This evening, Flash Player 10 went live on Adobe.com. With it comes a new definition of what Rich Internet Applications will look like on the web.

Flash Player 10 introduces creative expression features like 3D Effects, Pixel Bender filters and effects, enhanced drawing API, a new text engine, new sound APIs and color management. While each feature is impressive on its own, it is really the combination of the features with each other and with the existing capabilities in Flash Player that show the range of the Flash platform.

When we add new functionality to Flash Player, we add it in two ways. First, we want to make features easy to use, so people at different levels of technical or design expertise can make use of them. The next step though is to also provide low-level APIs that allow developers the flexibility to create their own functionality. We’ve done this in numerous ways throughout the player.

A good example is 3D where you can use simple ActionScript APIs, Flash CS4 Professional 3D transformation tools, or build a sophisticated 3D library on top of the the new drawing API drawTriangles. No matter what level you come to Flash Player from, you can make great experiences and applications.

On a personal note, I joined the Flash Player team almost two years ago, when we were in the early phases of planning Flash Player 10. In going through the requests from the community, the technology we had access to from Adobe, and the great ideas from the Flash Player team, I was blown away by what an amazing release this would be. Throughout the process as we met with customers in large and small groups, as we sneaked features at conferences and finally unveiled the player in May in public beta, I saw with delight the growing positive reaction that our hard work was worthwhile and that this will be the best release of player to date.

I’ve joked with my co-workers that as much as I’ve loved working on Flash, this Flash Player makes me want to go back out in to the community and get back to making games, advertisements, and wacky UIs. While I’m keeping my day job, I hope you enjoy Flash Player 10 as much I have, and I look forward to seeing what you create!