9 of 11 customers found the following review helpful:
 THE ULTIMATE VERSION OF FLASH � A MUST HAVE!!!, 2000-09-30
OVERVIEW: Flash 5 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, making it a "must have" for any serious web developer who wants to develop high-impact web content. The improvements are not superficial, instead Flash 5 impressively enhances the developer's ability to design, develop, and deploy. This tool is the resource for anyone who is serious about Flash and maximizing its amazing potential at a rapid pace.At RAYHAWK.COM we have been using Flash to enhance our web productions for the last 2 years and the results have been noticeable, not only to us, but to our clients (KFC, Taco Bell, BMW, Porsche, Deltamedical.com). WHY FLASH? With Flash player's pervasive presence in a majority of all browsers, Macromedia's Flash has become the industry standard for delivering high-impact web animations and dynamic site content. THE COMPETITION: What competition? Macromedia is the creator and leader of this technology and Flash is the master of this domain with no other product coming even close to its innovation and power. Adobe's marginal attempt to introduce a competing product with Live Motion was not well received by developers and is comparatively lacking in features. The most significant proof that Flash owns this entire arena is that even competitor wanna-be, Live Motion features Flash animation (*.swf) as an export format because Adobe is painfully aware that nobody would invest in their product if it did not support Flash. FLASH 5 FEATURES: 1. POWER LIBRARY - Flash's Library feature has received a big boost in version 5. The library allows users to reuse graphics and buttons repeatedly with a minimal increase in the final file size. In Flash 5 multiple developers can share the symbol libraries. Now revising the placeholder graphics into the final artwork on one system, will ripple back to all other Animators document instantly... a great feature for multi-group workflow. 2. ADVANCED ACTION SCRIPTING - resembling Java-script, the scripting can be created and edited in any text/html editor and imported into Flash for use; old script can be viewed without searching through frames of individual code-chunks. 3. ENHANCED INTERFACE - many controls are now available in dock a able palette, which ultimately allows more development efficiency. 4. FULL BEZIER SUPPORT - but its gets better... the option to draw with the traditional pencil is retained allow optimal developer flexibility. 5. POWER EDITING - the developer is now permitted to instantly edit what they want and where. Endlessly searching a document's layers of imbedded symbols is over. A hierarchical tree allows for easy navigation and editing of flash symbols. 6. HTML EMBEDDING - To really change the balance of power Flash 5 makes it possible to imbed actual HTML pages within Flash Documents so now sites will become Flash shells with HTML inside, rather than vice-versa. 7. NO LOST VISITORS - Publish html that detects if your visitors have Flash 5 player and automatically directs them to Macromedia's download center if needed. 8. OTHER ENHANCEMENTS - improved XML transfer support within documents; improved integration with Freehand and Generator; seamless importing of MP3 soundtracks; and exporting to QuickTime. CONCLUSIONS: At RAYHAWK.com we have used Flash technology to successfully enhance our projects and exceed our client's expectations for the last 2 years. With the launch of Flash 5 Macromedia has solidified its position as the premier developer of powerhouse web content. Macromedia Flash 5 is an outstanding upgrade for any developer already using Flash and for those newcomers to the web arena this is AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT!!!
7 of 7 customers found the following review helpful:
 Many revisions have improved this application, 2000-08-12
With Flash 5 (which is at the time of writing in beta only), Macromedia appears to have attempted to further bridge the gap between its original primitive proprietary functionality (in its previous life as FutureSplash) and the overall Macromedia interface; this gap has in the past often impeded usability and defied intuition. The most robust overhaul has been made on the behaviours and actions... it is much easier to tailor Flash to do what you want without having to rely solely on readymade (and often generic) functions embedded within Flash. This of course makes it that much more difficult to get the ball rolling for novice users, but for more advanced users this will open a world of opportunity. In this way it is somewhat similar to Director in the way it manages operations/functions; you can insert pre-fab functionality or develop your own, dependent upon your skill level.The drawing tools have been changed to incorporate vector tools, with a Bezier pen tool that will make any Flash user's life much easier. It is no longer so crucial to have a drawing program open as you work, although these tools are still not quite up to the standards set by FreeHand and Illustrator. One nice aspect of the changes made to the interface of the application are that it neither adheres strictly to the FreeHand system nor is totally different... by this I mean that those comfortable with FreeHand or Illustrator will both be able to use the new interface with relative ease. Say goodbye to the awful, cumbersome application that was Flash 4. There are many more options for floating palettes that permit a greater ease of editing and doing things on the fly, whereas before Flash usually required dragging down menus and calling up dialog boxes. Whether or not Flash 5's improvements will make it an optimal work environment remains to be seen; I've only scratched the surface of the application, because, after all, the surface is what is most immediately different. Certainly there are going to be hindrances and bugs under that surface, but hopefully they will be few and far between.
|
Amazon Sales Rank:#10391