHand 10 continues to be a versatile application which allows users to create extraordinary illustrations, design and organize Web site storyboards, and layout graphics-rich documents in a unique multi-page workspace. Users can easily produce superior Macromedia Flash movies, and test them right inside of Freehand with the new Flash Navigation Panel.

For additional information regarding Freehand 10, please click here to be taken to Macromedia's dedicated Flash web site.

Macromedia Studio MX -- Freehand 10 has been incorporated into the new Macromedia Studio MX. With Studio MX, users are able to take full advantage of Freehand, Macromedia Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, and Fireworks MX together in one tightly integrated web development package.

For additional information regarding Studio MX, please click here to be taken to Macromedia's dedicated Flash web site.