UPDATE: In comments below, see post by Mark of AuthorwarExtras.co.uk clarifying Authorware’s status as being just “End Of Development (EOD) which is a lot different to End Of Life (EOL).” Thanks Mark!
I have never worked with Authorware but in my years working with the formerly Macromedia technologies, I have come to know several people who have. I am posting this blog entry as a courtesy to help get the word out on Authorware’s official EOL (End Of Life).
The following FAQ came to my attention today:
Adobe plans to discontinue development of Authorware® software
http://www.adobe.com/products/authorware/productinfo/faq/eod/
Before posting this entry I searched on Authorware at the Adobe XML News Aggregator. The most recent post was August 2006, and that was only the third of the 3 posts in the aggregator for all of 2006. That post, by Adobe’s John Dowdell, was entitled “Adobe guidance” and included a link to an Adobe.com page regarding Adobe solutions for eLearning. At that time there was promised “a release in the second half of 2007.” That wasn’t to be and now the product is at end of life. Yes, Adobe will continue to sell Authorware, but no, there will be no updates (not even for IE7 or Vista).
For anyone who has never heard of Authorware and may be interested in learning more, I offer you the following very nice PDF of an issue of The eLearning Developers’ Journal from September 2003 featuring “An Overview of Authorware 7 — and Its Evolution”:
http://www.elearningguild.com/pdf/2/092203dev-h.pdf
August 3, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I was an Authorware user many years ago working on EDU products. It was obvious at that time that Macromedia didn’t seem convinced the product had a future. Oddly enough, I see the same lack of commitment now with Director. Even though Director 11 is supposed to ship this year, I think this is the last of it as well. With FlexBuilder and AIR, there is little I need Director for. I imagine the gap will further continue to shrink as AIR continues to go and support for Director wanes.
August 5, 2007 at 4:15 am
Actually, Adobe have announced End Of Development (EOD) which is a lot different to End Of Life (EOL). Adobe are still supporting Authorware and are still selling the latest version for those that want to buy it, but have formally acknowledged that they will no longer be developing it.
October 17, 2007 at 2:20 am
AW turned into a Frankenstinian hack of near-epic proportions. Years of neglect by Macromedia didn’t help. It’s really too bad. The developer community turned into a huge turnoff at the time as well…swollen heads, dollar signs in their eyes selling their websites and services to _other developers_… The cannibalism within the community, and the ever-shoddier product…no surprise to see AW finally go. I’m not even surprised that it’s taken this long for Adobe to EOD/L the thing….they, too, probably forgot it still even existed.
November 14, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Nice Site!