Normally this would be a cause for some concern, but if the analysts
did a better job (a little more work than just replaying the press
release) of analyzing the info they might have said:
It looks like Adobe is bowing out of the video editing arena for a
while, but not giving up on Apple support. Why?
A significant upgrade to After Effects was just released
A major upgrade to Photoshop for OS-X is almost ready for release.
However, Premiere for the Mac is being pulled because it is not
competitive on this platform. Many users will tell you that at $600,
Premiere is vastly over priced for what it delivers. It is not high end
enough to compete with Avid, Media 100, Final Cut Pro or really even
the lower priced Apple's Final Cut Express. There have been no
significant new features added to the program since the 4.5 release,
the 5.x versions added support for larger files and for digital video,
the 6.x release allowed it to run under OS-X. While many editors may
started out using Premiere to learn the trade, they have since moved on
to other systems that offered more or better implemented features. This
leaves Adobe to compete with the free iMovie from Apple. At $600 per
copy, it is quite easy to see why the plug is being pulled on the
project.
Now if Apple drops the price of Shake from $5000 to say $2500 or less,
then After Effects will be in trouble, but I don't see that happening
anytime soon, and the stalwart PhotoShop does not have any serious
competition in sight either.
On the windoze side, Premiere will not be making a lot of headway,
because there is already a slew of low priced video editors available
already, including one that is fully supported by M$. Adobe looks to be
in the position of trying to make a few bucks off of their name, but
serious editors that are looking for low priced systems will be looking
to either move to Macintoshes or stay with their current set-up. So in
the end, it does look like it is the end of Premiere. In some ways,
this is good because Adobe will hopefully use their resources to focus
on developing better applications for both platforms but it is still
bothersome that there will soon be one less program to use as a
competitive wedge to force all developers to do better.
Jerry
On Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at 09:13 AM, B. Eric Bradley wrote:
> I don't use Premiere myself, but I am concerned that this (coupled
> with M$ pulling the plug on IE for Mac) smacks of the beginning of a
> trend.
>
> This from the AP wire:
>
> Adobe Discontinues Mac Program
>
> Jul 8, 8:17 AM (ET)
> By MAY WONG
>
> SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Apple Computer Inc. differs vastly in many
> ways from longtime rival Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) But recently, it has
> found itself accused of similarly elbowing out software developers
> whose products compete with Apple's growing stable of applications.
>
> In the latest case of an outside developer abandoning the Macintosh
> platform, Adobe Systems Inc. announced Monday that the newest overhaul
> of its flagship video editing program Premiere would no longer work on
> Macs.
>
> Adobe said the program would only be compatible with Microsoft Corp.'s
> Windows XP operating system.
>
> Adobe's new Encore DVD-creation program, due to ship in the summer,
> will not have a Macintosh version either. Both programs will be part
> of a Windows-only software package called Adobe Video Collection.
>
> Intentionally or not, "Apple is pursuing a strategy that locks out
> their third-party software vendors," said Avi Greengart, an analyst
> with Jupiter Research.
>
> Apple and Adobe have long shared a customer base of "creative
> professionals" - Adobe's release last year of Photoshop for the Mac OS
> X operating system, for instance, helped boost sales for both
> companies. But the Cupertino-based computer company has been
> introducing more and more of its own software in recent years, some of
> which competes with Adobe's.
>
> "If Apple does it, there's no room for a third-party developer," said
> David Trescot, senior director of Adobe's digital video group. "Why do
> it when the (operating system) provider could give it away for free?"
>
> In the video-editing arena, Apple offers Final Cut Express and Final
> Cut Pro. It has also, in the past three years, introduced
> consumer-friendly digital media applications such as iMovie and iDVD,
> including them for free on most Apple computers.
>
> Analysts say companies like Apple that offer the operating system, the
> hardware and the software have the advantage of making their products
> work seamlessly together and bundling them so they are free or cheaper
> than if sold alone.
>
> Outside software vendors have voiced similar complaints about
> Microsoft in the past, saying Microsoft's access to its operating
> systems' underlying code gave it an inside track on making its own
> add-on products run more smoothly than others.
>
> With Apple, Microsoft now finds itself on the receiving end.
>
> Two weeks ago, Microsoft said it would stop making its Internet
> Explorer Web browser for Macs, citing Apple's recent introduction of
> its own browser called Safari.
>
> The Apple browser has already gained attention for speed and features
> that many techies consider superior to the Microsoft browser.
>
> "Apple has access to functionality in the (operating system) that
> Microsoft doesn't," Jessica Sommers, product manager for the software
> company's Macintosh Business Unit, said at the time. "They can do
> things because they're developing on their own (operating system) that
> we as a third-party programmer can't do."
>
> For its part, Apple is pushing hard to make its computers the hub of a
> digital lifestyle, introducing innovating software as well as
> electronics such as the iPod portable music player and the iSight
> digital Web camera.
>
> Apple officials issued a statement on Adobe's product announcement
> Monday but would not comment further: "Adobe and Apple continue to
> have a great relationship, as evidenced by Adobe's recent support of
> the new Power Mac G5 with Photoshop performance that is twice as fast
> as before."
>
> In an earlier interview, Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of
> worldwide product marketing, said Apple branches out with products
> when it perceives a competitive hole.
>
> "When we find a need, and we have the ability to fill it, and it fits
> into what we're doing, we'll do it," he said.
>
> There are third-party software products, however, that Apple considers
> "very important" to its customers, he said, citing the Macintosh
> versions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.
>
> Adobe's latest defection did not surprise analysts.
>
> Making a piece of software compatible with multiple platforms takes
> time, effort - and money. Add to that the slow economy and Apple's
> desktop market share of 3 percent to 5 percent, and companies are less
> willing to make the investment of building for the Macintosh if they
> expect a low profit return, said Paul Ritter, analyst with industry
> research firm Yankee Group.
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