Macromedia

It's possible that you've never really heard of Macromedia, but you might be using their products every day.

Macromedia makes 2 end-user products, one called Flash and the other Shockwave. These are plug-ins, that work with your internet browser to view multi-media rich content on various web sites. They are both very popular, but I think Flash is really a great product. I can remember back when it was called something else, Splash maybe? Anyway, it was some little software company that originally invented it, and then Macromedia took it to a whole new level.

If you a graphics designer, or a web site designer, you might be using some of Macromedia's other development products. I've never used them for what I do, but they have a lot of high end products.

Today, Adobe just announced their intentions to buy Macromedia. If the stockholders and the government approve of the deal, then Adobe will have Acrobat and Flash, as well as a whole slew of high-end graphic design products.

I think this is an important merger. I usually don't agree with these kinds of things, but in this case, I don't think it's about either company saving money. I think it's about product synergy and technological growth.