There are several Flash applications every designer should know how to use. These are my top 5:
Cu3er
Cu3er is a 3D slideshow app, you can change it's parameters with an XML file http://www.progressivered.com/cu3er/
Price: Free
Megazine
Many students ask me how to create the "page flip effect", knowing the amount of work it requires I usually suggest them to try out megazine, you can change it's parameters with an XML file http://megazine.mightypirates.de/
Price: Free
sIFR
This one is mostly aimed to web developers, whenever you need an specific font on a web page you can use this javascript/swf font substitution tool. It requires a little bit of Javascript knowledge though. http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2004/08/sifr
Price: Free
Zoomify
Zoomify Express is a free application for creating image viewers that allows dragging and zooming. By the way if you have Photoshop it already comes installed at File > Export > Zoomify...http://www.zoomify.com/express.htm
Price: Free
JW Player
JW Player is the most popular video player to embed in a web page, is very skinnable as well http://www.longtailvideo.com/players/jw-flv-player/
Price: Free
