Macromedia Year End Presentation, highly enlightening.

[Corey]

I learned more about where the multimedia software market is heading in 2004 from this single source than anywhere else.

http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/ir/macr/web_pres/earnings/q404/?promoid=pu1_homepage_macr_042804

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[eric_darling]

It's obscene what Macromedia is asking for Breeze. Funny that you don't see a list price published anywhere. You actually need to call and get a quote. I encourage you to check it out and comment.

[Corey]

Agreed, agreed, and *agreed*. Colin and I were just discussing that loast month. Unfortunately their bottom line isn't suffering, so as Macromedia becomes more and more irrelevant to regular users, they probably won't address that issue. I found it telling in the presentation when he said at one point as he was addressing the new update patches for MX2004 series, "So the MX2004 series is *definitely* back up to speed" or something to that effect. The implication being that they are all too aware what we think. I knew it but I'm surprised he let that leak in there.

All that being said, Flex looks like a great tool but ridiculously off target vis-a-vis whom they say will buy it, (Flex costs $12,000 minimum to get started and has a steep learning curve) same with Breeze. Apparently they learned nothing from the demise of Generator. Anyhow what it is really, is selling services under the guise of products, i.e. "Here's a cool new software product but if you want to use it please chat with one of our consultants." Their market projection stats are interesting, the only problem is that they are no longer situated to be part of this so called "consumer sector" like they used to be. They are insinuating that they still possess the best of the old Macromedia with the best of the new Macromedia which, as we users know, is simply not the case. They are overmarketed and underdeveloped, top heavy. Unfortunately the market rewards that sort of scheme quite heavily so it'll be more of the same from MM through 2005. On the other hand I'm following their marketing closely to glean whatever valuable lessons it may offer.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[clubsoda]

I was impressed with the presentation software and it could fit in well with where I would like to head here at work. Thanks Corey for the link and I was surprised I had never heard of it before but after a look and seeing the “call for details stuff” I understand why. I like that you can include lots of rich media ie. Video, animation, PowerPoint. I currently did some stuff using Media Mixer and having to include Media Player, Real, Producer to name just a few to get the job done was a bit messy from a project management perspective. I like that this can all be delivered in one media and cross platform to boot. The next edition will be integrated much better with RoboDemo as well. The pricing is basically based on a server license. The server doing most of the back end stuff such as the encoding and tracking. I was surprised that they have the server doing the encoding because encoding is very system draining. I couldn’t imagine having any encoding working on a server that had other applications running on it and still getting decent processing. I will do more evaluations in the future just because 500 million desktops have flash player and it looks really cool. I was also impressed with the quality of the video too.

Although, once the content has been created it can be placed anywhere……hum I find this the most interesting. I guess what they are saying is, you have to be a rich content creator. I don’t know if they haven’t opened the door to some cheap knock off here?

[eric_darling]

I don’t know if they haven’t opened the door to some cheap knock off here?File this (http://www.articulateglobal.com) under "cheap knock off." Hardly cheap, but in comparison....

And hey, it works pretty well. Sure, it's not as full featured - actually it just exports from PowerPoint, but then, that's the best use of Breeze anyway. I just can't get over how high on themselves Macromedia remains. It's a limiting policy.

[kpsmith]

Corey, thanks for the link.

As far as cheap knock off's...

Impatica (http://www.impatica.com/) does a lot of the same thing and has been around for a while. Not a slick as Breeze but...