'Flash' by Macromedia is a vector graphics programme for the web. For most Web surfers, 'Flash' is the blinking, animated frosting on Web sites. Web sites often combine HTML for static elements, Flash for animation and Java for applications. However, with its own scripting language and with wide use of its browser plugin, Flash is capable of far more than this.

'Flash' (particularly the new Flash MX) is an application development environment for building rich Web-based applications rather than just a tool for creating animation clips at Web sites.
The 'Flash Player' is the client side application used to view animation created in Flash as well as execute code to run applications developed with Flash.

Macromedia relies on the ubiquity of the Flash Player to propel its new technology. About 96 percent of the computers shipped by manufacturers currently include a pre-loaded Flash Player. It is also automatically installed with IE6 and NE6.

Microsoft ships the Flash Player in Windows XP, as do some Linux operating system vendors. Another 2 million to 3 million people download Flash every day, according to Macromedia. With the release of Flash MX, Macromedia is also continuing its push to extend the technology beyond PCs.

The ubiquity of the Flash player on PCs has made it hard for would-be competitors to gain any ground against the Macromedia system. Adobe Systems has positioned its 'LiveMotion' animation tool as an enhancement of, rather than a replacement for, Flash.

The Web designer's case for using Flash centers on usability. They argue that Web pages and applications designed entirely in Flash load faster, work more reliably and make it easier for customers to transact business. For example, in Flash MX it is intended to eliminate page refreshes. Users will be able to continue to browse a site even while the Web page processes credit card information and other data.

The promise is for business Web sites that will be substantially easier for customers to navigate and cheaper for businesses to maintain.

One new addition to Flash MX is the ability to integrate video more easily into a Flash application. The video will be viewed on the new version of the Flash Player which is due to be released in conjunction with the Flash MX upgrade. With this new integration, when a Web site developed in Flash displays video, it doesn't have to open up a separate media player.

To date, Flash has been seen as very much the domain of the web designer rather than the web developer. It has become a favourite with advertising and media companies keen to get their 'multimedia' image across the Web. Whether Macromedia will be able to convince web developers to incorporate Flash in their GUI layouts (Graphical User Interface) has yet to be seen.

The proclamation is that 'Flash MX' will lead to 'killer' Flash web applications. However, this claim was also made with the release of Flash 4 and Flash 5. Only time will tell….