Macromedia launched “Macromedia ” with these words:
“Macromedia MAX 2005 – Anaheim, CA – October 17, 2005 – Macromedia, Inc. today announced Macromedia Labs, a new site on macromedia.com for developers to download early versions of Macromedia technologies, share feedback and insight, and help shape the direction of new products and technologies. Beginning today on Macromedia Labs, developers can download the public alphas of Macromedia Flash Player 8.5 and Macromedia Flex Builder 2, part of the Macromedia Flex 2 product line announced earlier this month. The Flex 2 product line and Flash Player 8.5 are the foundation for building effective rich Internet applications that blend the responsiveness of desktop software, the cross-platform reach of the web, and the breathtaking expressiveness of the Flash Platform.”
Actually on Macromedia Labs we can find info and download about Flex 2 Alpha, Flash Player 8.5 Alpha, and Actionscript 3 Alpha. It’s the first time that Macromedia reveal its future software and features this way, and I think that’s very useful for developers, because in this way the can read and try new features/languages and so migrate to them step by step!
http://labs.macromedia.com