In the wake of Apple’s Mac OS X launch, Macromedia Inc. Monday unveiled the
latest version of its software kit for graphic designers, which boasts
compatibility with the much-ballyhooed new operating system.
Macromedia’s FreeHand 10 features new tools, productivity enhancements,
tight integration with Macromedia Flash 5, the Macromedia User Interface,
and the ability to publish to both print and the Web. FreeHand 10 will be
launched on Macintosh and Windows platforms, including Mac OS X.
FreeHand 10 was created to help graphic artists whip up illustrations, print
projects and Web site storyboards. FreeHand 10 offers increased productivity
through a symbol library for better asset management and the ability to
select print areas from large projects. The product also features the
customizable Macromedia user interface that is now standard across its Web
authoring product line.
Macromedia is also banking on the notion that Web designers will enjoy the
bundling of FreeHand 10 and Macromedia Flash. The retooled user interface
also includes some common Macromedia Flash features such as a Macromedia
Flash Navigation Panel for applying links or actions.
Macromedia FreeHand 10 is expected to ship in May for $399.
Clent Richardson, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations,
noted that the Mac OS 10 was created with two- and three-dimensional
capabilities with the product offerings of such companies as Macromedia,
Adobe and Corel in mind.
“We are thrilled with Macromedia’s release of FreeHand 10, and look forward
to seeing more of Macromedia’s outstanding graphics and Web building
solutions on Mac OS X,” Richardson said.
Macromedia could use a nice buzz with the Freehand 10 launch, and making it
available for the Mac OS 10 should certainly help. In initiating coverage on
Macromedia and chief rival Adobe, investment firm Dain Rauscher Wessels said
Adobe is better positioned to weather the economic storm than Macromedia
because it has a deep bench of non-Web legacy products.
“We expect the contribution from legacy print products, such as Acrobat,
Illustrator and PageMaker to mitigate the impact of the dot-com shakeout and
declining Web publishing expenditures,” the investment firm said, noting
that Adobe will also benefit from revenues incurred from a
higher-than-expected upgrade rate for recent and future releases.
Such is not the case, Dain Rauscher Wessels said, for Macromedia. The
company said Macromedia has seen light upgrades and said overall demand for
software packages and curbs in IT spending will slow the software maker’s
growth over the next few quarters.
Adobe’s stock has more than doubled up Macromedia’s
, trading at $34.77 to its rival’s $15 price tag Monday.
