Flash 6 Screen Shots,

December 28, 2000 7:30 AM

Flash 6 Screen Shots, for those who, unlike me, are already looking beyond Flash 5.
posted by tamim (14 comments total)

I don't know, flash really isn't all that usefull, and from the screenshots it's starting to look like a CAD prog more and more. I suppose it's fun, but, I just don't see the point.
posted by tiaka at 7:53 AM on December 28, 2000

uh huh.
posted by corpse at 8:02 AM on December 28, 2000

Nothing there for me. Can anyone else really see anything?
posted by rodii at 8:02 AM on December 28, 2000

allowing images in html is useful, i wish i could use it right now.
posted by corpse at 8:03 AM on December 28, 2000

While many disagree about the outputs, I am always impressed by the actual tool. Flash 5 (and from the initial glance, Flash 6) is rather user-friendly, intuitive and feature rich. From the looks of it, Macromedia is addressing the pressures from Adobe LiveMotion and all the smaller SWF tools (Swift 3D and the like) by incorporating the 3D/CAD features.

If only the tool could make a better craftsman.
posted by tamim at 8:07 AM on December 28, 2000

I'm very glad that I looked at the 14th and final screenshot first. I think you all should, if you haven't already.

If Flash had 3D power, it'd be an even more impressive way to make annoying site intros. Imagine spinning SPHERES instead of balls!

Flash is a very good tool, but very good tools tend to have the side effect of a high crap output.
posted by hijinx at 8:21 AM on December 28, 2000

Ditto, hijinx.

"This thread reflects user feedback and wishes for the next version of Flash, so with a little photoshopping, and some cut n pasting these screenshots were created."

Doh.
posted by jragon at 8:47 AM on December 28, 2000

I certainly hope that Macromedia does not travel down the path shown by these bogus screen shots. Adding 3D to an already thin environment would be a disaster. What Macromedia needs to do is adopt the stage metaphor from Director for flash6. Flash is no longer an animation program, but it is still stuck with a cell animation based interface.
posted by DragonBoy at 9:50 AM on December 28, 2000

Hmm ... seems like the joke's on me. Some how the sound editor and the sphere screen shots looked too familiar. (The sphere was from Swift 3D.)



Ah well. Some times my 33% irrational idiocy seems more pronounced.

I actually won't mind the 3D/CAD features. And the tool box looked -- sooooo yummy!
posted by tamim at 9:56 AM on December 28, 2000

thanks hijinx, I didn't see the last screenshot until you posted that we should. Dang, that really should have been the first page. I thought a frew of those shots looks a bit pasted together. the 3d icons were quite familiar.

I have more faith in macromedia than in these guys to make the changes for 6.
posted by jamescblack at 10:49 AM on December 28, 2000

What Macromedia needs to do is adopt the stage metaphor from Director for flash6.

I think they're going to go the other way -- dumping Director in preference for Flash. I've thought this since Flash 2.0. The gap between Director and Flash -- particularly in things like robust scripting language and greater control over media -- is constantly growing smaller. Another consideration is the developer-base. What kept Director going and what ultimately demolished Mtroplis and Apple's Media Tool was Director's far larger developer-base. I bet if you look at things today, you'll find that Flash is in the lead by quite a large distance.

I do think that some of the finest things done today are in Director -- as in the Swedish Cow thing or any number of pieces hosted at shift but to tell you the truth I really wonder when I start a Director project whether, in the interests of future compatability, I ought not to be doing it in Flash instead.

In any case, I almost dropped to my knees in shouts of hosanna when I came to screen 11 and saw "anti-aliasing option on all fonts". Then I got to the last screen and realized that the whole thing was just an illustrated wishlist.
posted by leo at 2:50 PM on December 28, 2000

I think that flash is currently crippled by the cell animation base of the program. I mean come on Macromedia, Flash is so much more. Somthing needs to be done with the interface!
posted by DragonBoy at 9:25 PM on December 28, 2000

Any ideas why they took the "Flash 6" shots down?
posted by rushmc at 6:57 AM on December 29, 2000

I bet Macromedia wasn't happy about reworked screen shots. Just a guess.

Or maybe they hit too close to home, and Flash 6 with CAD capabilities will be out in 18 months. :)
posted by hijinx at 7:25 AM on December 29, 2000