MACROMEDIA SHIPS FLASH 4
Now with MP3 Streaming Audio, the Web Standard for Creating
High-Impact, Vector-Based Sites Delivers Wealth of New Enhancements
San Francisco, Calif – June 15, 1999 – Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:
MACR) today announced the worldwide availability of Flash 4, the new
version of its popular Flash(TM) authoring software. Flash 4 includes
integrated support for high-fidelity MP3 streaming audio and commands
for easily creating sites with sophisticated interactivity. In
addition, Flash 4 dramatically streamlines the development process
with a revamped authoring environment optimized to help developers
create bandwidth-efficient Web sites that combine the production
values of television with the immediacy of the Internet.
Since its introduction in 1996, Flash has become the standard for
creating high-impact vector-based Web sites that deliver sound,
interactivity, graphics and animations and perform flawlessly across
multiple browsers and platforms. Macromedia last month announced a
Free Source licensing program for the Flash Player code, speeding its
incorporation into the next generation of Web-enabled appliances.
Many leading companies, including Citibank, PepsiCola, Daimler
Chrysler, and Nestle are using Flash to create beautiful Web sites
that effectively communicate their brands.
“With Flash 4, Macromedia has brought Flash to a level where it
stands completely on its own,” said Josh Ulm, design director at
Quokka Sports, a digital sports entertainment company based in San
Francisco. “Macromedia has found a way to balance what makes Flash
conceptually unique with what makes applications intuitive, smart and
easier to use. Combine that with fact that the Flash Player source is
now free, and the development platform suddenly becomes wide open.
For Quokka, that means complete control in authoring the experience
while providing our sports fans with the most easily accessible and
visually intense content on the Web.”
MP3 Audio, Sophisticated Interactivity Enhance Web Experience MP3
streaming audio support in Flash 4 allows designers to create new Web
audio applications, such as long-form animations with voiceovers and
background music, while keeping files small enough for efficient,
low-bandwidth delivery.
Newly introduced support for text entry fields in Flash 4 allows
developers to create more attractive and better integrated Web forms,
applications, and e-commerce front ends. Sites can now easily gather
customer data from within Flash-based Web pages, and then pass that
information to a Web server. Flash offers extensive control over how
user-entered information is displayed, allowing designers to create
richly interactive Web sites without sacrificing aesthetic control.
Flash 4 takes interactivity a step further, with an enhanced set of
Actions that allow Flash developers to create interactive interfaces
and distinctive Web applications without needing to do any
programming. New Actions in Flash 4 enable sophisticated behaviors
such as draggable interface elements, conditional logic, and basic
mathematics, simplifying the creation of Web shopping cart
applications, for example.
A Fast, Professional Development Environment The Flash 4 authoring
interface has been revamped to make creating distinctive Flash sites
faster and easier. Improvements include new Inspector palettes and
drawing tools, as well as simplified layer management so that
creating original content in Flash is more intuitive. An optimized
Timeline and smart motion guides streamline the process of creating
animations; and an improved Library palette with sorting, grouping,
and usage tracking capabilities eases asset management. Finally, a
new Publish command outputs the range of Flash-supported formats
-including multiple versions of HTML, compressed bitmaps, and even
the new QuickTime 4 – with a single mouse-click.
Other Macromedia applications that publish the Flash file format
include Macromedia FreeHand(R), which combines professional
illustration tools and a powerful, multi-page document layout
environment for print and Web multipublishing, and Macromedia
Generator(TM), the server side solution for automating and
personalizing Web site graphics.
“The new features and workflow enhancements in Flash 4 enable Web
developers to deliver high-impact, low-bandwidth sites that can be
experienced across all browsers, platforms, and Web-enabled devices,”
said Jonathan Gay, Macromedia vice president and architect of Flash
engineering. “Fusing MP3 streaming audio, advanced interactivity,
QuickTime export, and integrated publishing features, Flash 4 is
truly adding life to the Web for designers, consumers and the
industry.”
Pricing and Availability
Flash 4 is now available for Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and MacOS for
an estimated street price of US $299 in North America. Current
registered Flash users can upgrade to Flash 4 for US $129. Flash 4
can be purchased by calling (800) 457-1774 or bought directly from
Macromedia’s Web site at www.macromedia.com. Interested parties
outside North America should contact their local Macromedia
distributor.
About Macromedia
Macromedia’s mission is to add life to the Web. By providing its
award-winning Web Publishing, Web Entertainment, and Web Learning
solutions to Web designers, consumers, and the enterprise, Macromedia
is delivering a completely new generation of Internet tools and
technologies designed to transform the Web experience. Headquartered
in San Francisco, Macromedia (NASDAQ: MACR) has more than 500
employees worldwide and is available on the Internet at
http://www.macromedia.com.
For more information, contact:
Macromedia
Mary Leong
pr@macromedia.com
(415) 553-2700