Why is FreeHand not part of Studio 8? What do productivity tools Contribute 3 and FlashPaper 2 add? What about Flex? Why has the product name changed from Studio MX 2004? What are the new video features in Studio 8? How about the role of Flash Player 8? These, and sundry other questions on every imaginable aspect of the new Studio 8 release, are addressed here by four executives at Macromedia speaking exclusively to MX Developer's Journal.

Since the introduction of Macromedia Studio in 2001, websites and applications have grown continuously in sophistication and importance, from communicating corporate brands to delivering mission-critical data and transactions. Technical, communication, and marketing requirements for websites are now coupled with support for industry standards and best practices. Studio continues its strong market adoption because it provides best-in-class tools for creative professionals to focus more effectively on great design and development.

'Dreamweaver 8 not only delivers tools and workflow improvements that help make users more efficient, it also supports the web's best practices and is more closely integrated with the Studio 8 family and the latest technologies,' said David Mendels, general manager, Macromedia, as Macromedia unveiled today Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, the latest release of its professional web design and development tool.

'The biggest software release in the history of Macromedia,' namely Studio 8 - launched yesterday live on SYS-CON.TV - is the topic of a very special August issue of MX Developer's Journal, SYS-CON's world-beating magazine for Macromedia web designers, developers, video professionals, and graphic artists.

Containing workflow enhancements, new products, and feature firsts, Macromedia today announced the Macromedia Studio 8 suite for web designers, developers, video professionals, and graphic artists. Studio 8 enables the design, development, and maintainenance of interactive online experiences. 'Studio 8 is a huge leap forward,' said Stephen Elop, Macromedia's chief executive officer.