today announced Macromedia Director MX 2004, the latest version of the industry standard multimedia authoring tool. The new version adds support for JavaScript, Flash MX 2004 content, DVD-Video, and the ability to create projector files for both Mac and Windows platforms. Other features include custom names for channels and sprites, support for Windows Media, significant Flash performance improvements, Stage docking, an improved Lingo syntax, new XML parsing, and many other features. It expected to ship in English in February for $1,200; upgrades will be priced at $400 (from Director 8.5 and Director MX).

"Macromedia Director defined both this company and this industry, and it remains the most sophisticated multimedia authoring tool to this day," said Norm Meyrowitz, president of products, Macromedia. "Macromedia Director MX 2004 builds on the product's rich legacy and adds new features that will enable richer content and easier development due to its seamless workflow with other MX 2004 products and the addition of an industry standard, widely used, scripting language."



Macromedia Director MX 2004 empowers professional multimedia developers to create multimedia content that can be deployed on CD, DVD, intranets, kiosks, or the Internet. Director MX 2004 supports most major video, audio, bitmap, 3D, and vector formats and can stream video files in DVD-Video, Windows Media, RealMedia, QuickTime, and Flash formats. New DVD-Video functionality allows developers to embed, control, and playback DVD-Video content within multimedia projects.



The Director MX 2004 update is also integrated with other MX products, including support for Flash MX 2004 content and applications, offers a custom workspace, including the stage and movie-in-a-window interfaces. The company also updated its Lingo scripting system and new support for industry-standard JavaScript. To improve workflow, users can now name both sprites and channels. Content can be published to both Macintosh and Windows, and online across different platforms, in one simple step.



"Apple and Macromedia share a commitment to helping creative professionals achieve maximum results with maximum ease," said Ron Okamoto, vice president of worldwide developer relations, Apple. "Director breaks new ground by enabling video professionals using Apple Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro to deliver cross-platform Director projectors and web-based Shockwave content that can embed, playback, and control DVD video content."



Macromedia Director MX 2004 is expected to ship in English in February, for $1,200. Upgrades will be $400 from Director 8.5 and Director MX, while education customers can purchase the full version for $500. The software works on Mac OS X v10.2.6 or higher, and for Windows 2000 or Windows XP. French, German, and Japanese versions will be available at a later date.