Macromedia on Thursday will announce Macromedia Central, a new product that allows the company’s Flash software to operate outside of a Web browser, reports c|net. “Macromedia Central will create an environment where Flash applications can run independent of the browser. Along with providing the client software — a free addition to the free Flash player — Macromedia plans to sell a wealth of downloadable Flash applications created by third-party developers. Macromedia will take 20 percent of any software sales, with the rest going to developers. Sample applications include a shopping program developed in conjunction with PriceGrabber.com. The Flash application lets online shoppers save and organize information on products they’re interested in for viewing later.” Tools for developers will be available next month, but consumers won’t be able to download the software until this summer.
