I am going to review macromedia flash 8 which is a software
which allows users to create flash animations which can be added to websites to
make them look nice. This program isn't free but you can get a 30 day trial to
test it out which I find hard actually do anything in this amount of time
because by the time the trials over your just getting used to using the
program. Flash 8 is an amazing programs thats allows you to draw in frames
which then combine all together to make up your animations. This program has
many tools that help users create the type of animation they want to make for
instance the text tool makes it easy for a website designer to create
professional banners without having to use the brush tool with a mouse. Flash
had the option for users to use their tablets on this program to easier draw
what they need without the hassle of using a uncontrollable mouse.
Macromedia Flash 8 gives designers a platform to create
cartoons, videos, and games that make Web sites dance and sing, and it does so
with ease. This Flash upgrade facilitates an evolution in the animated Web
experience, and it's a must-have for serious site developers. Flash authors
should warm to the numerous work-flow and design-tool improvements, including
new runtime blend modes, filters and effects, support for alpha-channel video,
and a rebuilt video codec to shrink file size and playback time. Hobbyists
wanting to put Flash content on their personal Web pages should opt for Flash
Basic, although it lacks the more alluring new features offered by the more
expensive Flash Professional 8. You can also buy Flash Professional 8 packaged
with the Macromedia Studio 8 suite for about a thousand dollars or upgrade for
less from a previous version of Studio.
While Flash 8 is a great program that continues the
tradition of excellence begun by its previous incarnations, upgrading from
Flash MX isn't really essential to continue animating and developing
effectively. The only major change that really stands out is the addition to
Flash's video capabilities. If you're looking to try Flash for the first time,
then I would recommend Flash 8 Basic--but if you're comfortable with MX, you
may want to avoid the rather heavy upgrade costs.
New Features:
So what’s new in Flash Professional 8? Flash Professional 8 is a major upgrade,
probably the biggest release of the program to date. Available along with new
versions of Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and other tools as part of Studio 8 ($999;
$399 upgrade) or on its own ($699; $299 upgrade), Flash Professional 8 adds new
features and capabilities in four core areas:
-- Expressiveness
-- User experience
-- Mobile authoring
-- Video
Note that many of these features are only available in Flash Professional 8,
not in Flash Basic 8. I will quickly go over the first three areas and then
cover video a bit more in-depth.
Expressiveness
The new expressiveness features include filters and blend modes that some users
may be familiar with from programs such as Photoshop or Fireworks.
User Experience
Developers new to Flash will be happy to see an improved Script
Assist Mode that provides a visual user interface for editing scripts.
Mobile Authoring
Flash Professional 8 includes full support for development
targeted at handsets and other mobile devices. With the upcoming release of
version 2 of Flash Lite, Macromedia’s Flash Player profile for mobile phones,
this will be a valuable feature for mobile content developers.
Flash Lite 2.0 also finally adds video capabilities and now supports video
playback of local and remote video files using the video rendering application
on the device, meaning that .3gp and .mp4 files will soon play inside Flash on
most handsets.
Pros
Easy to adjust to from Flash MX.
Improves on minor flaws in previous versions.
Intensive focus on developer functionality.
Additional one-click effects.
Cons
Even more cluttered than Flash MX.
Some "new" features are frivolous and
useless.
The price tag is hefty for both Basic and
Professional.
Description
Flash 8 offers more advanced controls,
streamlining once-complex actions and effects into one click.
Enhanced video options offer a wide range of
codecs and output options previously unavailable.
Expanded functionality turns Flash 8 into a
full-featured graphics editing program.
Animation and drawing are easier than ever with
new visualization tools.
Actionscripting has new script assists; even
beginners can program on an easy learning curve.
System
Requirements
Windows
800 MHz Intel Pentium III processor (or
equivalent) and later
Windows 2000, Windows XP
256 MB RAM (1 GB recommended to run more than
one Studio 8 product simultaneously)
1024 x 768, 16-bit display (32-bit recommended)
1.8 GB available disk space
Download Link: Macromedia Flash 8 Professional (52 MB)
Alternative Link: Macromedia Flash 8 Professional (52 MB)
Portable Link: Macromedia Flash 8 Portable (44 MB)
Download Link: Macromedia Flash 8 Professional Full (108 MB)