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Adobe Opens Shop on Web-based Photoshop Express


Adobe Opens Shop on Web-based Photoshop Expres
Posted by Martin LaMonica
March 26, 2008 9:01 PM PDT
CNET News
<http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9903446-7.html?tag=nefd.pop>


Adobe Systems opened up Photoshop Express on Thursday, its
long-anticipated Web-based image editor aimed at the millions of consumers
that want a simple way to touch up, share, and store photos.

Photoshop Express, available for free with 2 gigabytes of storage at


<http://www.photoshop.com/express>


is a significant departure from Adobe's desktop
software business and a big bet that it can make money offering Web
services directly to consumers.

The application, which needs Flash Player 9 to run, pushes the limits of
browser-based applications and will likely ratchet up the competition on
the dozens of free and online photo-editing products available now (see
our full review of Photoshop Express and gallery of screen shots of the
application).

News of an online version of Photoshop first came to light last year when
Adobe's then-CEO Bruce Chizen told CNET News.com that the product would be
available within six months.

Since then, Adobe has expanded the scope of the project, one reason why
the product launch has taken longer than expected, according to
executives. Rather than only an image editor, Photoshop Express also has
ties to social networking sites like Facebook and other image-sharing
sites.

Also, Adobe needed to build the back-end infrastructure needed to offer
the service directly to consumers, rather than partner with another
photo-sharing site, as it did with its online video editor, Premiere
Express.

"We've seen a convergence of trends where the everyday consumer is
becoming overwhelmed with the number of images and they have the desire to
share images in new and interesting ways," said Doug Mack, the vice
president of consumer and hosted solutions at Adobe.

"We're at the point now with bandwidth that most consumers can use really
rich Internet applications and also have a relationship with a service
where they store and upload images," he said.

The service will go live in beta test mode on Thursday. Mack said that the
company intends to use the test period as a way garner feedback from
customers.



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