Amazon.com: Flash 5.0/FreeHand Studio: Software

Tag this product

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ULTIMATE VERSION OF FLASH A MUST HAVE!!!, September 29, 2000

By	Rayhawk Corporation "rayhawk.com" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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!!!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flash 5 is the Samurai Sword of Tools!!!!!, March 30, 2001

By	Brian (Atco, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Who am I? I am a website designer, corporate trainer and Flash 5 designer/creator. I am Microsoft certified, CTT certified, M CIW D, A+. I-Net+, Net+, IBM certified recently. I know my stuff. This program rules! Version 5 has increased its ease of use, the dynamics of ActionScript has blossomed 4 times over, and things have also become more simple and user friendly.If you thought Flash 4 was an awesome weapon, then version 5 will rock your world once you learn the new abilities. IT IS NOT BUGGY like the other review claims. I have had Flash 5 since it was first available. Has it crashed on me once or twice? Yes. Why? Well, sometimes it just happens. Computers arenot perfect. Out of the few times it happened, it was either my fault, or when I was trying to use another program within Flash 5. Flash 5 has also been updated with a patch. I doubt you will have any problems my friends. Freehand 9 DOES NOT weight this package down!!! Freehand 9 lets you mock up and layout websites quickly to show your clients a "working quickie example". This saves me time over and over again! It also lets me create nicely streamlined graphics to use within Flash 5. Creating them in Freehand first can be easier than in Flash sometimes, the tools are also a bit better. Together, they become a hurricane of creative power to be unleashed upon your competitors! ActionScript is taken to a new level too. Forget the ActionScript you knew in Flash 4. Childs' play!!! It is a whole new ball game. The concepts, layout and theory are still the same, but the new commands, and means of using the..especially the new "dot notation" system is incredibly easy and quick! Ignore the other reviews that pooh, pooh this product. If they were right, Macromedia wouldnot have a BEST SELLING and one of the BEST RATED vector graphics programs that all of us PRO designers use. Don't get this suite if all you want to do is create a web page for your kitty or puppy. DO get this if your career needs to go further! Best Wishes and check out my book reviews for Flash 5 tutorial books hereon Amazon.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the version!, February 24, 2001

By	"intentaccess" (Boca Raton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

Any Flash user or Beginer Flash user will be glad they have this version! This version beats them all!!! If you are a serious web developer who wants that animation of graphics this version is for you! Have fun!!!