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Product Summary
Macromedia Flash MX

Macromedia
Flash MX
Rating -  
Pros  •  Properties/actions inspectors.
•  New video streaming capabilities.
•  Import direct to library.
Cons  •  More complex ActionScript accessibilty.
•  No real-time preview.
The Bottom Line - For serious animators and website designers, this is a program that has proven it's worth over time and has just got that bit better. It is moving away from just being a simple animation program into new, and uncharted fields for a single program. Flash MX is enabling users to do with one program, that which required several high-end programs to achieve previously. (Macintosh and Windows compatible.)
 
Product Description
•  Access for reader programs to access the text and links in a SWF file.
•  ActionScript will now allow you to draw, very much in the same way as SVG does.
•  Streamed video clips have the ability to be masked, or become a mask.
• Timelines now have the ability to be placed in folders to avoid interference.
• Enhanced ActionScript and increased choices make selection more complex.
• New Envelope modifier adds a new dimension to the manipulation of images.
• Components enable use of scrolling text boxes and drop down menus using drag and drop.
• A selected object on stage is now editable in the properties panel.
• Once registered, Macromedia will send you a CD-ROM with more help, hints and links.
• Third-party components are available at many Web sites.
 
 
Reviewer's Comments
The Market Leader Gets Even Better
Flash MX is a great improvement visually from Flash 5 and is much easier to work with. The new palettes docked at the right are less intrusive on the work area, and the inspector palettes below the stage make working with objects easy and fast. Flash MX is optimized for the handheld and cell-phone markets--a new, potentially exciting area for designers. The ability to stream video and to allow user interaction in realtime is brilliant. No more waiting for new pages to download when text is added to pre-written components such as text boxes will enhance a viewer's experience of your site and add to its stickiness. Price is a possible prohibiting factor, but if you have use for the market leader then it doesn't matter, and so far, Flash MX is it.
~ By Tim Skyrme

 Related Reviews    Related Resources
• Book Review: Flash MX Savvy
• Adobe LiveMotion 2.0
• SWiSH 2.0
• Swift 3D v2.0
• Macromedia Fireworks 4		 • Before You Buy Web Graphics Software
• Flash Authoring Tools
• Macromedia Flash Resources
• Macromedia Flash MX Home Page
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