Scott over at ActionScript.com writes about a petition for Flash by Linux users.

This is an old issue, a lot of people have been wanting Flash on Linux for a long while, and Macromedia has been claiming that the development of Flash for Linux just isn't worth the investment. While they support Linux as a server platform, they claim that there is really not a desktop market on Linux. I have always argued that its a catch 22, as long as companies such as Macromedia refuse to publish their products on the platform, you won't see a lot of users moving over to Linux as their desktop platform.

I have been using Linux and Windows for a good while now, and would switch in a second if my main tools were available on Linux - one of them are Flash MX, another is Dreamweaver MX. If Macromedia and other such companies started moving applications over to Linux, they would find a huge user-base. But I guess they don't want the money, or rely on people like me that give in an use Windows so that we can use their software.

For now, what we as wanting-to-be-linux-users-of-Macromedia-software should do, is to let them know what is going on. While I don't support the notion of spamming Macromedia people, there exists a number of ways to make yourself be heard:

• The Linux Flash Petition
• Use the wish-list form at Macromedia to let them know they should really support Linux

BTW: I would love to know when the Flash MX player will be made available for Linux. The fact that it is still not available is disappointing.

Fellow Flashmagazine'er Jens Christian has taken the time between having a nice (rainy) norwegian vacation and writing books to write about what he calls the Video Wars. He boldly states that victory is in the numbers, and that when it comes to the video player wars on the net, Flash MX will be the winner.

Interesting to see the comments coming in from other Flashers, John Dowdell writes:

I suspect we'll see people use Flash video in new ways, rather than just head-to-head in the old ways

Dave Burrows:

the big three (Apple, Microsoft and Real) have been battling it out for a while now with no clear winner but MX video support could put a cat among the pigeons. I've got all the plug-ins on my machine and I think that's the way it's going to stay....

Scott Manning (ActionScript.com) (hmm, interesting - the article was removed from ActionScript.com) writes:

Flashmagazine has recently written a more in-depth article that says Flash MX and Squeeze will eliminate the need for QuickTime, Real, and Windows Media. With no mention of Flix, they give the advantage to Sorenson.

Personally I have to admit that what kind of players I use very often are dictated by the content I want to watch (and which format it is delivered in) and to which degree I trust the companies that provide them. Real are among the players that will never ever be updated again on my machine. (Can you guess why). To me it seems like whoever gets to deliver the most content will "win".

PowerConverter will let you publish your Powerpoint presentations to Flash. If nothing else, it will make your PowerPoints smaller in file size and more accessible on the web.

I would rather have used another tool for making interactive presentation - such as Flash MX, especially since they are charging US $299 for this PowerPoint "plug-in".

[Via John Dowdell] (blogger has broken their permalinks - and its been broken for a while now)

Mike Chambers have done a commendable job updating everyone of us that couldn't go to the FlashForward conference in NYC this summer (and documenting the great speeches and sessions for everyone that was lucky enough to be able to attend too), he put up a section of his blog for the blogging - and managed to post the following live bloggings during the 3 day conference (the first day was workshops/sessions)

Day 1:
(Workshops)

• Branden Hall : Session 1 of 3
• Branden Hall : Session 2 of 3
• Branden Hall : Session 3 of 3
• Video with Flash MX : A Users Guide : Session 1 of 3
• Video with Flash MX : A users Guide : Session 2 of 3

Day 2:
(Day "1")

• Macromedia Keynote
• Dynamic Drawing with Flash MX : Robert Penner
• Flash Remoting with Flash MX and ColdFusion MX : Christian Cantrell

Day 3:
(The last day)

• Rich Application Development with Flash Remoting : Mike Chambers
• Wearable Technology : Wireless Fashion : Phillip Torrone
• Star Wars in Flash : Developing for the Playstation 2 : Fred Sharples

Great job Mike! I don't think I would have done so good at blogging in the dark and with everything going on. And thanks to whoever was responsible for getting a Wi-Fi hotspot set up at FlashForward!

BTW: I am still wondering where the next FlashForward will be held, anyone have any information for me? Will there be a FlashForward conference in Europe, if so - when and where?

Macromedia published a press release today saying they have signed a technology development and distribution agreement with America Online (AOL).

Macromedia Flash Player will continue to be distributed with AOL software and will feature enhanced functionality that will enable AOL members to enjoy a more robust content experience.

Its a short press release that has sparked some speculation at SwfNews -- notably from someone within Macromedia ;-)

The part of the press release that has been emphasized is "improve the quality and user experience of many of our AOL client products" --

Which is interesting, I especially like the speculations of Matt Rice

If AOL integrates Flash into their instant messaging and core AOL client technologies, I think you would see renewed interest in what AOL has to offer. What about streaming instant messaging, where else would you be able to do that ?

[Via SwfNews]