Flash 5

The folks at Macromedia really listened to it's users of Flash 4 when they created Flash 5!  Look at some of what's new in Flash 5:

• Enhanced Color Controls
• New Selection Highlights
• Draggable Guides
• Pen tool creates precise paths
• New panels - color, type, actions, frames, instances...
• Shared libraries
• Macromedia Dashboard
• Custom Shortcut Keys
• Import MP3
• Expanded ActionScripts
• Movie Explorer
• Print
• Import FreeHand and Fireworks PNG files
• Enhanced integration with Macromedia Generator
• Enhanced integration with Macromedia Fireworks

If you are a Flash 4 user and you purchase Flash 5, the first thing you may notice when you open the box is the Flash 5 ActionScript Manual (ActionScript Reference Guide). Yeah! 

There was not a printed manual for ActionScript in Flash 4. This in itself is a major addition to the Flash software package.

You can now copy and paste ActionScript which was not an option in Flash 4 and at times could be a burden. 

Once you have Flash 5 installed you'll really notice a difference in the interface. I have created a Flash movie that shows a working model of the Flash 5 interface and a brief working model of the FreeHand 9 interface. The first part of the movie will give you the option to look at either the Flash 5 or FreeHand 9 interface. You can take a look at our FreeHand 9 review here (which will open in a new window).

Another really cool addition to Flash 5 is the Macromedia Dashboard. This provides easy access to Flash 5 resources online. You can access the Dashboard from within Flash 5 to get information a many different topics related to Flash. You can choose whether to manually update or automatically update the contents of the Dashboard. This makes it really easy to find the information you need that you might not be able to find otherwise.

The movie explorer is a valuable addition to Flash 5. It allows you to see all the contents, arrange, locate and edit assets in a movie. It is shown in a tree structure so you can where things are in relation to other things.

If you've never used Flash before you will be better for starting out with Flash 5. If you've used Flash before, you'll be impressed with how much easier and more powerful it is than Flash 4.

If you're interested in totally creative, interactive, cool, easily created content you need Flash 5. Try it before you buy it! 

NOTE: If you have Flash 4 and you are going to try out Flash 5 before you buy it...**do not** save any of your Flash 4 files in Flash 5. Make a copy first and open the copy in Flash 5.