The relationship between Macromedia and Microsoft can be said to be a standard "cooperative competition". On the one hand, Microsoft bundles the Flash5 player of Macromedia in the WindowsXP operating system. In addition, Macromedia's Flash player is also a third-party software in SP2, which means that Windows users are upgraded from Flash5 to Flash6 after upgrading to SP2.
On the other hand, Microsoft did not select Flash7 for bundling, because Flash7 requires the cooperation of Macromedia's FLEX platform. The combination of Flash7 and Flex enhances the performance of the computer image while speeding up the operation of the Internet program, while Microsoft plans to achieve this in Longhorn.
Burton's analyst O'Kelly said: "Microsoft does not want to bundle Flash7."
Microsoft said that they choose Flash6, rather than Flash7, mainly for technical and security considerations.
Regardless of Microsoft's motivation, SP2 users will encounter ActiveX issues when running web pages that require Flash7 support.
Macromedia said that Flash7 currently has quite high, they expect 66% of Internet users in the United States, and 81% of Internet users in Europe have also installed Flash7 players.
Other software vendors have expressed concern about the SP2 ecological environment.
Parisi's MediaMachines said: "It will cause a plugin conflict."
Temkin, chief technology company of Laszlo system, said: "The real uncertain is still SP2, the real uncertain is longhorn. Does Microsoft accept any version of Flash? Do they not warn users don't do not download these players? In Longhorn Before you launch, our strategy is to let your software to the .NET client. "
