Adobe Flash is a professional multimedia creation program that makes applications for the Web, desktop computers and mobile devices. It is used to make interactive games, websites, videos, animations and standalone applications. The software can be purchased alone or as part of a suite like Creative Suite 5: Web Premium.

The suite also includes Dreamweaver, Photoshop CS5 Extended, Illustrator CS5, Fireworks and four other programs related to website production.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatisflash/ Adobe Flash Professional CS5 is the current version of the program and costs $699.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatisflash/ Creative Suite 5: Web Premium can be purchased for $1,799.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatisflash/ Both products can be purchased on the official Adobe website.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatisflash/

Flash was originally owned and created by the software company Macromedia.http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/invrelations/adobeandmacromedia.html Its original release date was 1996 under the name Macromedia Flash.http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pdfs/fastfacts.pdf However, Adobe Systems Incorporated bought Macromedia and their assets on April 18, 2005.http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/invrelations/adobeandmacromedia.html After the purchase, Adobe continued to advance the interactive authoring tools within the Flash software. They also added support for the creation of applications that can run on smartphones.

Adobe Flash Professional CS5 has updated the ActionScript editor with code completion and code hints.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/ It has the ability to save and load code snippets as well.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/ This version has a wider selection of choices when formatting text such as columns and bi-directional text.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/ Flash has direct video integration and allows the user to view video in real time along with other components.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/ Recently, Adobe has added the ability to export a Flash application in a format that can be used on the Apple iPhone.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatsnew/

When it comes to animation features, the program has added more physics tools.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatsnew/ Some of these are damping, strength and bones.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatsnew/ The bones system features inverse kinematics.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatsnew/ Also, Adobe Flash Professional CS5 offers the user the ability to use prebuilt motion effects, as well as create his own with the Motion Editor.http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/whatsnew/