Flip Media updates on Flash Forward Film Festival in New York

The conference conducted the 9th of July.

"Flash used to be known to only a small internet community as an animation tool that catered for interactive user experience beyond the capacities of static HTML sites. Today, Flash represents 93% market penetration on the user side and has become a powerful tool not only for web development but also in the sector of software application and most importantly rich internet applications", explains Martin Diessner, Global Business Development Director, Flip Media. He adds: "The trend goes into mobile applications and devices, set-top boxes, Flash DVDs, Video and Music streaming, and integrated server applications where Flash is used as a front end to interface with complex application networks."

Macromedia Flash plug-in version 6 represents 93% market share and version 7 has achieved a penetration of 73% globally, compared to 64% of Windows Media Player, 53% of Apple QuickTime and 58% of Real Player. According to Doug Benson, Head of Product Development, Flash Team at Macromedia, this summer will see a version update of the authoring environment Flash MX 7.2 under the codename 'Ellipsis' that will address performance, stability, more than 2000 bug fixes and documentation. The next release for Flash under the codename "8 Ball" is planned to be delivered in 8-12 months and will include complete re-write of the player, various parts of the authoring environment and an integration of emulators to support the development of
applications for mobile devices.

Flash Light version 1.1 that was recently launched for mobile phones and devices catering for audio support and integrated mobile networking has already been integrated in over 12 million mobile phones in Japan, currently the largest target market of Flash Light.

Macromedia Flex is the latest server side application that supports run-time creation of Flash object on the server without involving the Flash authoring environment. This new product is targeted at IT specialists and programmers rather than designers as all outhoring is done in script. In the future, Flash teams all over the world will be able to create large scale applications and web projects in Flash built with the Flex scripting language.

During the conference, Macromedia also organized in-depth focus groups where members of the Flash community could contribute to future developments of Flash and other Macromedia products.

The highlight of the conference crowned the 12th Flash Film Festival where some 16 winners from 60 worldwide nominees were selected in categories of best design, technology, typography, sound, animation etc. Flip Media received recognition with the Macromedia 'Site of the Day' Award for its work for the first bilingual English and Arabic Formula One website, which was designed and developed for Mercedes-Benz Middle East - one of Flip Media's many international clients.

Flip Media has also been approved for the Macromedia Alliance Level Partner Program to become a Middle East solution provider with product expertise for Dreamweaver MX 2004 and Flash MX 2004.

"This partnership agreement underlines Flip Media's commitment to the Flash community and will strengthen its regional and international competence in interactive developments and trends", says Martin Diessner.

If the prestigious Flash Forward conference and Flash Film Festival ever come to the Middle East is still a question to be answered. Flip Media has presented a concept to the organizers of the conference and Macromedia with a plan to conduct one of the many 2005 events in Dubai which is currently under discussion.