Adobe Creative Cloud

Much has been said about Adobe moving its business to the Cloud...with complaints on every side including folks in sales.  I'm not one to complain, but I wanted to make sure this post covered, why the Cloud, and what you can do to take advantage of it.

So why Creative Cloud for teams?  One of the biggest plagues that businesses go through is refreshing their software.  With Adobe refreshing every year, most folks were content to update their software every 3-4 years instead of being on top of new features...not that businesses were lazy...Adobe's setup just made it expensive.  Now, with the Cloud model where you pay monthly (through adobe) or yearly (at a large discount from people like me), you can be up to date with the newest Adobe software.  The Creative Cloud for teams model actually works to your advantage in that:

1. You have the most up to date software.


2. Your team can collaborate & share files through the Adobe site


3. The publishing services included help publish webistes and digital apps


4. The creative cloud files folder online (100gb per user) allows you access from anywhere.


5. Easily track usage and transfer seats while getting the Expert support from Adobe.

Right now there's a special deal to get you and your company into the Adobe Creative Cloud.  Normally $70 a month ($840/year), until August 31 you can pick up a year subscription for $479.  Not bad right?  You can see more details here.   Let me know if you have questions!

Acrobat XI is here!

Happy Monday to you all!  Just a short note, Adobe has released their newest version of Acrobat and it's available now.

Some notes on the features and why you should upgrade:

1) Adobe only supports Acrobat 9, X and XI now  (so no needs to update patch)

2) New Enhanced Protected Mode

3) More Drawing & Annotation tools (STICKY NOTES!  who doesn't love sticky notes?)

4) Full Microsoft integration across their Office tool and IE

5) and also a "Touch Mode" to obviously work with Windows 8 and other touch OSes.

From what I've seen, it looks a bit more streamlined, a little less annoying, and a cleaner product.

To order, of course give us a call or email.  You can see the retail pricing here on our site, but ask me nicely when you buy from me and you'll get a discount. :)

Standard: Full version / Upgrade License / Retail Box

 

Adobe Code Signing Hacked!

(This was brought to me by my teammate, Joshua Fisher...)

Right up here on the Adobe Secure Software Engineering Team Blog is the statement you need to read.  While the folks at Adobe were able to identify and remove the malicious code, it remains that it has been in their system since Early July.

Adobe has asked, and I concur, that if you've experienced anything odd on your systems, to contact their support page.  (Me, I would go around and start making sure your av & anti malware software are running.  I've had several mysterious Trojans appear on my work desktop, and they've been taken out by Symantec.  Malwarebytes always is a good tool to have on every computer too. :) )

Have a great day!

You'll Shoot Your Adobe CS6 Out!

If you're a client of mine, or potential client, or someone who's heard me muttering to myself while waiting for the bus every day, you've heard about Adobe announcing CS6 coming in a few weeks.  While they have us under an NDA for the actual release date, we can tell you that it's coming up quickly.

Most important here is that they want to transition all of their clients to CS6 when it releases.  This will aid in file compatibility, and communication between those using Adobe products.  Not to mention make things easier on Adobe when it comes to having CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.5 and CS6 users to support...less of the older users to support, the less the strain on their resources.

So, the thing to consider right now is something that Adobe hasn't talked about in the past...the free upgrade.  How do you get it?  Well it's simple...just update your copy of CS from CS2,CS3, CS4, or CS5 to CS5.5 before the release date, and you'll get CS6 as a free upgrade when it releases.  Yup, Free.  In order to help our clients get these upgrades done quickly, we've got the upgrades priced to move...so you've got to contact your reps here to help you.  Don't have a rep?  Hit the contact button and you'll come direct to me, and I'll help you. :)

There is not much time left.  DO NOT WAIT.  Remember, those on your team who use Photoshop, can't live without it. ;)

I hope we hear from all of you on Monday. :)  Have a great weekend!

Upgrading Adobe software just became a major PAIN...

I don't believe in beating around the bush on this...because as a former IT person it bugs the heck out of me.

If you haven't heard by now, as of the release of CS6, Adobe is changing how you can upgrade to it.  If you do not have CS5.0 or CS5.5, you cannot upgrade to 6.  Yup...that means it's only for 1 version back!  For many of you, I know you're not on 5 or 5.5...and that's going to present a cost saving issue for when you have to upgrade.
So, if you've been considering an upgrade...now is the time to do so before the end of 2011.  If you upgrade to 5.5 and do Adobe's maintenance contract, you'll be covered for the release of CS6, and CS7.  (Since they're now releasing new versions yearly.)  Don't believe me?  Check out Adobe's blog page that talks about it.  They're serious.

I would suggest giving your rep here at PC Mall a call right now and talking about this upgrade.  With the special 20% off discount on Adobe upgrades right now through the end of 2011, it's a good time to get square and upgraded before you're going to have to pay TWICE that amount to get current.

Food for thought...mmm I'm thinking pie. :)