I just noticed the following info on Macromedia releasing SDK stuff
for Flash at the FlashForward 2000 promotion.
I assume this might be useful for future MetaCard support planning.
Regards,
David
********************************************
MACROMEDIA ENABLES THIRD PARTIES TO SUPPORT MACROMEDIA FLASH Software
development kits extend Macromedia Flash to devices and new appliances
San Francisco, California-March 28, 2000-Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:
MACR) today announced the availability of two software development
kits (SDKs) that enable third-party developers to add Macromedia
Flash export to authoring applications and Macromedia Flash playback
to platforms and devices. Macromedia Flash is the standard for
creating high-impact, vector-based Web sites that deliver motion,
sound, interactivity, and graphics.
The SDKs expand the reach of Macromedia Flash so that application
vendors and content developers will benefit from new Macromedia
Flash-enabled platforms. Device developers will benefit by adding
support for displaying the most compact file format with the highest
impact online.
"With more than 222 million personal computers already able to
display Macromedia Flash content, Macromedia Flash is a Web
standard," said Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer at Macromedia.
"Within the next two years, the number of information appliances
shipping with the ability to access Web content will outnumber
personal computers. Macromedia is working with these device
developers to ensure that Macromedia Flash is available on all of
these next-generation devices."
Enabling playback
The Macromedia Flash Player source code SDK provides developers with
an easy way to incorporate Macromedia Flash playback into emerging
Web-enabled platforms and devices. Macromedia is providing a version
of the C++ source code of the Macromedia Flash Player, as well as
documentation designed to help a third-party software or hardware
developer easily port the Macromedia Flash Player to any platform or
device. The Macromedia Flash Player is already being ported to the
Symbian platform for wireless devices, the Microsoft WinCE platform,
and various set-top boxes.
For operating system vendors and device manufacturers, the business
model already exists for building the Macromedia Flash Player into
new platforms, which will automatically benefit from the existing
amount of Macromedia Flash content online and the growing number of
Web developers who are authoring Macromedia Flash content.
Enabling authoring
Macromedia made the Flash file format available to the development
community two years ago. The new Macromedia Flash file format (SWF)
SDK details the file format, provides new export code, and includes
more improved documentation for developers. Over 30 software
applications currently support the Macromedia Flash file format,
including products from Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Corel (NASDAQ: CORL),
and Quark.
Macromedia Flash content exported from these applications can
immediately be viewed by 90 percent of Web browsers, according to the
results of an NPD Online Research survey conducted in February. That
percentage translates to more than 222 million Web users
automatically able to experience Macromedia Flash content.
SDK AVAILABILITY
The Macromedia Flash file format (SWF) SDK and the Macromedia Flash
Player source code SDK are both free and available for download. The
file format SDK can be downloaded immediately from
http://www.macromedia.com/software/ flash/open/licensing/fileformat/
by any interested parties that agree to the licensing terms. The
player source code SDK will be made available to developers approved
by Macromedia. For more information, visit
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/open/licensing/sourcecode/.
--
David Cramer, Process Innovation Evangelist 87-1313 Border Street
PBSC Computer Training Centres (an IBM company) Winnipeg MB R3H 0X4
Corporate Office Research & Development Canada
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/metacard%40lists.best.com/
Info: http://www.xworlds.com/metacard/mailinglist.htm
Please send bug reports to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, not this list.
