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September 3, 2008 5:39 AM PDT

Adobe sets date for CS4 launch

by Mike Ricciuti

Adobe on Tuesday said it will launch an update to its flagship Creative Suite software bundle on September 23.

The company has offered few details of the planned CS4 release. The current iteration of the suite, CS3, is offered in several configurations that include various combinations of the company's core applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Acrobat and InDesign.

Just ahead of the CS3 launch last March, Adobe made available a public beta test version of Photoshop CS3. For CS4, the company in May posted "preview versions" of its Dreamweaver Web design software, Fireworks image editing application, and Soundbooth audio editing tools.

In Photoshop CS3, which debuted last year, Adobe added rudimentary 3D editing and manipulation tools.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

As for Photoshop CS4, Adobe has said publicly that it will make available a 64-bit version of the photo-editing software, but only for Windows and not for Mac OS X.

CS3 is currently offered in four configurations: Master Collection, which includes virtually the entire Adobe design software lineup; Design Premium, which includes Photoshop and other tools for designers working in print, Web and mobile applications; Web Premium, targeted at Web site designers; and Production Premium, geared toward people designing film, Web and mobile content.

Mike Ricciuti joined CNET in 1996. He is now CNET News' Boston-based executive editor and east coast bureau chief, serving as department editor for business technology and software covered by CNET News, Reviews, and Download.com. E-mail Mike.
Topics:

Desktop software

Tags:

CS4,

Adobe,

Photoshop,

Flash

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (16 Comments)
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by Mr. Dee September 3, 2008 7:27 AM PDT
Mac users must be steaming mad right about now.
Reply to this comment
by darthstupid September 3, 2008 9:57 AM PDT
Not really. Very few people will see a great benefit from 64bit Photoshop. Most people are working with MUCH smaller images. Only those involved in the print trade or scientific imaging will really be affected. Of course there are fringe users too. In reality it will be the same as it is currently (as there is no current 64bit Photoshop).
by fordesign September 22, 2008 5:48 PM PDT
Mac Users have been steamed for a long time.......Version Cue is a disaster install, most suggest NEVER installing it at all. It is a continual search of fix sites to keep the CS3 suite working and not blowing up 12 times a day. I have 8GIGs of RAM which would seem like enough. The is more money in the future of PC's..so apple is kissing off the long loyal MAC base.
by fireQuartz September 3, 2008 8:08 AM PDT
Adobe is not releasing CS4 on Sept 23. The Sept 23 event is an online broadcast detailing what CS4 will offer. No date has yet been set for the CS4 release .. just FYI ...
Reply to this comment
by mbenedict September 3, 2008 8:43 AM PDT
This post should be pulled. Sept 23 is the date they will *announce* CS4, not release it.
Reply to this comment
by contentcreator--2008 September 3, 2008 9:46 AM PDT
"Mac users must be steaming mad right about now." ---- not nearly as mad as developers, after Apple did an about-face and forced major re-writes to be able to be able to offer 64-bit versions. Surprising for a company now several years behind in 64-bit ecology.
Reply to this comment
by stuccosalt September 3, 2008 10:04 AM PDT
THANK YOU fireQuartz and mbenedict -- i have a purchase order prepared for several upgrades to CS3, someone brought this article to me saying we might as well wait for 4's release.. i was stunned that 4 would be available so quickly.
Wouldn't have been disastrous, but glad to know i'm not sitting in the purchase for no reason..
Reply to this comment
by stuccosalt September 3, 2008 10:04 AM PDT
THANK YOU fireQuartz and mbenedict -- i have a purchase order prepared for several upgrades to CS3, someone brought this article to me saying we might as well wait for 4's release.. i was stunned that 4 would be available so quickly.
Wouldn't have been disastrous, but glad to know i'm not sitting in the purchase for no reason..
Reply to this comment
by Perry_Clease September 3, 2008 10:05 AM PDT
"by ContentCreator September 3, 2008 9:46 AM PDT
"Mac users must be steaming mad right about now." ---- not nearly as mad as developers, after Apple did an about-face and forced major re-writes to be able to be able to offer 64-bit versions. Surprising for a company now several years behind in 64-bit ecology."

Excuse the long URL, but http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/09/03/road_to_mac_os_x_snow_leopard_64_bits_santa_rosa_and_the_great_pc_swindle.html
Reply to this comment
by pilgrim49 September 3, 2008 2:07 PM PDT
Thanks for supplying some facts in the face of attitude.
by stuccosalt September 3, 2008 10:05 AM PDT
THANK YOU fireQuartz and mbenedict -- i have a purchase order prepared for several upgrades to CS3, someone brought this article to me saying we might as well wait for 4's release.. i was stunned that 4 would be available so quickly.
Wouldn't have been disastrous, but glad to know i'm not sitting in the purchase for no reason..
Reply to this comment
by JIMDAMAN September 25, 2008 11:44 AM PDT
Unfortunately, i wasn't as smart as you. I had a 30 day trail version of CS3 which expires tomorrow, and when i tried to buy it (CS3) the download program defaulted to the pre-order page. I went ahead and preordered CS4 foolishly assuming that Adobe would extend or activate CS3. I called them and not that is not hapening. This means that I have an expired trial version of CS3 that I can't use and now I have to wait until they get their act together and issue CS4. Dumb, dumb, dumb! (on my part, as well as theirs).
by TranceMist September 3, 2008 10:35 AM PDT
Thank you.

You just saved me from buying now lame duck software.
Reply to this comment
by contentcreator--2008 September 3, 2008 7:39 PM PDT
To "Perry_Clease" --- that's just fanboy propaganda (wow, 32-bit systems only access 4GB. Hold the presses!). Actually its 100% backwards. It's the Apple users wasting their money on 6-16 GB when there are near-zero 64-bit OS X apps. Uptake of 64-bit windows is quite good in the pro market with 6-16GB machines common. Kudos to Apple for a good job pricing their 8-core machines (thanks!), I believe a fair number of the 64-bit machines I'm selling Win64 licenses for are actually Mac Pros; Win64 is the only way to take full advantage of those machines. --- po'd developer.
Reply to this comment
by JimTurney September 5, 2008 11:34 AM PDT
I'm looking for information based on the past upgrade policies of Adobe. Assuming Adobe announces a release date for CS4 on Sept 23, is it likely that any purchase of a CS3 app after Sept 23 will get a free upgrade to CS4? How about purchase of an upgrade to CS3 after Sept 23? Will that likely get a free upgrade to CS4? Thanks
Reply to this comment
by ftwain September 26, 2008 1:11 PM PDT
For more info about Adobe's unprecedented release, visit:

http://www.atelier-us.com/consumers-and-ecommerce/article/adobe-creative-suite-4-release-brings-unprecedented-efficiency-via-a-unified-application-interface
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