Photoshop Album Starter Killed: Web Photoshop is the future
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After 6 years of noble service to those who could not afford the amazing Photoshop, Photoshop Album Starter Edition has been axed by Adobe, with the company nudging users to its online image editing suite, (Photoshop.com).
From its release in 2003, Photoshop Album Starter Edition has been the lowest tier of Adobe’s photoshopping hierarchy, being nothing more than an a image editor, with cataloguing software included in the package. The line was discontinued recently, and support for it was withdrawn on June 30th.
There are a few alternatives from this point on for users of PS Album Starter. Firstly, one could upgrade to the amazing CS4 suite, and shell out a few hundred dollars in the process, switch to open source image editing software (Such as paint.net), or use Adobe’s online editing suite.
“As part of our commitment to providing customers with a free photo-editing solution, we have created Photoshop.com, an exciting new online service that lets you upload, organize, edit, store (up to 2GB free), and share your photos,” the note said. Afterward is a list of steps for exporting photos from the software to the Web site.”
Instead of what most people expected a simple interface with basic touchups available though Adobe’s online resources, it seems that Adobe has turned this into a Flickr on steroids. What will be interesting is if Adobe moves more of it’s applications online. Of course, the amount of functions and what functions are offered will be severely limited for these web¬ based applications. But with advantages such as Smartphone access, Easy maintenance, Remote Access, and less problems with software piracy, it’s possible that within a decade, most companies will shift their applications online.
There are still limitations to Adobe’s web based service (Money based limitations, knowing Adobe), but fortunately, the upgrade to a subscription account is relatively cheap, ($37) and allows access to resources such as brush sets, templates, tutorials, and the expansion of storage space to 20GB, 10 times the free account’s size.
External Links:
CNET News (Webware) – Adobe kills low-end Photoshop, urges users online
Official Web Photoshop Website
