CNET Builder.com Live!, New Orleans -Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACR) today announced a new version of the Macromedia Flash Player 5 that includes comprehensive integration with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 browser software. The new player, which is now available, enables enterprise and intranet developers to precisely configure and control Macromedia Flash elements on a Web page through custom Extensible Markup Language (XML) tags. "Developers have been creating rich user interfaces with Macromedia Flash," said Tom Hale, senior vice president of product marketing for Macromedia. "The integration between Macromedia Flash Player 5 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 makes it easier to control Macromedia Flash user interface and application elements with standards that developers already use." This integration enables developers to control Macromedia Flash movies easily, and design pages and applications that have rich Macromedia Flash interfaces that can be dynamically controlled by the browser. The browser has direct access to the ActionScript Object Model in the Macromedia Flash Player 5 through HTML, XML, JavaScript, as well as the Document Object Model in Internet Explorer 5.5. The document engine within Internet Explorer 5.5 enables developers to place the Macromedia Flash content inline with other individual elements on the Web page such as images and text, rather than having to define a specific area in which the Macromedia Flash content can only be played. "Macromedia provides a rich example of how third parties can extend the Internet Explorer 5.5 platform," said Michael Wallent, Product Unit Manager for Windows Explorer at Microsoft. "The Macromedia Flash Player is already installed with Internet Explorer 5.5, so our entire installed base can benefit from the amazing options they are providing to Macromedia Flash developers."