A Blue June for Microsoft

Microsoft plans to release the public preview of Windows 8.1 (the code name is "Blue") in June and the 8.1 update is expected to be generally available before the end of the year. I wonder if those who so desperately want the Start Button to return are eagerly awaiting the return of crank starters to today's automobiles. I mean, after all, getting used to turning a key instead of setting the spark, opening the choke, and hand-cranking the engine is just so difficult to comprehend. (Snark definitely intended.)

The preview version will be debuted at Microsoft's annual BUILD developer conference but if you're running Windows 8 currently, Microsoft will apparently make the preview version available to you prior to the developer conference.

Is the Start Button coming back? Strong rumors suggest that it is and I welcome that if for no reason other than it will remove a gigantic distraction. The Start Button is about as useful on a Windows 8 machine (touch screen or not) as certain glands on a wart-hog. Eighteen months ago, I said that Microsoft was making what I thought was a technical mistake by removing the Start Button. Technically, though, that was the right decision.

The mistake was a marketing mistake, though. People simply don't like change and they like change even less if it appears that they are being forced to accept the change. Had the Start Button been available all along, the gigantic controversy wouldn't have erupted. If Microsoft had permitted users of computers that don't have touch screens to boot directly to the Desktop, we wouldn't be arguing about how "difficult" it is to get to the Desktop.

Pressing the Windows Key and "D" is apparently just too difficult a concept for some users. And these users ignore the fact that Windows 8 starts faster, shuts down faster, launches applications faster, provides better security, and provides literally hundreds of large and small improvements over Windows 7.

A month or so ago, my wife's notebook computer died and she asked me to find her a new one. "It'll have that new operating system, won't it?" she asked. It did and this week I asked the question: "So how's Windows 8 working for you?" "It's no big deal," she said. "One click and I'm at the desktop." If only the rest of the world could be this smart.

There are days when I wish that Microsoft had somebody like Steve Jobs on board. Jobs wasn't afraid to make bold decisions and then stick with them. Microsoft, on the other hand, seems to have mastered the technique of making bold decisions that are then followed by by meek exclamations of, "Oh, we were just funnin' ya. We didn't really mean it. Here's your Start Button again." Grow a couple of Apples, Ballmer!

The Schedule

Look for more news about Windows 8 in the next few weeks—probably before the end of May.

Microsoft's Corporate Vice President Julie Larson-Green was recently quoted as almost admitting the Start Button is returning: "The Start menu is not the be all end all. But a button might be useful for some people to have on the screen."

Looking forward instead of backward, Windows 8.1 will probably improve the Start Screen. Currently tiles come in two sizes, stupidly enormous and gigantic, so various additional options would be helpful.

The name will remain the same, Windows 8, and apparently Microsoft has dropped the "service pack" nomenclature. Now the operating system will just receive a minor version number. Some might accuse the company of copying Apple's continued use of OS X with the addition of minor version numbers (10.6, 10.7, and 10.8, for example) but Apple gives its operating systems cute kitty names such as Lion, Panther, Tiger, Snow Leapord, and Mountain Lion. Maybe Microsoft could pick cute names, too.

Apparently Microsoft will also improve integration, which is already pretty good, with Sky Drive.

In addition to returning the unneeded Start Button, Windows 8.1 reportedly will offer the option to boot directly to the Desktop, bypassing the Start Screen. As an option, this makes sense for those who work on non-touch-enabled devices and it's something that Microsoft probably should have included in the initial release.

As with other software providers, such as Adobe (next story) and Apple, it appears that Microsoft is moving to a release schedule that includes more frequent updates that offer fewer or smaller improvements rather than extending the development cycle and creating blockbuster releases.

No More Boxes of Adobe Software

Gob-smacked! I expected that Adobe would transition from packaged software to software as a service (SaaS) sometime but this week's Adobe Max conference in Los Angeles made it clear that the time is now. Creative Suite is being replaced by Creative Cloud, the year-old online service that Adobe announced as part of Creative Suite 6. Adobe's acquisition of Behance, the online service for designers, photographers, videographers, and other creatives will change the way people use Adobe's applications.

Adobe's General Manager of Digital Media, David Wadhwani, told the crowd in Los Angeles about the company's increased emphasis on connectivity ...

Hundreds of new features will be included with the new Creative Cloud offering and I wonder if applications will continue to be given numbers. After all, Creative Cloud subscribers will automatically receive new features as Adobe develops them and releases them.

Last week I described the Adobe Lightroom 5 public beta but noted that instead of the usual 6-to-12-month beta period, it appears that the Lightroom beta will be barely one month. Adobe had already shifted to a faster release schedule and Creative Cloud simply makes faster updates easier. We've already seen automatic updates with the Adobe Application Manager so Creative Cloud changes little in that regard.

There are far too many new features to describe all of them, but a few caught my attention.

• Adobe Camera Raw is now a filter. The implications of this change are huge. In Photoshop, raw files must be opened initially in Camera Raw, modified, and then opened in Photoshop. The user who wants to create additional Camera Raw modifications must close the file in Photoshop and open it again via Camera Raw.
  Camera Raw is an integral part of Lightroom, meaning that it's always possible to make modifications. In Photoshop, Camera Raw operates as a plug-in and Adobe's decision to treat it as a filter will make the functions much more accessible.
• Shake Reduction fixes camera blur. When you use a slow shutter setting, your image may be blurred—not because it's out of focus but because the camera moved slightly during the exposure. Until now, there was no way to fix an image that suffered motion blur but Photoshop Creative Cloud's Shake Reduction filter joins capabilities such as content-aware patch in providing what's essentially magical corrections.
  I haven't yet been able to try this functionality myself, but the demos are truly remarkable.
• Illustrator's Touch Type allows modification of individual characters. As amazing as this feature is, it's disappointing because most of the capabilities were present in Corel Draw back in the mid 1990s. It's now possible to grab a character in a line of text and move it above or below the baseline or to change its size or color, or to move it left or right.
  Those of us who used applications such as Corel Draw and Ventura Publisher sometimes wonder why Adobe has taken so long to duplicate features that these applications had 20 years ago.
• Easier animation for Web designers. Edge Animate CC makes it possible for Web designers to create animated content with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This works around Apple's prohibition against Flash on IOS-powered devices. For those who need to support multiple platforms (from desktop computers with big screens to phones with screens the size of an index card) Edge Reflow CC be helpful.

This is going to be a long segment. At the beginning of the week, I had expected to cover Adobe’s announcement in Short Circuits, but after I posted some preliminary information about the new Creative Cloud offering and people had a chance to read what I had written and what certain other outlets wrote about Adobe’s plans, there seemed to be an open invitation: Let the panic begin!

This is a return to the bad old days of centralized computing, some opined. I can’t use Photoshop through my browser! others muttered. And of course, My files won’t be safe if I have to store them in the cloud!

Instead of feeding the panic, I'd like to bring a bit of calm and understanding to the subject.

In short, this is not a return to centralized computing. The applications will continue to run on the user’s local machine and not from the cloud and if you don’t want to store any files in the cloud, don’t store any files in the cloud. Everything will work pretty much the same way it did, but (in my opinion) better.

The primary advantages the new arrangement brings are: Immediate updates when new features are released via the Adobe Application Manager (if you want them), the ability to create saved preferences that will be made available to all of your computers and can be shared with others, the ability to use Behance (now owned by Adobe) to promote your work and to work collaboratively with others, and the ability to use a single license to install Adobe applications on both PCs and Macs. In the past, if you wanted to do that, you would have to buy two licenses.

Adobe, in fact, has gone to great lengths to destroy some of the more prevalent myths.

Myth #1: I will have to run my applications in a web browser. While that may be the case with other cloud offerings, it’s not the case with Creative Cloud. Creative Cloud members download and install their Apps as Adobe customers always have. The Apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and even the new app Muse runs from your Hard Drive, not from the cloud.

Myth #2: I have to be constantly connected to the Internet to use Adobe applications from the cloud. Your Apps not only install on your hard drive, but they also can very much run offline. Your computer does have to connect to the Internet once a month to verify that your membership is still current, but that’s it. Once that check has happened you can disconnect and run all of your Creative Cloud apps off-line.

Myth #3: I cannot share file with friends that are not subscribed to the cloud. You can share your files with friends that are not subscribed to the Creative Cloud. Once you decide to share a file you can email a link to your colleagues or clients and they will be able to view your file in their web browser even if they’ve never heard of Creative Cloud or the Adobe applications you used to create them.

Myth #4: I lose access to my files in the Creative Cloud as soon as I unsubscribe. While you won’t have access to your Creative Cloud applications anymore, you’ll be able to open your files on any previous version of the software on your computer. This is provided that you’ve saved your files to compatible formats with your older applications or other 3rd party Applications. If you decide to re-join Creative Cloud you’ll have access to the latest Creative Apps again and you’ll be able to continue working on your files.

Myth #5: I will be forced to always run the latest version of the software. You are not forced to upgrade. You can continue to run which ever versions of the software that you want until YOU are ready to upgrade. This is crucial for workflows that involve working with clients or vendors that may not be on the latest versions of the software. You can continue using your current version of the product for one full year after the subsequent version is released.

Bonus myth: I will have to buy two separate subscriptions for my Windows and Apple computers. Actually not only is this not true, but it’s one of the best benefits of Creative Cloud. With Creative Cloud you’re allowed to install the software on up to TWO of your computers. Just like you are able to do with the Creative Suite applications. However, unlike Creative Suite, Creative Cloud allows you to download and install either the Mac or Windows versions for each computer. This is great for people that have say a Windows PC at work, but a Mac at home.

The myths and responses were provided by Adobe's Terry White. (Also see the 10 most common myths at ProDesign Tools.)

Yes, it’s a big change, but Creative Suite 6 will continue to be sold and supported for a while but not developed beyond where it is now.

The Creative Cloud applications will be available in June. Individual memberships are $50 per month and those who own CS3, CS4, CS5, or CS5.5, can sign up for $30 per month, which is the rate for students and teachers. Creative Suite 6 users qualify for a special rate of $20 per month for a 1-year subscription. For those who are unsure about Creative Cloud and decide that they don’t like it after a year, you can drop it and go back to CS6. Or license the CC version for 6 months or even 1 month to try it out. In fact, if you want to try CC for a month, you can download and install the full versions of every application and they’ll run without restriction for 30 days.

Oh! I’ll have to pay $50 per month! is another refrain that I hear frequently. If you work that out over the 12 to 18 month production cycles that Adobe runs on, you’ll find that the cost is probably a bit lower than buying new versions whenever there’s a new release. And those who qualify for a reduced price for Creative Suite (teachers and students, primarily) you will still qualify for a reduced price for Creative Cloud.

One might wish that Adobe had a slightly different pricing schedule. Users can sign up for just Photoshop or just InDesign or just Illustrator, but once you’ve signed up for 2 applications, you’re within striking distance of the price of the full suite. One could suspect that Adobe has done that intentionally because providing access to every application in the suite will undoubtedly lead people to try out applications they haven’t used before and you know what happens when creatives get to try something they haven’t tried before. It usually involves a certain amount of gnashing of teeth, followed by happiness.

Those who are unable to justify $600 per year for what is arguably the world’s most useful software for people who create images, photographs, print design, audio, or video and who may need the applications only a few times a year, licensing CC on a per-month basis makes sense.

Adobe also offers team memberships that include more online storage and administrative functions at $70 per user per month.

Photoshop Still Leads the Way

All of the applications have been upgraded and improved for the CC release but Photoshop is the application that I’ve singled out for this report. That’s because Photoshop is the one application that is used by amateur and professional photographers as well as by those who create illustrations (often in conjunction with Illustrator) and by those who create videos. Photoshop has been central to Adobe and that will continue.

Key New Features Abound

• One of the most astonishing new features is the deblurring tool. It can improve an image that exhibits motion blur (the camera moved during the exposure). Its formal name is the Camera Shake Reduction tool and it starts by analyzing how the blur occurred and then corrects it. You’ll never make a perfect image from a blurred image, but the result can rescue an image that’s unusable and make it acceptable. There’s also the related Smart Sharpen that makes images more crisp while avoiding the telltale signs of over-sharpening—specifically the white halo that is often the result.
• The fact that Adobe Camera Raw 8 can now be used as a filter makes it much more useful than before. Instead of having to close an existing image to reopen the raw image in Camera Raw if you decide that additional processing at that stage would be wise, you can now just run the Camera Raw filter. And Camera Raw brings the new Upright tool (first seen in Lightroom) along with Lightroom’s Radial Gradient, which allows the addition of multiple vignettes throughout an image, and the Advanced Healing Brush, which takes the concept of “content aware” to the next level.
• Photoshop CC eliminates the concept of a separate 3D version of Photoshop; all the features are simply included by default. The application has been able to create rounded rectangles for several versions but designers will be happy to find that they can now adjust the radius of a corner at any time. Instead of having to repeatedly create a rounded-corner rectangle until you get it right, create the rectangle and then modify the corners.
• Existing Creative Cloud users have already seen Photoshop CS6 updates that include the Blur Gallery effects, Liquefy effects, and Conditional Actions converted so that they work as smart objects. Now the rest of the user community will see these improvements.

Terry White is one of Adobe's Photoshop gurus. In this 10-minute video, he shares what he considers to be the top 5 new features on Photoshop and explains why.

Other Hits

The Creative Cloud suite contains so many features that there's no possible way to describe all of them, or even half of them, so let's just quickly touch on a couple of the other components.

Dreamweaver expert Paul Trani describes some of the features that will appeal to website designers.

The addition of WebFonts, another company that Adobe acquired, will be a big help to those who design websites. Even better, some of the typefaces will work with Illustrator and InDesign, too. Before the launch of the CS6 version of the suite, I asked an Adobe product manager about the ability to use these faces for non-Web applications. The rather gruff response suggested that WebFonts would never be used anywhere other than on a website. That seems to have changed.

And Illustrator's Rufus Deuchler talks about the new Touch Type tool.

Ironically, many of the Touch Type capabilities (but not all of them) were available to Corel Draw users in the mid 1990s. I haven't yet had the opportunity to work with Illustrator. Maybe this will be the version in which the developers get Extrude and Bevel right. With each new version, I hope for some improvements in this seriously broken feature. Apparently this isn't a feature that real designers need or want.

Consider the surface of Adobe Creative Cloud scratched, but just barely. There's clearly a lot to like and probably a few things to loathe. You'll hear more about those in upcoming programs.

Short Circuits

Sony Reports a Profit (Yes, This Is News)

This is news because it's the first time Sony has managed to do this in half a decade. The yen is weak against the dollar and Sony has cut costs enough that it was able to report a profit of $435 million on sales of $68 billion.

Sony projects increased sales and better profits for the rest of this year. The company ended the its flat-panel television venture with Sharp and Samsung, sold office buildings, and divested itself of a chemical company, but the dropping value of the yen created export opportunities that otherwise wouldn't have existed.

Sales have been off for the PlayStation division, the TV division lost money for the 8th year in a row, and even digital cameras, which had been a profit center stumbled because of declining interest in compact digital cameras. Sony is active in what's called the 4/3rds marketplace, though, selling digital cameras that have small sensors but also have interchangeable lenses and that section of the business has been improving. Sony Films reported good earnings based on popular films such as the latest James Bond movie and a Spider Man film.

A Spammer in the Slammer

Sven Olaf Kamphuis, a native of Netherlands, has been returned there from Spain as authorities continue to investigate a large distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against the anti-spam operation Spamhaus. Investigators can hold Kamphuis for up to 3 months as the investigation continues.

For now, a judge in Rotterdam has ordered him to remain in jail for 2 weeks on suspicion of being a participant in the attack that slowed the entire Internet for several days in April. Europe was particularly hard hit by the attack even though it was aimed specifically at Spamhaus.

The attack was in retaliation for actions by Spamhaus in March, when it added 2 operations that Kamphuis runs to its blacklist. Those operations are called CyberBunker, allegedly a spamming operation, and an Internet service provider called CB3ROB. Kamphuis has railed against Spamhaus on Facebook but says that he was not involved in the attacks. He has not yet been charged.

Senate Bill Proposes Placing a Spy Watch on Suspect Nations

Four senators, two Republicans and two Democrats, have sponsored a bill that calls for additional protections against online spying by foreign governments. Democrats Carl Levin (Michigan) and Jay Rockefeller (West Virginia) joined with Republicans Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) and John McCain (Arizona) to sponsor the Deter Cyber Theft Act, a bill that has no catchy acronym but that would create what it terms a "watch list" of nations.

Earlier in the week, a Defense Department report specifically identified a division of the Chinese military as an organization that uses online spying against the United States. The Chinese government termed the charges "irresponsible and harmful".

Overall, it seems to be a discussion between the pot that launched its own cyber-attacks, in conjunction with Israel, against Iran and the kettle that continues to launch clearly identified attempts to break in to Defense Department computers.

Besides creating the watch list, the Deter Cyber Theft Act would call on the National Director of Intelligence to create an accounting of the US technologies that have been targeted and to list information that has been stolen through online snooping. The bill then asks for a certain amount of speculation about what products or weapons the information might have been used to build, and it wants a list of foreign companies that benefited from information theft.

A report in February provided clear evidence that Chinese military units are involved in online espionage and this week the Defense Department dropped the other shoe with its report.

According to a Data Breach Investigations Report authored by Verizon, nearly all (96%) of online snooping investigated in 2012 led back to China.

Star Wars on Your Computer

The Disney Company has signed a licensing deal with Electronic Arts to develop games based on the Star Wars movies for PCs, game consoles, and mobile devices. Wait!? Where's George Lucas?

Disney did the deal because as of October Disney owns Lucasfilm, Geroge Lucas's company that developed the movies. The price was a little over $4 billion. Disney is holding on to the right to develop online and mobile games.

Electronic Arts has some experience in the arena, having released Star Wars: The Old Republic in 2011 as a massive multi-player player online game (MMO). Thousands of people can play the game at the same time and it carries a monthly subscription fee. In creating the online game, Electronic Arts hired hundreds of voice-talent actors but the game hasn't aged well and participation has been dropping despite the game's 15 levels. Late last year, Electronic Arts even released a free version of the game.