FutureSplash Animator is a vector-based animation system from FutureWave Software for Macintosh and Windows. The animation files could be distributed with the FutureSplash Player plugin for runtime playback within a web browser.[1]
History[]
SmartSketch was the predecessor of FutureSplash.
FutureSplash evolved from another project at FutureWave called SmartSketch. FutureWave co-founder Jonathan Gay developed SmartSketch as a graphics application for PenPoint OS, running on graphics tablets designed by GO Corporation. After AT&T Corporation acquired the rights to the EO Personal Communicator tablets only to discontinue it, FutureWave no longer had a viable market for SmartSketch. Gay retooled the application to be able to output animated content that could be played back from any web browser. This product became FutureSplash Animator, which shipped on August 19, 1996. Early adopters included MSN and Disney Online.[1][2][3]
FutureWave pitched the product to Adobe Systems, but an agreement was not reached and Adobe promoted rival specifications to Flash.[4] In January 1997, FutureWave was acquired by Macromedia for an undisclosed sum.[5][6] FutureSplash Animator became Macromedia Flash. Gay would go on to become the Chief Technology Officer of Macromedia in 2004.[7] Adobe would end up acquiring Macromedia in December 2005 for $3.4 billion, mainly for Flash.[4][8]
Video[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 FutureWave Software Ships FutureSplash Animator — Vector-based Animation and Drawing for the Web, FutureWave Software. 1996-08-19. Archived 1996-11-05.
- ↑ Showcase: The History of Flash, p.3 by Jonathan Gay, Macromedia. Archived 2006-01-14.
- ↑ Showcase: The History of Flash, p.4 by Jonathan Gay, Macromedia. Archived 2006-01-14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Flash Wars: Adobe in the History and Future of Flash by Prince McLean, AppleInsider. 2008-05-05.
- ↑ Macromedia Rides the FutureWave by Kristi Coale, Wired. 1997-01-06.
- ↑ Macromedia buys Futurewave to add Flash to Shockwave, Computer Business Review. 1997-01-08.
- ↑ Executive Bios, Macromedia. Archived 2004-06-04.
- ↑ Adobe Completes Acquisition of Macromedia, Adobe Systems. 2005-12-05. Archived 2005-12-07.
External links[]
- About FutureSplash Animator at FutureWave Software (archived 1996-11-95)
- FutureSplash Player 1.1 (archived 1996-11-05)
- FutureSplash Animator at IT History Society
- FutureSplash Animator at the Web Design Museum
- FutureSplash Animator at the Adobe Wiki
Articles[]
- Grandmasters of Flash: An Interview with the Creators of Flash by Aaron Simpson at Cold Hard Flash (2008-02-12, archived 2008-05-03)
- Showcase: History of Flash by Jonathan Gay at Adobe (archived 2006-05-25)
|
This article is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
| Macromedia Flash |
|---|
| FutureSplash Animator · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · MX · MX 2004 (Pro) · 8 (Pro 8) |
| Adobe Flash: CS3 · CS4 · CS5 · CS6 · CC | ActionScript: 1 · 2 | Adobe Animate |
| FlashCast | Flash Lite: 1 · 2 | Flash Media Server: MX (1.5) · 2 | Flash Player: 1 | 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 | Flex Builder | SWF |