Macromedia Flash

MacromediaFlash, now owned by AdobeSystemsInc, is a well known tool to create graphically rich (they use the word "engaging") presentations for use on the web.

Adobe acquisition announcement can be seen at http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/pdfs/200504/041805AdobeAcquiresMacromedia.pdf

It is a 3.4 billion investment which showed the importance of the Flash product to Adobe and business enterprises. BobCringely felt there were real synergy between the two companies (e.g. VoiceOverIp) that can be realized quickly. See http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050623.html
CEOs of the two companies spoke at http://www.forbes.com/2005/08/30/elop-chizen-interview-cx_dl_0830ceos_print.html

It includes its own programming/scripting language called ActionScript which now has a second version: ActionScriptTwo

See http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/

Some people feel that Flash animations on a web site typically add little value for the visitor. See WhatsWrongWithFlash for details.

See also FreeSoftware for generating SWF files:

The MingLibrary at http://ming.sourceforge.net/.
A selection of OpenSource tools and a vibrant Wiki community for MacromediaFlash at http://osflash.org/.

RichInternetApplication domain

MacromediaFlex is the development platform for AjaxWebApplications equivalent and it generates SWF files from XML.

The company is quick to point out that use of MacromediaFlash for RichInternetApplication would increase market penetration quickly, due to lack of WebBrowser compatibility concerns. See more at http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/print.php/3527226