Microsoft takes on Adobe with Expression Studio

Angus Kidman
Tuesday, 05 December 2006 03:04

Your IT - Home IT

Microsoft has firmed up plans for new professional design software tools for release in 2007, pitching itself in a head-to-head battle with long-time segment leader Adobe.

Expression Studio, the company's new suite, will include four components: Expression Web for building sites, Expression Blend for building Windows-based "interactive experiences", Expression Design for creating individual graphical elements, and Expression Media, a digital assets management package. Expression Web has already shipped, while the full Studio package is scheduled for release in mid-2007 for $US599.

Simultaneously, Microsoft also released a beta version of its Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E), which is designed to allow Windows Media-based content to display on a wider range of browsers and platforms.

In recent years, Microsoft has shown itself increasingly willing to compete with independent software companies, even though the continued success of its Windows platform depends on maintaining the goodwill of a large community of outside developers. Most recently, it has moved into the security market via its OneCare package and alienated its Windows Media format music-player partners through the development of the Zune.

One major difficulty for the new suite is that it is only being released for Windows users (despite the plans for WPF/E). The graphic design community remains heavily loyal to the Macintosh, something reflected in Adobe's relatively late move to Windows with its key tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator.