Adobe Buys Macromedia...Flash will be ADOBE PRODUCT

[dcsos]

Did any one hear?..ADOBE announced its gonna take over MACROMEDIA today...
Will this affect FLASH?
This looks like a bad development (Software aggregation)
Like Adobe isn't going to become MICROSOFT, jr?

[waheed]

Well, this means Adobe faces a cut down on competition, which may result in higher prices for the software.

[dcsos]

Couldn't find any confirming links of the process yet but got this quote from ADOBE's press release 4/18
"Customers are calling for integrated software solutions that enable them to create, manage and deliver a wide range of compelling content and applications -- from documents and images to audio and video," said Bruce Chizen, chief executive officer of Adobe. "By combining our powerful development, authoring and collaboration software -- along with the complementary functionality of PDF and Flash -- Adobe has the opportunity to bring this vision to life with an industry-defining technology platform."

[BJ_M]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153750,00.html

SAN JOSE, California — Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE), one of the world's largest providers of document-design software, will acquire Macromedia Inc. (MACR) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.4 billion, the companies announced Monday.

Adobe's software includes the popular Acrobat and Photoshop (search) program. San Francisco-based Macromedia makes the Dreamweaver (search) and Flash web-design software.

Combining the two businesses, the companies said, will allow them to create more powerful software programs that can be used across multiple operating systems, which should pave the way for expansion into new markets.

Under terms of the deal, approved by the companies' boards of directors, Macromedia stockholders will receive 0.69 shares of Adobe common stock for every share of their Macromedia common stock. That will result in Macromedia stockholders owning about 18 percent of the combined company when the deal closes.

The transaction, contingent upon the approval of both companies' stockholders, is expected to be complete by the fall. It also requires the approval of federal regulators.

"Customers are calling for integrated software solutions that enable them to create, manage and deliver a wide range of compelling content and applications — from documents and images to audio and video," said Bruce Chizen (search), chief executive officer of Adobe.

Chizen will remain as chief executive of the combined company and Adobe's Shantanu Narayenb will continue as president and chief operating officer. Macromedia CEO Stephen Elop will join Adobe as president of worldwide field operations.

The companies said they are in the midst of developing "integration plans" that will build on their similarities. They made no mention of layoffs.

Adobe employs 3,700 people in offices around the world. It reported revenues of $1.295 billion for fiscal 2003.

"While we anticipate the integration team will identify opportunities for cost savings by the time the acquisition closes, the primary motivation for the two companies' joining is to continue to expand and grow our business into new markets," Chizen said.

[Ron Cahill]

Man, Adobe buying Macromedia is really breaking news.
They've been two of my favourite software companies since 1992. And now they'll be as one? It boggles the mind.

[jbcandkc]

I found this commentary; thought it was interesting...

http://daringfireball.net/2005/04/adobe_translation

jbcandkc

[roma_turok]

Realy BAD news.
Its no good, when big companies terminate competition by buying other companies.

[lordsmurf]

Good move by Adobe. Continue buying out smaller companies to create that large media software catalog, with many of them integrated.

Just be sure not to make another bomb like Encore, and we'll all be happy.

[ViRaL1]

Anyone remember Aldus? :P

[rkgibbons]

I wouldn't exactly call Encore a bomb.

Use it everyday, and love it.

Very powerful software.

[aanaravs]

Just be sure not to make another bomb like Encore, and we'll all be happy.

Encore is pretty damn good! Its got a few bugs, but its a great choice.

[Zisguy1]

I've hated Adobe since they abandoned Win2k users awhile back. At least this might mean no more intrusive Flash ads for non-XP users...

[Skynet107]

This is bad for consumers. Adobe does not understand Internet technologies, I fear they will destroy Flash and Dreamweaver in the long run.

As for Encore, total piece of garbage! How can Adobe make such a great product like After Effects and lay a turd like Encore is beyond me.

[dcsos]

Things to look foward to:
PDF's with Flash inside
(animated book like )*

Things to look out for:
Death of macromediaFIREWORKS and/or adobeGO LIVE

*as long as they don't bloat ACCROBAT

[aanaravs]

As for Encore, total piece of garbage! How can Adobe make such a great product like After Effects and lay a turd like Encore is beyond me.

Don't know where you are getting that from. But from my experience, there isn't a single product that can beat or even come close to Encore's integration with After Effects, Premiere Pro and/or Photoshop. WIth the new FCP video suite out, maybe Apple will have a similar product in the mac world.

PS: Sorry, didn't mean to go off topic.

[dcsos]

You are working with ENCORE 2.0,
he's stuck with 1.0

the bugs are enormous in the 1.0 release!
But to the point
DIRECTOR also looks to have outlived its function
as it s stagnated completely since DVD's ascent
Comment?

[kabanero]

May be on a good side of this bad news Adobe will eliminate Macromedia's SafeCast DRM technology:

Flash in the Plan - a DRM Disaster: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/flash1.html

[tonydead]

Yes, I just baught Adobe stock and it's up $5 a share..........perfect timming!

[Nilfennasion]

Macromedia's license agreement requires users to[...]and further absolves Macromedia of any liability for damages caused by any errors in their software, including the SafeCast DRM.

This, my friends, is the main reason why software falls flat on the market so often. Can you imagine retailers in the auto industry asking you to sign a waiver in case the brakes don't work? Or a builder asking you to sign a waiver in case someone gets electrocuted by improperly-installed cabling? Yet this kind of modus operandi is accepted as the norm in software.

I give it weeks, even days, before ways around the SafeCast are found.