Adobe takes the shackles off Creative Suite 5.5

by Steven Mostyn - Apr 11 2011, 14:25

Software giant Adobe has today unveiled Creative Suite 5.5, the latest version of its design and development software geared towards delivering “essential innovation” across tools such as Flash, HTML5, video, mobile apps, and digital publishing. Oh, and it also includes support for tablet platforms.

In terms of improvements and additions, version 5.5 offers Web site developers access to creative streamlining through the inclusion of multi-stream previewing (for visual assessment related to numerous hardware platforms), along with the ability to quickly work past common issues like screen size demands and readability.

Other aspects include HTML5 support for JQuery and PhoneGap mobile frameworks, the release of Photoshop Touch SDK, developer APIs for app interaction with Photoshop, and the introduction of handheld-camera smoothing via After Effects 5.5’s new Warp Stabilizer.

“Creative Suite 5.5 will drive the development of new digital experiences across devices, including all major smartphones and tablets,” announced Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe Systems.

“As publishers, media companies, advertisers and enterprises transform the way they develop and distribute their content, Adobe will be there to support them with technology innovations in content creation, management, measurement and distribution,” he added.

According to Adobe, version 5.5 is also the first Creative Suite product to arrive as part of the company’s elongated 24-month milestone release cycle. That being said, any extra waiting should be offset by more frequent mid-cycle releases (i.e., version 5.5 arrives only a year after the launch of Creative Suite 5.0).

In a move to increase the overall accessibility and appeal of Creative Suite, Adobe has launched a new monthly subscription-based pricing plan, which offers the likes of Photoshop from as little as $35 USD (as opposed to a purchase price of $699 USD).

Similarly, Design Premium will be available for a monthly price of $95 USD (as opposed to $1,799 USD), while Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection will be priced at $129 USD per month (rather than a whopping $2,599 USD).

The Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 product line is expected to arrive in May.

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