www.macromedia.com/software/director/productinfo/fl2004_faqMacromedia Director MX and Macromedia Flash MX 2004
When will Director MX 2004 be released?
While we do not announce release dates, the team is currently working on the next release of Director.
Can I import Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX 2004 Professional SWF files into Director MX?
You can take advantage of all of the workflow enhancements in these products and then output your SWF to Flash 6 in order to import into Director MX. Director MX does not yet support Flash 7 files.
When will Director MX support Flash 7 files?
Director MX is scheduled to support Flash 7 files in the next release of Director.
I always thought of Director as “Flash Pro.” With the release of Flash MX Professional, do I still need Director?
Director MX complements the Flash MX product line. Director MX is the industrial-strength Macromedia solution for deploying content on CD, DVD, kiosks, and other fixed media. Director MX is designed to create interactive content that integrates a vast array of media types—including long video streams, photo-quality images, audio, animation, 3D models, text, and Flash content. Director MX also has built-in extensibility and accessibility features. Review "Understanding The Power Of Director" for more information.
Flash MX 2004 supports high-performance FLV video and external FLV files. How does that compare with video support in Director MX?
Flash video is based on the H.263 video compression standard. Director MX supports Flash video, as well as various other video formats and codecs: Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealVideo, AVI, and others. Through the Director MX runtime extension mechanism (Xtra plug-ins), various other formats (such as DVD-video) are also supported.
Flash MX 2004 is now “extensible.” Is this the same extensibility provided in Director MX?
Flash MX 2004 supports extensions that automate and enhance Flash authoring and workflow processes. Director offers similar authoring and workflow extension capabilities with its Tool Xtra plug-ins.
Director MX also supports extensions to its runtime player: Asset Xtra plug-ins to add new media types; Transition Xtra plug-ins to add transition effects; and Scripting Xtra plug-ins to add scripting commands and capabilities, by connecting to such devices as joysticks and alternative pointing devices.
Why not merge Director and Flash?
While Director and Flash interoperate very well, the two products offer unique advantages to customers. Director MX is an industrial-strength solution for fixed media, including CD, DVD, and kiosks. Flash MX is the solution for developing highly visual interactive content and applications over the web.
Director MX offers support for a vast array of media types, including multiple long video formats, 3D, extensible authoring and playback, direct control over input and output devices, and many other features. Flash MX provides the ubiquitous and lightweight Macromedia Flash Player that can be deployed anywhere. Both products have multiple strengths and will continue to be offered as complementary products.
