You can create Flash content and applications using nothing but open source tools, libraries and servers.

To get started, take a look at OSFlash.

Currently I can develop a great app using all free software. However, if I want to create the same app in a world where Flash player has taken over from the browser as user agent of choice… it’s going to cost me £500 to even get started. :(

In addition to the obvious “showcase their technology” and “push the player”… I think the BIG reason (that I don’t see mentioned much above) is that there’s an evolution for Adobe to “software as a service” (SaaS). In some ways I feel this is in direct competition with their tools customers–but they often also include opportunities for us to leverage their technology. Frankly, they also sometimes create tools only available to themselves that effectively make for an unfair playing field. (See screensharing for the most obvious example.) I’m not saying “wah, it’s not fair!”… but just that Adobe is going to have a tricky time being everything to everyone if that means there are conflicts. (See global arms sales for an example of that.) Seriously, I doubt that the driving factor for any of these apps is anything more than to make money or to lay the groundwork to make money later. Sure, the fact that it showcases the technology and makes people upgrade is nice, but that’s the gravy (or frosting).

I hope not :) (ie not saying that as a “Microsoft hopes not”) as if you were to acquire a Web07 (heh) Application like Buzzword and it’s main focus was to help drive adoption and that’s it? then Adobe probably will need to think about other investments that can support this habbit (keep in mind $3bn doesn’t go as far as one would think).

I’d argue that Buzzword would be better suited towards complementing existing software solutions. In that LiveCycle Buzzword would have an interesting amount of synergy should Adobe explore this further. Kuler compliments the creative suite (it’s got a plus for stimulating upgrade adoption paths but that’d be more bonus round surely).

I don’t have the inside drop, suffice to say I’d worry if the latest round of acquisitions were simply “seeding buys”, as that’d have to weigh them down in terms of assets / roadmap ahead.

(Note: this is a personal opinion and not of my respective employer Microsoft).

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Scott Barnes

@Keith: Keep preachin’, brother. One day we’ll save the poor uneducated masses from the evil clutches of the Global Flash Conspiracy! :)

I did read some blog entry that pointed to Buzzword without explaining what it was. All I got when I got to the website was the “your browser isn’t supported” message, which always sucks.

If rapid adoption really was a major goal, Adobe’s money would be much better spent in convincing sites like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, et al to upgrade their users (which most do already). Like it or not, the traffic of those sites will continue to dwarf that of any RIA Adobe (or anyone else) builds for the foreseeable future.

I think the main purpose of most of these apps is simply to showcase the capabilities of the Flash Platform and spark interest. In the case of Premiere and Photoshop its also a case of giving people a taste of what those tools do so that when they outgrow the online versions they’ll be more likely to buy the desktop versions.

This new Javascript engine has been released as open source and the Mozilla team has decided to adopt it. This is really something I like to see. Innovation, using standards and making open source technology when it is beneficial to all parties.

Adobe should be commended.