Macromedia Flash

Macromedia Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both a multimedia authoring program and the Macromedia Flash Player, written and distributed by Macromedia (recently targeted for acquisition by Adobe Systems), that utilizes vector and raster graphics, a native scripting language called ActionScript and bidirectional streaming of video and audio. Strictly speaking, Macromedia Flash is the authoring environment and Flash Player is the virtual machine application used to run the Flash files, but in colloquial language these have become mixed: "Flash" can mean either the authoring environment, the player or the application files.

Competition

Format and plug-in

Compared to other plugins such as Java, QuickTime or Windows Media Player, the Flash Player has very small install size and fast initialization time.

Related Topics:
Java - QuickTime - Windows Media Player

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Like CSS with HTML, PostScript, SVG and PDF, Flash can be used to specify exact positioning of the various page elements. This gives the designer a great degree of control over how the user interface looks. The layout can also be adjusted programmatically at run-time.

Related Topics:
CSS - HTML - PostScript - SVG - PDF

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The use of vector graphics (like PostScript, SVG and PDF) - especially when combined with program code - allows Flash files to translate to small file sizes which take less bandwidth to transmit than bitmaps or video clips do. In many cases, Flash is a very attractive solution for delivering mixed content. If the content is purely one format (such as text, video or audio), other alternatives may provide better outcome. Also, depending on the type of application or animation created (in particular, transparency or large screen updates as in photographic or text fades) a Flash movie may need more CPU power than alternatives.

Related Topics:
PostScript - SVG - PDF - Bandwidth - CPU

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Flash as a format has become very widespread on the desktop market. Through an NPD study, Macromedia claims that 98% of Web users have Flash Player installed http://www.macromedia.com/software/player_census/flashplayer/ – 90% having the latest version. Numbers vary depending on the detection scheme and research demographics: Webhits (German page) counts only 70% of Flash-enabled browsers.

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Flash players exist for a wide variety of different systems and devices. Flash content can run consistently on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux and various other Unix systems (Macromedia has created or licensed players for the following operating systems: GNU/Linux x86, Windows, Mac OS 9/X, Solaris, HP-UX, Pocket PC, OS/2, Symbian, Palm OS, BeOS and IRIX). Olivier Debon has written an open source version of the Flash 3 player; ports of this exist to numerous operating systems, including the Amiga. See also Macromedia Flash Lite for Flash compatibility on other devices.

Related Topics:
Microsoft Windows - Mac OS - Linux - Unix - Operating system - GNU - X86 - Mac OS 9 - X - Solaris - HP-UX - Pocket PC - OS/2 - Symbian - Palm OS - BeOS - IRIX - Open source - Amiga - Macromedia Flash Lite

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Macromedia has released the specifications of the Flash file format (excluding specifications of related formats such as AMF), and compatible third-party tools exist. However, Macromedia retains control of the format. Since Flash files do not depend on a truly open standard such as SVG, this reduces the incentive for non-commercial software to support the format, although there are several third party tools which utilize and generate the SWF file format and a large and vibrant open source community. Apparently, the Flash Player cannot ship as part of a pure open source, or completely free operating system, as its distribution is bound to the Macromedia Licensing Program and subject to approval.

Related Topics:
Several - Flash Player - Open source - Free

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Authoring

In October 1998 Macromedia disclosed the Flash Version 3 Specification to the world on its website. It did this in response to many new and often semi-open formats competing with SWF, such as XARA's Flare and Sharp's Extended Vector Animation formats. Several developers quickly created a C library for producing SWF. February 1999 saw the launch of MorphInk 99, the first non-Macromedia or third party program to create SWF files. Macromedia also hired Middlesoft to create a freely-available developers' kit for the SWF file format versions 3 to 5. Many open and free libraries based on the information released to the public in 1998, and from later study of the SWF file format, such as the Ming library, exist to produce SWF files on many platforms. Macromedia has made the Flash Files specifications for versions 6 and later available only as a PDF under a non-disclosure agreement.

Related Topics:
Flare - Extended Vector Animation - C - Library - MorphInk - Developers' kit - File format - Ming library - Non-disclosure agreement

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Many shareware developers produced Flash creation tools and sold them for under $50 USD between 2000 and 2002. In 2003 competition and the emergence of free Flash creation tools, most notably OpenOffice.org, had driven many third-party Flash-creation tool-makers out of the market, allowing the remaining developers to raise their prices, although many of the products still cost less than $100 USD and support Actionscript. As for open source tools, F4L has started to develop a SWF authoring tool including an interface similar to that of Macromedia's. KTOON can edit vectors and generate SWF, but its interface is very different from Macromedia's.

Related Topics:
Shareware - OpenOffice.org - F4L - SWF - KTOON

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Adobe wrote a software package called Adobe LiveMotion, designed to create interactive animation content and export it to a variety of formats, including SWF. LiveMotion went through two major releases, but failed to gain any notable user base. Adobe cancelled it in 2003.

Related Topics:
Adobe LiveMotion - SWF

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In February 2003, Macromedia purchased Presidia, which had developed a Flash authoring tool that automatically converted PowerPoint Files into Flash. Macromedia subsequently released the new product as Breeze, which included many new enhancements. Since that time, Macromedia has seen competing PowerPoint to Flash authoring tools from Articulate, PointeCast (not to be confused with PointCast), and PresentationPro.

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In November 2003 Microsoft announced that it had started working on a competing product, Sparkle, whose release would coincide with that of their next-generation Windows operating system, Windows Vista. The purchase of Creature House Inc.'s assets in September 2003 has led to speculation that their Expression graphics engine would form the basis for the Sparkle product.

Related Topics:
Microsoft - Sparkle - Windows Vista - Creature House Inc. - Expression - Graphics engine

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