Showing messages 1 through 6 of 6.

• XML and Open SWF
  2002-03-18 09:15:18  nickmain [Reply | View]
  
  
  A couple of points:
  
  MM does take XML very seriously - the Flash player includes an XML parser and object model - and XML is the preferred way of talking to a server.
  
  SWF is fairly open - I have written a well used open source Java wrapper for it (JavaSWF) which includes SWF to/from XML translation. This has been used on the server-side with XSLT to consume and create Flash movies.
  
  There are also plenty of other open source SWF packages in various languages.
  Check http://www.openswf.org

• Freehand... and Macromedia
  2002-03-14 13:11:02  jdowdell [Reply | View]
  
  
  "Import and Export of static SVG images would be a huge step forward [for FreeHand]" Good, could you drop a note to the FreeHand team, then? Good context would be what type of files you need to i/o (total SVG spec, partial, damaged files, etc), why existing converters like SVGFactory do not suffice for you, and any buying history you have with FreeHand, thanks.
  http://www.macromedia.com/support/email/wishform/
  
  --
  
  Now, let's go back to Jeremy's whitepaper:
  http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flash/whitepapers/richclient.pdf
  
  I really think you should re-read this! At issue is much more than just vector illustrations in a browser... SVG covers only a fraction of what we're trying to enable with MX. Here is the summary of our action items:
  
  o Provide an efficient, high-performance runtime for executing code, content and communications.
  
  o Integrate content, communications, and application interfaces into a common environment.
  
  o Provide powerful and extensible object models for interactivity.
  
  o Enable rapid application development through components and re-use.
  
  o Enable the use of web and data services provided by application servers.
  
  o Embrace connected and disconnected clients.
  
  o Enable easy deployment on multiple platforms and devices.
  
  *These* are the problems we're working to solve. Vector graphics for the web was a preliminary problem, but this was solved back in the 90s and is only a small part of the total implementation today.
  
  I know you care about this stuff, so I'm asking you to go back, read Jeremy's paper again, and consider what we're really attmpting to help with here. Thanks!
  
  Regards,
  John Dowdell
  Macromedia Support
• and perhaps
  2002-03-14 13:33:39  Simon St. Laurent | [Reply | View]
  
  
  you should reread my original message.
  
  I'm objecting precisely to Macromedia's efforts to solve all of those problems _with Flash MX_.
  
  Do you get that I'm not fond of proprietary binary formats yet?
  
  If all I wanted was SVG, I don't think I'd have titled the piece "Macromedia reinvents the Web". If you'd prefer, I can always go back and retitle it "Macromedia reinvents the Web in its own image for maximum customer lock-in."
  
  You can call it "help" if you really need to, but I disagree.
  
  (And yes, I did submit a request for SVG import/export in Freehand this morning. I'll take small victories happily.)

• Come down from there....
  2002-03-14 10:13:21  ryanjcooper [Reply | View]
  
  
  I think what the author really wants here is to own the web himself. While the rest of the world recognizes that proprietary software like Dreamweaver and Flash have allowed web development companies to offer better products for less cost, exponentially accelerating the acceptance of the web in the public arena, Simon want's to keep web programming locked in the ivory tower.
  
  Hopefully, we all understand the benefits of open-source... but we must also consider free market will. If 98% of the web can view flash content, why would MM want to spend precious development dollars to alter the product to appeal to a small audience of people who have actually downloaded the enormous SVG viewer? Open mark-up is a fantastic ideal, but in the real world, complex programmatical tasks take weeks to develop and months to de-bug, and can often be done more effectively and cost-efficiently by a simple function of a proprietary software like Flash. By sticking strictly to SMIL, XML, and open standards, MM would limit their potential and alienate their core users- common developers, graphic artists, and small business owners like myself, not cave-dwelling anti-corporate linux hacks who can only think about the good ol' day's when they were alone on the web. If you want to be a part of the future of the web, I've got a stock tip for you: MACR
• Come down from there....
  2002-03-14 12:28:34  jeb1 [Reply | View]
  
  
  You might want to review MM's stock history before rushing into that good night: http://www.wsrn.com/apps/links/?s=macr&client_id=WSRN&f=RESEARCH
  
  Good luck on your investment portfolio.
• own the web myself?
  2002-03-14 10:40:06  Simon St. Laurent | [Reply | View]
  
  
  That's hysterically funny. I don't quite grasp how you conclude encouraging support for shared standards leads to me wanting to own the Web myself.
  
  As for the stock tip, no thanks. I don't think you have much of an understanding of markup or its potential.