Adobe launches Creative Suite 5.5 and offers desktop subscriptions for apps

Software release schedule shortened to exploit proliferation of mobile devices and rise in use of rich media content

Adobe today launched version 5.5 of its flagship digital media package Creative Suite, cutting the normal release cycle of 18-24 months by six months.

Adobe also announced desktop subscriptions for the point products in Creative Suite, including graphics package Photoshop and content management system (CMS) InDesign.

The subscriptions software will be available by electronic download only, but there will be no cloud offering of the applications, and the offer will not extend to education or the public sector, Adobe said.

Adobe said that the subscription model means users will be able to get the latest version of the software and stay current.

"It will allow firms to predict budget spends better, and it will be easier to allow for peaks and troughs in firms' yearly media output," the company said.

Adobe said it has upgraded Creative Suite six months earlier than expected because of the large number of mobile devices handling rich media being launched.

"Earlier in the year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, there were 100 media tablets announced," said Adobe business development manager for design Rupert Knowles.

Knowles added: "Harry Potter publishers Bloomsbury are on course to get 25 per cent of their revenue from e-books rather than traditional book publishing."

There will be five Creative Suite 5.5 packages: Design Premium, Design Standard, Master Collection, Production Premium, and Web Premium.

The flagship product Creative Suite (CS) 5.5 Master Collection will combine the following point applications: Photoshop CS5 Extended, Illustrator CS5, InDesign CS5.5, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Catalyst CS5.5, Flash Professional CS5.5, Flash Builder 4.5 Premium, Dreamweaver CS5.5, Fireworks CS5, Contribute CS5, Premiere Pro CS5.5, After Effects CS5.5, Audition CS5.5, OnLocation CS5, and Encore CS5.

Additional components bundled in CS5.5 will be Bridge CS5, Device Central CS5.5, Dynamic Link, Media Encoder CS5.5, and the whole suite would integrate with Adobe CS Live online services.