Adobe launches Creative Suite 5 blockbuster

Adobe has just released the fifth version of the famous Creative Suite (CS) software package that includes professional applications for professional video editing, printing and Web design.

Adobe CS5 includes new versions of 14 related products and applications, plus 4 new online services and a new interactive Web design product.

Since 2003, when Adobe began packaging all Web and print tools into an application package called CS, the company regularly upgraded the toolkit based on community input. Compared to previous CS packages, the direction of CS5 is a little different, focusing on online services and Web analytics. This is the first time CS5 gives users access to Omniture technology - a collection of Web utilities that help capture, store, and analyze information from websites and other sources.

CS5 has 3 separate versions of Flash : Flash Professional, Flash Builder (formerly known as Flex Builder), and Flash Catalyst - completely new interactive design application. CS5 has an additional 250 new features, which not only help overcome hardware changes so that they run faster and more efficiently, but also address performance issues.

Many new improvements

Most of the applications in CS5 are technologically upgraded to keep up with improvements in other Apple hardware. Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects have supported 64-bit to optimize memory support capacity in new Mac hardware. Premiere Pro is better optimized for Intel multi-core chips on Mac. Photoshop OpenGL engine has also been upgraded to run faster and respond better to user requirements.

As Adobe announced last year, CS5 only runs on Macs using Intel chips, and runs on the latest operating systems like 10.5.7 (Leopard) or Snow Leopard (10.6). In addition to 64-bit support, Adobe also includes the Premiere Pro Mercury Playback Engine for top-notch video editing applications.

Mercury Playback Engine accelerates video processing and rendering, enabling editors to work on large and complex video projects. The core of this improvement is the acceleration of GPU and the use of all processing cores. Previously, applications used only CPU power, and now the Mercury Playback Engine allows direct access to Nvidia graphics cards to speed up processing.

Increase online interaction

The products in CS5 come with Adobe's new CS Live feature, which includes five online services, providing professional processing capabilities for designers. CS Live includes: Adobe BrowserLab, Adobe CS Review, Acrobat.com, Adobe Story, and SiteCatalyst NetAverages.

Adobe CS Review allows reviewing online designs within CS5 applications; while Adobe BrowserLab allows website content testing on many different browsers and operating systems. NetAverages provides Web usage data on browsers, operating systems and other environments to assist designers in creating Web and mobile devices. Adobe Story is a collaborative scripting tool that improves work efficiency and testing in the CS5 Production Premium video package. Acrobat.com helps improve the process of discussing and exchanging information between designers.

In this upgraded version, Adobe has equipped users with up to 3 flash versions. For those who are not familiar with the code, Flash Catalyst CS5 is the best choice. With CS5 Flash Catalyst, Adobe wants to shorten the gap between designers and programmers. Unlike Flash Professional, Catalyst users don't need to know about ActionScript. Meanwhile, Flash Builder (formerly called Flex Builder) is for the coding world, script writing and database experts.

Too many versions and prices

Adobe CS5 has 4 versions and plus the Master Collection collection. All editions include Illustrator, Bridge, and Device Central, and most of them are built-in with CS Live online service.

* Design Standard - for print design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat 9. The retail purchase price of this version is 1,299 USD; if the upgrade is 499 USD.

* Design Premium - print and online design, including Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat 9 Pro, Flash Catalyst, Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks. This version has a retail price of 1,899 USD; The upgrade is 599 USD.

* Web Premium - for Web design, including applications similar to the Design Premium version (not including InDesign). The price of this version is 1,799 USD; The upgrade version costs 599 USD.

* Production Premium - for video editing, including Premiere Pro, After Effects, Soundbooth, onLocation, and Encore; Plus Photoshop CS5 Extended, Illustrator, Flash Catalyst, and Flash Professional. The price of this version is USD 1,699; The upgrade version costs 599 USD.

* Master Collection includes all applications in CS5 (except Photoshop Standard). The price of this version is the highest among them - 2,599 USD; The upgrade version costs 899 USD.

Adobe CS5 is expected to be issued within the next 30 days.