11/06/2003, 8:30pm, EST

Thursday, November 6th

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MS acquires Creature House, Expression 3

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MacNN readers note that Creature House's website now includes a Microsoft copyright notice and that the company has temporarily removed all downloads, indicating tha that company and its Mac-compatible Expression 3 drawing application with advanced features for both vector illustration and raster paintingL "Downloading and ordering are temporarily suspended due to a revision of the download process. We expect downloading to resume in mid November 2003." Update: A Microsoft spokeperson submitted a brief statement to MacNN: "Microsoft posted a public notice in September 2003 that was in the final stages of an acquisition of Creature House, a small software company based in Hong Kong. Creature House is a privately held company and the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed."

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130816 11/06, 3:38pm, EST another company

to feed the hungry beast.

What's next, MS graphics design software? Competing with photoshop? Puuleeze.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130821 11/06, 4:07pm, EST Part of Longhorn

I'm sure the buyout is directly linked to this:

Microsoft reportedly readying a ‘Flash-killer’

http://www.graphicsiq.com/news/624-GraphicsIQ%20News%20Stories2.html

-zip

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130825 11/06, 4:18pm, EST Don't think so.

If it will be as 'good' as Frontpage, Macromedia has nothing to worry about ...

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130848 11/06, 6:43pm, EST Don't think so.

But will it be Publisher 'good'?

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130849 11/06, 6:43pm, EST Don't think so.

But will it be Publisher 'good'?

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130853 11/06, 7:29pm, EST Expression + MS? No way!

I can't believe this. Expression is a very unique, creative, and elegant piece of software - it simply doesn't fit into Microsoft's bloatware portfolio. Get your hands on a retail copy of Expression 3 while you can! It's only $150, but it has an amazing set of features. It lets you paint with Painter-like naturalism, but your brushes are based on vectors, with all the advantages you get from vector drawing (precise manipulation, no pixelation on any scale, small file size). It is (or was?) a truly revolutionary program. I don't dare to imagine what it will become in the awkward hands of MS. They will probably rip it apart, fiddle around with the underlying technology and use some of E3's rudimentary Flash features for a new "Make Flash button" option in Frontpage ... I still don't believe it, but true or not, this is definitely bad news. If CreatureHouse really sold their program, I hope they are rolling in money now. They deserve it.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130858 11/06, 8:17pm, EST Yikes!

I was actually considering a purchase. I'm glad I didn't waste my money!

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130870 11/06, 10:14pm, EST Oh Sh*t!

Man, I love Expression, been using it since it first came out under the Fractal Design name. This is just a really ugly development.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130878 11/06, 11:09pm, EST Boom!

And another one bites the dust

posted by MacNN.com Reader

130879 11/06, 11:32pm, EST and just yesterday...

after the rumored buyout of google by microsoft, i wrote them an email saying that, considering the beating they are taking in the public image department, maybe they should stop buying everyone out and work together with promising smaller companies or innovative technologies.

guess that email went into the trash heap the second it arrived.

posted by MacNN.com Reader

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