Adobe announces several Flash Platform products
updated 07:40 pm EST, Mon November 17, 2008
Adobe Flash Platform
Adobe has announced Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5, Flash Media Streaming Server 3.5, several advancements to the Flash Platform, and a public beta version of Cocomo. The server products offer several new features, including dynamic streaming, High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio support, and enhanced H.264 video. New DVR capabilities of the Interactive version allow pause-and-seek functions within live video streams. The software also enables multipoint publishing of messages into a stream, and live or on-demand delivery to Flash Lite 3.
Adobe is in the process of creating new tools for its Flash Platform, such as Flash Catalyst and Flex Builder "Gumbo." Catalyst, formerly code named Thermo, is a design tool that allows users to create application interfaces and interactive content without using coding. Images created in CS4 can be imported to be used for buttons, scrollbars, or other features.
Flex Builder "Gumbo" is being developed as a tool to create data-centric rich Internet applications. The software will also work with Catalyst, and will feature improvements to core development functions including the debugger, profiler, and code editor.
The company is also working on Cocomo, a Platform-as-a-Service product that uses cloud computing for adding real-time social capabilities into Web apps. When used in conjunction with Adobe Flex, developers can enhance existing applications or new projects by adding real-time data messages, VoIP audio, video, file sharing functions, text chat, and contextual presence.
Flash Media Streaming Server 3.5 is now available for $1000. Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5 is also available, with a price of $4,500. Catalyst and Gumbo are both still in development stages, with public betas anticipated next year. Cocomo is now available from Adobe as a free public beta.
