Macromedia Flash 5 Ships

New version of professional authoring standard features approachable authoring environment and powerful scripting

San Francisco, California—August 24, 2000—Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACR) today announced the availability of Macromedia Flash 5 [ http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ ] software, the professional standard for producing high-impact Web experiences. Macromedia Flash 5 delivers an intuitive, approachable authoring environment to enable both designers and developers to more easily create next-generation Web sites and applications.

The reliability and performance of Macromedia Flash has raised the bar for engaging and effective Web experiences. According to a recent NPD study, 92% of online users, more than 248 million people, already have the Macromedia Flash Player installed and can experience Macromedia Flash content immediately. Because of the ubiquity of the Macromedia Flash player, global brands such as BMW, Coca-Cola, IBM, and Kodak make extensive use of Macromedia Flash technology on their highly trafficked sites.

"The growth and acceptance of Macromedia Flash has been nothing short of a phenomenon. It is everywhere," said Peter Goldie, vice president of product marketing for Macromedia. "Users and publishers can author and deploy Macromedia Flash content with confidence. With the release of version 5, hundreds of thousands of Macromedia Flash innovators will quickly redefine what the Web can be."

Macromedia Flash 5 scales to address a broad range of users and projects. Designers will feel comfortable with the authoring experience, while professional developers will wield the power of the robust scripting environment and Smart Clips. Smart Clips encapsulate commonly used building blocks of "user experience" that can be exchanged and reused by a workgroup or the entire community. Smart Clips can range from standard user interface elements to complex interactions, such as multiple choice questions with variable responses for training applications.

Macromedia Flash 5 features breakthrough integration with Macromedia FreeHand [ http://www.macromedia.com/software/freehand/ ] sofware to optimize the design process. Seamless file import of native FreeHand files increases productivity by accelerating the interchange of graphics with all editing attributes intact and editable. The two products will be available as a complete design solution in the Macromedia Flash 5 FreeHand 9 Studio.

Macromedia Flash 5 is tightly integrated with Macromedia Generator [ http://www.macromedia.com/software/generator/ ] software, the server-side solution for delivering dynamic graphics. Macromedia Flash 5 ships with templates to author dynamic Generator content so that professional Macromedia Flash developers can immediately experience the benefits of an automated workflow. For a limited time, the Macromedia Generator 2 Developers Edition will be available to registered customers at a special price when purchasing an upgrade to Macromedia Flash 5. (English language versions only.)

For a comprehensive breakdown of the new product features in Macromedia Flash 5, go to
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Macromedia Flash 5 is now available for download at www.macromedia.com/store, and will be available as boxed product in stores and on macromedia.com in early September. Trial versions will be available for download on September 1. Localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Swedish are expected to ship within the next two months.

The English product is available in a standalone version for $399, or as part of the Macromedia Flash 5 FreeHand 9 Studio for $599. Registered users of Macromedia Flash can upgrade to Macromedia Flash 5 for $149 or the Macromedia Flash 5 FreeHand 9 Studio for $249. Professional developers who are registered users of Macromedia Flash can purchase the Macromedia Flash 5 Generator 2 Pro Developer Upgrade for $649, which includes Macromedia Generator 2 Developer Edition at half of its $999 price until December 29, 2000.

ABOUT MACROMEDIA
Macromedia is passionate about what the Web can be. Its award-winning products empower developers to provide the most engaging experience on the Web, and enable more effective e-business. Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia (NASDAQ: MACR) has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and is available on the Internet at www.macromedia.com.

Macromedia, Macromedia Flash, FreeHand, and Generator are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.