MACROMEDIA: Macromedia licenses Flash Player to Sun Microsystems
Presswire - June 18, 1999 13:01
M2 PRESSWIRE-18 June 1999-MACROMEDIA: Macromedia licenses Flash Player to Sun Microsystems (C)1994-99 M2
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* Flash Player to be Incorporated into Java Media Framework, Enabling Java Developers to Integrate Flash into Java Applets
SAN FRANCISCO -- JavaOne Developer Conference -- Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACR) today announced that Sun
Microsystems will integrate Macromedia's Flash Player, the standard for high-impact, vector-based Web sites, into future versions of the
Java Media Framework reference implementation. Java technology-enabled applications can now make use of Flash content, including
sound, interactivity, graphics and animations. Sun's Java Media Framework API specifies an architecture to synchronize, capture, and
control time-based media, such as audio and video, within applets and applications written in the Java programming language.
The announcement builds on Macromedia's commitment to make Flash a ubiquitous solution for creating the most compelling Web
experience. Because of its small code footprint, compact file size, broad distribution, and unique scalability, the Flash Player is ideal for
displaying Web content on both desktop machines and Internet appliances. Developers can design high-quality Flash content once and
know that it will perform flawlessly across the range of supported platforms, including Sun's Java Media Framework technology.
"Macromedia's vision is to allow developers to author once and deploy over a variety of systems," said David Mendels, senior vice
president and co-general manager of Macromedia's Web Publishing division. "Developers can add life to their applications by incorporating
Flash content inside widely deployed Java applets and applications."
"Sun is very excited to be working with Macromedia to augment the rich set of functionality provided in the Java Media Framework
technology," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president and general manager of Sun Microsystems' Java Software. "Integrating the Flash Player
into JMF will greatly enhance the capabilities of developers to add rich media content into applets and applications written in the Java
programming language."
The Flash Player currently ships with all major Web browsers and operating systems (including Netscape Navigator 4.0.6 and higher,
Windows 98, Internet Explorer 4 and 5, AOL 4, Mac OS 8 and above, Real Player G2, Web TV, and all Liberate Technologies set top
boxes) making Flash the most viewable rich media format on the Internet. According to a recent study by research firm King, Brown, &
Partners, the Flash Player is installed in more than 100 million Web browsers, with 77 percent of Web consumers currently able to view
Flash content without needing to download a plug-in. For more information about Flash and the Flash Player, please visit
flash.com.
Other Macromedia applications that publish to the Flash file format include Macromedia FreeHand, which combines professional illustration
tools and a powerful, multi-page document layout environment for print and Web multipublishing, and Macromedia Generator, the server
side solution for automating and personalizing Web site graphics. |
