Flash video toolkit

Macromedia is making it easier for Dreamweaver users to implement Flash video in their projects with a new video toolkit. The kit, which is a Dreamweaver extension and requires Flash MX 2004 Professional to be installed (but not necessarily used), allows site designers to drop Flash Video (FLV) files into their projects using a simple dialog box. Macromedia also has added a standalone encoder for creating Flash formatted video from other sources. The company worked with Sorenson to offer Sorenson Squeeze Lite, a stripped down version of one of my favorite compression tools. Everyone who buys Flash MX 2004 Professional from now (actually this past Tuesday) going forward, will get the kit for free. Those who already have Flash installed will can pony up $49 to get it.

Also as part of the announcement, Macromedia and VitalStream will offer Flash Video Streaming Service Lite, a streaming service targeted at the occasional video developer. And, to help users unfamiliar with Flash video, Macromedia’s created an “A to Z Bible” on the technology.

“Studio customer base did not have good understanding of video capabilities of Flash,” says Chris Hock, director of product marketing at Macromedia. “Our primer will provide all the information, in one place, to bring people up to speed on all the options they have for Flash video.”

Find out everything you wanted to know about Flash video here.

[8/20/04 Update: The folks at Macromedia tell me you get the video kit free when you buy or upgrade to Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional and register it online by September 30.]