Macromedia announces the release of Studio 8

[Danny]

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.

[benna]

"Focusd on Dreamweaver" should probobly read "Focused on Dreamweaver"

This blog entry seems to me to be an ad for macromedia. Did they pay you for this? Their new "masterpiece"? Have you used it yet? So how do you know it's a masterpiece then?

Personally I'm rather tired of flash, and other such things. I want content. Wikipedia is the sort of innovation the web should be striving for. It is conceptually brilliant, yet simple in application. It doesn't look fancy, but it has great content. I can learn anything from that site. And yet, its all displayed in plain old HTML. The web needs more Wikipedias.

[Dani]

I agree this blog entry does seem a lot like an ad. Danny's done one too many PRs in his lifetime. However, I am more interested in the semi-recent acquisition and merger between Adobe and Macromedia - now THAT is one powerful combination!