Macromedia has released a beta version of the 8th incarnation of their web content player, Flash. This beta version is only available for Windows and Macintosh.
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Member since:SVG might seem cooler in the sense that it is not controlled by a single corp (btw, define "open", because I *think* the swf file specs are public).
But at the end of the day it gets down to this: there is no decent application for developing even the lamest SVG, while Flash MX is absolutely packed with features.
Member since:2005-07-08
"But at the end of the day it gets down to this: there is no decent application for developing even the lamest SVG, while Flash MX is absolutely packed with features."
Yeah, that's why I was hoping that people like software makers would start to support SVG better. Anyway, even developing some simple games (patience card games etc.) that use SVG and related technologies is not that difficult if you've studied SVG. But of course good editors can make all that much easier.
Member since:
Member since:2005-07-07
SVG is cool and all, but it seems most implementations do not contain all the features (like fonts - a big one in my book) that you'd want to use, and the performance doesn't allow the same type of rich content that flash provides.
For simple diagrams and motionless vector images, yeah, i'd go with SVG, but for rich entertainment based sites (which is where flash is used mostly anyway) I'll stick with flash.
http://www.internettinyawards.com/
http://www.flashforwardconference.com/winners/winners_05ny.asp
Show me some SVG sites with that kind of awesomeness, and I'll believe that SVG can replace flash.
BTW, http://www.openswf.org used to be the place to get info about the swf file format, but it seems to just be parked right now. I'm not sure what's up with that.
Member since:
Member since:
2005-07-08
I hope that browsers and websites would start to use and support SVG more for Flash type of content.
I've nothing special against Flash - but unlike Flash SVG is an open standard not owened by a single company - which is always a Good Thing for a widely used technology and standard (just imagine if, say, HTML would be proprieatary technology). SVG with related open technologies and standards is also surprisingly flexible and capable to produce all sorts of eyecandy and multimedia. All we need is that browsers, editors, other programs etc. would start to support it better.