It’s finally here. The company that brought us Flash, Dreamweaver, Cold fusion, among others – announced that it will be shipping Macromedia Studio 8 in mid September. Absent from the new software suite will be Freehand, but two new other components will be added.

Here’s what is included: Flash Professional 8, Fireworks 8, Contribute 3, FlashPaper 2, and Dreamweaver 8, the flagship product. All are popular applications in the web development community, and have features that cater to all skill levels of developers. So why do we care? It has been said that this release will be one of the largest and most important releases in Macromedia history.

Focused on Dreamweaver

According to a Macromedia press release, Dreamweaver will offer more advanced visual editing tools for integrating XML-based content into websites and applications. The release also notes the visual management of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), designed to make CSS “more approachable� to new users.

“The advances in Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 are the direct result of listening to customers around the world and then building a host of practical features to fit their needs,� said Macromedia general manager David Mendels in the press release.

Macromedia is taking pre-orders for their new masterpiece. The full version is offered for $999, and current owners of Macromedia Studio can upgrade for $399. Both are available in either website download, or the company will ship a box at no extra charge.

Are you a financially challenged student or member of academia? Buy from the Macromedia store. Pay only $249 for Studio MX 2004, and get a free upgrade when Studio 8 comes out.