With Flash MX now shipping from Macromedia, the video compression/streaming software specialists at Sorenson Media will soon be offering new versions of Squeeze — for Macromedia Flash MX and QuickTime.
Sorenson Squeeze is a compression tool that accesses the advanced features in Sorenson Spark Pro to produce professional-quality video for progressive downloads and CD delivery. A version for Macromedia Flash MX is now available for Windows, and the Mac version is coming soon. Flash MX enables the development of rich Internet content and applications. Macromedia and Sorenson Media worked together to integrate video into Macromedia Flash MX and Macromedia Flash Player 6, according to Ed McGarr, Sorenson’s VP of sales and marketing.
Sorenson Squeeze for Macromedia Flash MX is an optional video compression application for Flash MX that includes a new video codec called Sorenson Spark Professional (Pro). Squeeze with Spark Pro provides Macromedia Flash MX developers with enhanced video compression capabilities for higher quality and smaller file size, McGarr said. Squeeze for Macromedia Flash MX lets users compress their video offline while continuing to create Macromedia Flash movies. The standard edition of Sorenson Spark is included as part of Macromedia Flash MX.
Sorenson Spark lets designers and developers to deliver compressed video as part of Macromedia Flash content and applications. By bringing video support within Macromedia Flash, developers can create entirely new types of interactive video applications while maintaining a higher level of control over the user experience, providing “seamless integration” of video-based content within Web sites, according to Ed McGarr
Sorenson Squeeze provides the ability to store, manage, and deliver compressed video content over the Web. This is done through integration with Sorenson Vcast, a live and on-demand video Webcasting service.
Sorenson Squeeze for Macromedia Flash MX (which includes Sorenson Spark Pro) is available now for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. It’s due early next quarter for Mac OS 9.2 and Mac OS X. The suggested retail price is US$299.
Meanwhile, Sorenson Squeeze for QuickTime on Windows has been released. Squeeze now includes the Sorenson Video 3.1 Professional codec and Vcast integration.
Sorenson Squeeze’s main interface easily enables producers to create compressed video for several applications and target data rates by utilizing intelligent presets. Squeeze automatically selects the compression parameters to create the highest-quality video with the smallest possible file size. Squeeze for QuickTime also offers many of the advanced features that professional producers have been demanding, according to Jim Sorenson Jr., CEO of Sorenson Media.
With Squeeze for QuickTime, it’s possible to reduce digital media to a fraction of its original size without sacrificing quality, he said. This allows for more media on local and portable storage devices, and reduces the cost of delivering media across the Internet.
The Mac version is promised, again, early next quarter. The suggested retail price is $299.
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