As we go to print, we are finally seeing the realization of what must have been the worst kept secret beta in history: "Blackstone." As a matter of fact, at the New Orleans conference in November, Macromedia finally threw in the towel and gave everyone a beta copy of it.

The beta was in remarkably final form and as of February 7 it is officially released as ColdFusion MX 7. All I can say is that it is an outstanding upgrade.

We will be devoting a significant number of pages in MXDJ to this latest release over the next few months. However, not to steal too much thunder from the two great articles in this issue, timed to coincide with the official launch - one by CF guru Ben Forta and the other by Collin Tobin and Dean Harmon - CFMX 7 has vastly expanded form and report capabilities. As a matter of fact, the form feature uses Flash components. The report-writing feature is on a par, in my opinion, with Crystal Reports. It even adds a number of extensions to Dreamweaver.

As with the present edition of ColdFusion, you can download a single-user copy from the Macromedia Web site. Please make it a point to follow this month's ColdFusion articles in this journal, and in the months to come: I strongly feel that it is going to become an even more integral part of an MX designer's life.

While it isn't new, Flash Video is also going to be a factor in our development careers. Beginning in this issue, you will see more tips and techniques for Flash Video, as well as a great Q & A with Macromedia's Chris Hock.

As developers, we cannot look at these changes as individual events. Instead, we must look at a much larger picture. We can't any longer look at each of the MX products as an entity unto itself, but as evolving to a unified whole.

Let me paint just one possible scenario. Let's assume you want to develop an e-learning program. You would certainly start with Captivate. From there, you would export into Flash where you would add animations, and so on. Of course, you might want to introduce your topics, or explain concepts, using a combination of Flash Videos and various text effects (there are several examples of this on the Macromedia site). You might want to use Breeze as a delivery platform. It may also be necessary to have the e-learning simulation interact with data - which may occur through ColdFusion.

Get the picture? We must think in terms of the whole.

Last month, I alluded to changes in the website for this journal. In this editorial, I can give you a few more details.

It is my hope, by late Spring or early Summer, to have many of our articles interactive in our Web site. As an example, rather than just reading about Flash Video by Tom Green, we will have a live example on the Web site. Further, using Captivate, we will set up practice simulations to help you get some practical experience. In addition, we will be employing Flash Video to bring you conferences and discussions.

It's my goal to make the Web site a laboratory to implement MX products to their maximum. I am encouraging our many fine authors and editors to push the envelope even more than they have already. I want this to be more than just words on a page, I want it to be a living and organic experience for you, the reader.

It's my goal to help you walk away with as many new ideas each month as possible.

A time for change? In our profession isn't it always a time for change?