World Wide Web pages are currently limited to text and static graphics. Small sound and video files must be downloaded and played with shareware. With the Macromedia/Netscape agreement, millions of Netscape Navigator users will now be able to experience multimedia in a Web page and the dynamic effect of multimedia documents. Because the Director multimedia playback engine will be integrated into Netscape Navigator, it is completely transparent to the user. As the bandwidth of the Internet continues to expand with such breakthroughs as cable modems, complete multimedia titles created with Director will be seamlessly delivered over the Internet, making it an outlet for mainstream multimedia title distribution.
Over 200,000 Macromedia developers can immediately create multimedia art for the World Wide Web using their Windows or Macintosh computers and Director software. This vast pool of creative talent will jump-start multimedia on the Internet.
"Netscape's goal is to make the Internet as open and dynamic an environment as possible," said Marc Andreessen, founder and vice president of technology for Netscape Communications. "By working with Macromedia's Director player, we are greatly expanding the capabilities for communicating over the Internet by providing users with richer media and more compelling means of expression. We chose to partner with Macromedia because of its leadership position as well as Directors market acceptance as a standard tool for creating multimedia."
Macromedia's Director player engine, which enables the playback of Director-authored titles on various platforms, will be integrated into a future version of Netscape Navigator. The technology will allow multimedia files authored on Macintosh or Windows computers to play back on the Internet.
Macromedia's Director player is the leading cross-platform multimedia playback software, providing portability for personal computers (Windows, Macintosh, OS/2 Warp), the Internet, and emerging interactive television networks (OS/9 DAVID, Online Media, Apple set-top box). The player technology enables developers to Author Once, Play Anywhere, meaning they have the benefit of authoring titles on their development platform of choice, whether Macintosh or Windows, and then being able to deliver the titles on the most popular platforms in the industry.
"Netscape has been a driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the Internet," said Bud Colligan, president and CEO of Macromedia. "Together, Netscape and Macromedia will bring the most innovative communication medium - multimedia - to the fastest growing communication channel, the Internet. The integration will further enhance the Internet's consumer appeal and accelerate its expanding role."
"This agreement will offer a wealth of new experiences to the Internet end user, create opportunities for innovative marketing to organizations promoting themselves over the World Wide Web and an additional channel for creative expression and sales to multimedia developers," said multimedia developer Ron Jones, director of Paradigm Interactive, a new media division of Image Technologies. "This new capability will give Paradigm Interactive a new method for content delivery, allowing us to reach new markets such as advertising and education."
The two companies will collaborate on various research and development projects as well as marketing programs aimed at enhancing the Internet experience. Netscape's founder, Jim Clark, is a keynote speaker and the company is a Platinum sponsor at the 1995 Macromedia International User Conference. About Netscape Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software to enable people and companies to exchange information and conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks. The company was founded in April 1994 by Dr. James H. Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc., a Fortune 500 computer systems company; and Marc Andreessen, creator of the NCSA Mosaic research prototype for the Internet. Privately held, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
About Macromedia Macromedia Inc., the leader in multimedia and digital arts software tools, offers a full range of products for the Windows and Macintosh platforms. The company's flagship products include: Macromedia FreeHand?, the most powerful tool for design and illustration; Macromedia Director, the industry-standard animation and authoring tool for multimedia production; Authorware, the most powerful multiplatform authoring environment for interactive information; MacroModel, a powerful 3D modeling tool for multimedia, graphics and product design; SoundEdit 16, the easy-to-use digital sound recording and editing solution; Fontographer, the industry-standard typeface editing program; and Action!, the most popular multimedia presentation application. For more information on Macromedia products, please call 800-288-4797, 415-252-2000, or fax 415-626-1502. You can also reach Macromedia on-line: America On-Line: Keyword: MACROMEDIA, Compuserve: GO MACROMEDIA, Internet: macropr@macromedia.com or on the World Wide Web site: http://www.macromedia.com.
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