Nov 17 2003
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Pro
Well, I was pulling for Flash MY, but with all the enhancements, you could call this 2004 Flash MX update made for you.
When an application matures to the level Flash has, it’s hard to tell what new value an update brings. Studio MX was Macromedia’s most popular software package to date. Now many Flash designers are wondering if another update is really necessary.
The answer to that question is tough. I’ll see what I can do to help. I’ll break this one down by version, as Flash now comes in two flavors:
Flash MX 2004
The first thing I’ll say is that many of the new features in this version are hidden among the minutia. Flash sports a new interface, with a handy start page that saves time wasted in hunting for files. Flash also has a new help system that (yippee) does not rely on Apple’s built-in (and not always quick) help utility.
Getting down to the important stuff, Flash now supports CSS text formatting, allowing you to control formatting in your movie from an external sheet. You will have to pop out a few lines of ActionScript to get this to work.
One of the biggest boons to designers will be the introduction of timeline effects. Drop shadow and blur have come to Flash. These (and other effects) are easy to apply to objects and remain editable. Behaviors also allow you to determine actions on an object level, making it simpler to control your elements.
The spell checker is also nice. So is the improved import engine that is much nicer to Illustrator files. In another “about-time” enhancement, Macromedia has included presentation templates for you anti-PowerPoint artists.
Flash MX 2004 Pro
This new super-Flash is equipped with additional tools to help with video work, deployment on mobile devices and work with external data sources. If you don’t do any of the above, you probably don’t need the pro version.
That said, if you do, then you’ll appreciate this version made just for you. There are new forms-based and slides-based development environments. Components have improved, with their own inspector. Special tools also make it easier to make content for cell phones and PocketPC’s with MIDI tone tools and device-specific templates.
Conclusion
Flash has become the Photoshop of multimedia, and with so many divergent applications, it’s hard to make an across-the-board call on this one. If you’re coming to Flash, there’s no question that this is the best version there’s ever been.
For you upgraders, if you upgrade, and to which version depends directly on how you use Flash. This is a feature upgrade, and only you know what features you need.
All in all, MX 2004 is a great time to come to Flash and valuable upgrade. Many not-so-publicized new features will please just about everyone. For different users, mileage may vary BUT I found this new version to deliver on all its promises and more.
It is worth mentioning that this is the first version of Flash to require the new Macromedia activation system. As scary as this sounds, it is fair to everyone. With one license you can install Flash on your desktop and laptop and are free to remove your serial and transfer it to another computer. For more on activation, visit http://www.macromedia.com/software/activation/.
Flash MX 2004 is $499/$199 Upgrade (buy it at Amazon)
Flash MX 2004 Pro is $699/$299 Upgrade (buy it at Amazon)
