Adobe to bring Photoshop online
updated 01:20 pm EST, Thu March 1, 2007
Photoshop on the web
Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen said Tuesday that the company intends to release a Web hosted version of its Photoshop image editing application within six months. Chizen said Adobe broke ground for a hosted Photoshop product with Adobe Remix -- a Web-based video editing tool that the company offers through the PhotoBucket media sharing site, according to News.com. Adobe apparently intends the new Web-based Photoshop variant to compete with Google's Picasa application, and the online photoshop service is part of a larger movement to introduce ad-supported online services that complement the company's existing products, broadening its reach into the consumer market. Like Adobe Remix, the new online photoshop service will be available for free as an entry-level version.
"That is new [for Adobe]. It's something we are sensitive to because we are watching folks like Google do it in different categories, and we want to make sure that we are there before they are, in areas of our franchises," said Chizen, who described the introduction of Adobe Remix as well as the forthcoming hosted photoshop as part of a larger initiative toward integrated hosting services.
a way to defeat piracy?
03/01, 02:04pm reply
I would think Adobe loves the idea of migrating to web-based apps... it would certainly go a long way toward defeating piracy if the user was required to interface with your servers in order to use the app.
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
re: a way to defeat...
03/01, 03:15pm reply
I think you hit the nail on the head. What's the advantage of using a web-hosted application for the consumer? All you get is transaction delays, a worse UI, and offering your data to potential security breaches.
Photoshop is not a network based app - it's not a calendar or address book - why would anyone want to use this?
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
re: why would anyone use
03/01, 03:58pm reply
Because it's free or cheap... most consumers don't want to spend the $$$ for PhotoShop, yet they want the functionality every once in a while.
The current response to this is to "borrow" a copy from somewhere.
The online service is an attempt to reduce this tendency, and makes some money from advertisers in the process.
lockhartt
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2000
it may be simple
03/01, 04:00pm reply
I teach photoshop at a local community college, and the average person in that class is working off a pirated copy at home, and not using all the features. h***, they find Photoshop elements daunting.
The target for this is our parents or grand parents with the 3 megapixel sonjitsulympak camera who wants to do some simple masking or add some cool water color effects.
Anyone working in RAW format would never even consider this service.
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
And there is also GIMP
03/01, 04:25pm reply
I have been pleasantly surprised by the open source stuff available too like Gimp which is a junior PhotoShop. Inkscape which is a junior Illustrator. Scribus which is a junior InDesign. Granted they are a few versions back from Adobe's best but free is good.
kirktalon
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2002
Adobe is the Best
03/01, 04:34pm reply
Don't get me wrong. Adobe is the leader and the king. The stuff integrates superbly and I recently saw a demo of Photoshop CS3 and there is no comparison but if you are on a budget and you don't want to be a pirate, open source is the way to go.
kirktalon
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2002
Web based subscription
03/02, 08:28am reply
I would suggest everyone get used to the idea of subscription based software. It is a great way to reduce piracy.
While a fully web based platform might not be realistic, how about one that required you to purchase time or validate online for the program to run?
This all spells big bucks for Adobe, and they aren't going to back off the concept. I'm not sure I would either if in their shoes.
burger
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2000