Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe(R) Creative Cloud(TM), a radical new way of providing tools and services* that will change the game for creatives worldwide. A subscription-based offering, Adobe Creative Cloud is a hub for making, sharing and delivering creative work and it is centered around a powerful release of Adobe Creative Suite(R) 6 software, packed with innovation across its industry-defining design, Web, video and digital imaging tools.

Adobe Creative Cloud Highlights

-- Creative Cloud membership provides users with access to download and install every new Adobe CS6 application announced today and two new HTML5 products, Adobe Muse(TM) and Adobe Edge preview.

-- Creative Cloud integrates Adobe's creative tablet applications+, such as Photoshop Touch, into everyday work - seamlessly synchronizing and storing files in the cloud for sharing and access on any device.

-- Creative Cloud members will be able to easily deliver mobile apps to iOS and Android marketplaces and publish, manage and host websites.

-- Adobe Creative Cloud members will have access to application upgrades, including new CS point-product features, before they are launched as part of major CS updates, as well as inventive new products and services as they emerge.

-- Adobe Creative Cloud membership is US$49.99 per month, with an annual contract. A special introductory offer of US$29.99 per month for CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 individual customers is also available.

"The urge to be creative is universal, and harnessing the creative spark -- in everyone from school children to creative pros -- has never been more important," said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer, Adobe. "Wherever and whenever inspiration strikes, Adobe will be there to help capture, refine and publish your ideas."

Creative Suite 6, Innovative HTML5 Tools Anchor Creative Cloud

-- CS6 includes landmark releases of industry icons such as Adobe Photoshop(R) CS6 (see separate release), Adobe InDesign(R) CS6, Adobe Illustrator(R) CS6, Adobe Dreamweaver(R) CS6, Adobe Premiere(R) Pro CS6, Adobe After Effects(R) CS6, Adobe Flash(R) Professional CS6 and more. With Creative Cloud membership, creatives can download and install all of the 14 new Adobe Creative Suite 6 applications.

-- Creative Cloud membership also includes access to Adobe Muse and Adobe Edge preview, new tools for HTML5 design and development that demonstrate Adobe's commitment to the latest Web standards.

Creative Cloud Links Adobe Touch Apps to CS6 Desktop Tools

-- Adobe Creative Cloud integrates Adobe's line of creative touch tools with CS6 desktop applications.

-- Adobe Touch Apps bring professional-level creativity to tablet devices and address multiple areas of the creative process: image editing, ideation, sketching, mood board creation, website and mobile app prototyping, and the presentation of finished work.

-- Photoshop Touch and Adobe Ideas have already proved runaway hits on the iPad and Android tablets. Three additional tools, available on Android today, will be coming to iPad soon: Adobe Collage, Adobe Debut and Adobe Proto.

-- A new desktop app, Adobe Creative Cloud Connection, enables the syncing, sharing and storing of files across mobile devices and desktop.

-- Creative Cloud membership includes up to 20GB of cloud storage, with additional storage purchase options coming soon.

Creative Cloud Publishing Services Streamline Website and App Creation

-- Creative Cloud publishing services will include the ability to easily publish apps, magazines and catalogues to iPad, iPhone and Android devices.

-- Members have immediate access to Adobe Typekit, the Web-based font library that pioneered the use of real fonts on websites, delivering more than 700 typefaces from leading foundries.

-- New Web hosting capabilities, integrated as part of Adobe Creative Cloud membership, allow users to easily create and host high-impact websites. The Integration between Adobe Muse, Typekit and the Web hosting capabilities power a new simplified workflow for delivering high-impact websites.

Members Receive Ongoing Delivery of New Applications, Services and Features

Creative Cloud members will receive ongoing updates to Creative Suite applications as well as other new products and services as they emerge. Coming in the future to Adobe Creative Cloud are:

-- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, the desktop software tool that enables photographic perfection from shoot to finish; the first complete release of Adobe Edge, a ground-breaking HTML5 development tool; and Digital Publishing Suite Single Edition, the technology behind the delivery of digital magazines on iPad.

-- Creative Cloud will also include training, support and community features that drive meaningful connections between creatives worldwide.

Live Streamed Webcast

The launch event for Adobe Creative Cloud and CS6 will be streamed live beginning at 10 a.m. PT, April 23 at www.adobe.com/special/cs6/launch-event.html and will be available there as a continuous rebroadcast from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. PT on April 23. An on-demand version will be available at http://tv.adobe.com beginning April 24.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Creative Suite 6 products and Adobe Creative Cloud are scheduled to be available within 30 days and can be pre-ordered now. Adobe Creative Cloud membership will be available to customers in 36 countries and in multiple languages. Pricing for Creative Cloud membership for individuals is US$49.99 per month based on annual membership and US$74.99 per month for month-to-month membership. A special introductory offer of US$29.99 per month for CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 individual customers is also available. Learn more at www.adobe.com/go/creativecloud .

Adobe continues to offer 14 CS6 point-products as well as Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design & Web Premium (US$1,899), Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design Standard (US$1,299), Adobe Creative Suite 6 Production Premium (US$1,899) and Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master Collection (US$2,599) for purchase. Upgrade pricing is also available to eligible customers. Customers can purchase Creative Suite 6 via Adobe.com and through select retail, resellers and online stores. More information on product pricing is available at www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite.html .

Adobe Touch Apps can be purchased separately from the iTunes App Store+ or Google Play for US$9.99 each. Special offers for Adobe Touch Apps are available for customers who sign up for annual membership of Adobe Creative Cloud. For more details visit www.adobe.com/products/touchapps .

Commentary by Cary Sherburne

This announcement is quite an interesting business model change for Adobe and could be a game-changer.  The company was very clear that it is not abandoning its desktop licensing model for Creative Suite, but the ability for users to access the full range of Adobe publishing solutions, including Creative Suite 6 and Digital Publishing Single Edition, for as little as $50 a month (for a one-year commitment), will be a significant boon, especially for the growing force of freelance designers.  Another huge benefit of using the Creative Cloud is access to updates as they happen without any additional fees, not having to wait a full year for the next release.

Users can download the applications they need and are licensed to used them on two computers, but only one concurrent use.  This also means that users that have a Mac and a PC don’t need to purchase two separate versions of licensed applications. They simply download the version they need to each computer. Creative Cloud also provides a great platform for sharing work, and is designed to be a hub where creatives can come to access everything they need, from creative tools to publishing services to the inspiration that is an important part of every creative professional’s creative process.

In the end, this is likely to offer Adobe significant financial benefits as well, of course.  Over time, a single user subscriber to the Creative Cloud is likely to pay more than they would to license software because many don’t upgrade each year.  Also, the cloud-based pay-as-you-go model is much easier to swallow for smaller users and will likely attract new users.  Two new applications not available with CS6 will also be included, Adobe Muse built for designers to easily lay out and publish web sites without using code; and Adobe Edge that uses HTML5 to create Flash-like capabilities. CS6 will ship with Acrobat 10, the current version, but when Acrobat 11 is released, it will be available through Creative Cloud at no extra cost. Creative Cloud also comes with a significant amount of cloud-based storage. There are also video-related applications available.

Adobe has indicated that not everything will be available Day One, but most of what they talked about will be available by the fall, and, of course, CS6 is there from the beginning.

Creative Cloud is not just for small designers; Adobe also has an enterprise license, and is offering a very affordable education version for qualified users ($29.99/month). Users can also choose to subscribe on a month-to-month basis for $74.99, ideal for users that only need the solutions from time to time.

Creative Cloud will be available within a month, but you can preorder today. You can check out some exciting previews of forthcoming CS6 tools and features by visiting the AdobeCreativeCloud YouTube page and you can also join the live streaming launch event today at 10 AM Pacific.  Adobe will make the launch event available as a replay beginning April 24^th.

It will be interesting to see what the adoption rates are as well as the reactions of Adobe competitors. Stay tuned!