New Features:

Mesh Morphing Animations
Enhanced User Interface
Keyframe Easing
Per Object Fill Rendering
Extrusion / Lathe Free Transform
Built-in Optimization
Drag / Drop Animation Visuals
Viewport Consistency
Per Object Line Options
Undo Restructuring
HTML /w SWF Export
.3ds Export
Export to XAML for WPF and Silverlight

http://www.erain.com/products/swift3d

Giveaway of the Day is offering a free license from FlashSpring Pro 2.2. For those of you who don’t know what FlashSpring is i can tell that this software is a well know PowerPoint to Flash converter.

Some features:

- Support of sounds and animations synchronization;
- High-quality processing of grouped shapes and tables;
- Support of animated GIF images;
- Conversion of large (300+ Mb) PowerPoint presentations into compact Flash files;
- Flash banner creation mode.

Get your copy here. You have 14 hours 48 minutes to download and install it.

“Eltima Software has released Flash Optimizer for Mac 1.8, adding full support for Flash 8.”

“Flash Optimizer is based on algorithms of shapes, morphing, vectors, fonts, Z-buffer and other optimizations to reduce the size of flash files with curves, zero-objects, ZLib, and more.”

Via MacNN

Update available from Dreamweaver 8.0 to version 8.0.1. Non english versions not yet available.

Download and more info here

SAN FRANCISCO (January 10, 2006) - Sorenson Media®, the worldwide leader of video encoding and compression applications for digital video professionals and enthusiasts, today announced the release of Sorenson Squeeze® 4.3. Available for both Macintosh® and Windows® operating systems, Sorenson Squeeze 4.3 Compression Suite and Sorenson Squeeze 4.3 for Macromedia® Flash™ introduce new tools to enhance and support multimedia creation using Macromedia Flash.

Press Release Here

Convert (encode) or play any Multimedia file…For free

Actually I haven’t tried it yet, but this tool looks very useful and the best of all is that it is free. Another advantage, is that it provides support for FLV and SWF files.

Here´s the list of the supported conversion (encoding) formats:

- drag & drop any VIDEO file and EXTRACT the AUDIO part by converting it to
mp2, mp3, ac3, aac , amr_nb or amr_wb format. (the last 3 are playable on Nokia)
- convert any type of video < --> to your favorite PocketPC or Mobile phone 3gp/3g2 format (or vice versa).
- convert any type of video < --> to fit your PSP or iPod in H.264/AVC or MPEG-4 format (or vice versa).
- convert any type of video < --> to a NERO burning compatible VCD or SVCD (or vice versa).
- convert any type of video < --> to a TMPGEnc DVD Author compatible DVD (or vice versa).
- convert any type of video < --> to a MOV format in H.264/AVC, MPEG-4, Xvid, DivX with AAC audio (playable on QuickTime7).
- convert any type of video < --> to a MP4 format in H.264/AVC, MPEG-4, Xvid, DivX with AAC audio (playable on QuickTime7).
- convert Flash containing FLV video to any other format.
- convert RealMedia (.RM, .RMVB, .RA) files to any other format.
- convert QuickTime (.QT) files to any other format.
- convert Windows Media Files (.WMV, .WMA) to any other format.
- convert AviSynth script files (.avs) to any other video format. (Recommended when direct file conversion fails)
- convert DivX / Xvid files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert AVI files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert ASF files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert MOV files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert MP4 files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert MPG files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert OGG files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- convert VOB files to < --> any other video format (or vice versa).
- AutoMode to convert any type of video to VCD, SVCD, DVD.
- Play all of the above!

You may see some other features at the website.

There is a new version of FLV Player, this new version has the ability to play
On2 VP6 encoded FLV, you are also able to zoom 1x/2x and resize the window. Another feature is that from now on you can load a FLV from a webserver or RTMP server.

More Info & Download

The expected Firefox 1.5 is already available in lots of websites for download. However it´s not available yet at Mozilla website, it has not been announced officially.

I reach one of those downloads and I just notice a big change while installing. Most of your old extensions are not supported in this release, at least in the version I have at the moment, which I believe will be the same “officially”. So I advice you to backup all your extensions just for precaution.

One of my main concerns was the stability of this version but no problems at all until now.

Enough talking, here is the link for the download.

Download here from Mozilla. (Might go down however)

Enables users to export content from Final Cut Pro or DVD Studio Pro directly to a SWF or FLV Flash file.

More info & Download.

One year ago:

November 2004: Firefox 1.0 is released.

December 2004: An advert for Firefox is printed in the New York Times.

January 2005: Google hires two Firefox programmers.

February 2005: Microsoft announces that it will launch an update to Internet Explorer.

March 2005: The Mozilla Foundation claims that Firefox has been adopted by large enterprises.

April 2005: Mozilla patches several flaws in Firefox.

May 2005: IBM encourages its employees to use Firefox.

June 2005: Microsoft announces that Windows 2000 users will not get access to IE7.

July 2005: The Mozilla Foundation admits that the next version of Firefox has been delayed again until “after August”.

August 2005: Mozilla announces the creation of a commercial subsidiary, called the Mozilla Corporation.

September 2005: Security firm Symantec releases a report claiming that Mozilla Web browsers are potentially more vulnerable to attack than IE.

October 2005: Mozilla celebrates the 100 millionth download of Firefox.

November 2005: Firefox achieves 10 percent market share, and the first release candidate of Firefox 1.5 is released.

Via Zdnet.

Complete support for ActionScript 3.0!

Visit asunit.org to get the sources and more info.

MDM announced today the Zinc™ v2 Product Suite which will introduce an all new 2.5 release for both Windows and Mac OSX.

This version will have the all new {mdm}Script™ 2.0! which provides a true OOP approach to Scripting your Zinc™ Applications.

This version is expected to be available late October.

MDM Website.

Setup a fully customized administration area for your client to manage his site´s content.

Flinsite.

Deserialize and display all Flash Remoting or AMF traffic in a simple-to-use interface.

More info here.

At 15:00 CET / 09:00 AM EST today, Opera launches its online party, specifically designed for its large community following. As a sign of gratitude for the community’s continuing support, Opera will give away complimentary registration codes for 24 hours.

More info here.

SWiSHpresenter converts Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to Flash.

SWiSHpresenter.

Motif offers a complete range of rich media formats and features to connect you with your audience and bring your ideas to life.

DART Motif 2.0.

Rawfish Software has just released the SUSHI Multiuser Server V2.2, a comprehensive framework for creating and running crossplatform multiuser applications.

The SUSHI Multiuser Server provides a flexible and cost-efficient solution to create and run most diverse multiuser projects, like e.g. chats, games or collaboration tools using Flash MX AS1.0 & AS2.0, Flash Lite and Java (J2SE/J2ME) .

More info here.

Xtivity is a new Macromedia Flash (SWF) authoring program that allows the user to work in a layout-style environment and avoid having to code or debug projects.

Keep reading here.

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

Download Audacity here.