Adobe Systems to Unveil Design Software for Evolving Web SitesAdobe Systems Inc. plans to unveil the latest version of its flagship Web-publishing software Tuesday.
The new software, called Creative Suite 4, is intended to make it easier to design Web sites that combine different types of media, such as animation and live video. These features are becoming increasingly important as Web sites evolve from the text-filled pages and static images that dominated the Internet's early days.
Adobe Systems is set to unveil a new version of its flagship Web-publishing software.
"It used to be that video on the Web was enough to make you say 'Wow,' " says Johnny Loiacono, senior vice president of the Adobe business unit responsible for the software. "But now it takes richer and richer experiences to keep our attention."
Creative Suite 4 is made up of 13 individual software products, including the San Jose, Calif., company's Photoshop for photo editing, Dreamweaver for Web-site design, and InDesign for desktop publishing. The new software runs 20% to 50% faster than its predecessor, says Mr. Loiacono. The different products are also more integrated with one another so a designer can now work with a video made with Adobe's Flash technology while using InDesign, a task that previously required separate software.
The new software will cost $1,699 to $2,499.
Businesses are increasingly buying or developing visually compelling software that employees or customers can access over the Web, says Jeffrey Hammond, an analyst at Forrester Research. As the line between Web design and software development blurs, Adobe faces increased competition from technology giants like Microsoft Corp., whose Silverlight video software competes with Flash.
Adobe last week reported profit of $191.6 million on revenue of $887.3 million for its third quarter ended Aug. 29. The creative solutions group, which includes Creative Suite, accounted for $493.6 million, or 56% of the quarterly revenue.
By: Ben Worthen
Wall Street Journal; September 23, 2008
