Adobe SearchCenter+ Adds Keyword Performance Predictive Analytics

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (0)

At first sight this might not appear to be particularly relevant to the Education sector, but as Universities and Colleges compete to attract and retain students, ramp up their marketing activities and seek to develop revenue streams from international students; so the Adobe Online Marketing Suite has a role to play.

Partnership with OptiMine Enables Search Marketers to Significantly Increase Paid Search Performance

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 7, 2011 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that Adobe® SearchCenter+, a comprehensive search marketing management system within the Adobe Online Marketing Suite, has added keyword performance predictive analytics through a partnering agreement with OptiMine Software, Inc. This agreement will enable search marketers to achieve significant increases in paid search performance (i.e. higher return on ad spend, increased leads, higher conversion rates, increased revenue, greater profit per keyword, etc.). Tests done with search marketers using OptiMine’s keyword modeling have shown improved performance of 25 percent or more.

“Digital marketers are examining their paid search spend in the context of many other digital channels, like social, display and email,” said John Mellor, vice president of business development, Omniture Business Unit, Adobe. “Having the ability to predict the return on paid search becomes critically important when deciding on marketing mix and budget allocation. SearchCenter+ helps our customers spend their paid search budget on keywords that will impact the metrics most important to their business.”

The addition of OptiMine predictive keyword analytics to SearchCenter+ is particularly powerful for Adobe customers because SearchCenter+ captures the actual performance of each keyword in every one of the customer’s paid search campaigns. The OptiMine algorithms will now leverage SearchCenter+ keyword performance data, giving these algorithms a highly valuable data source to more accurately predict keyword performance and automatically generate optimal bids accordingly. Adobe customers can begin adding this new feature to their SearchCenter+ contracts immediately.

“We are delighted to partner with Adobe SearchCenter+ and believe the relationship validates the significant customer returns generated through our unique ability to automatically model every keyword,” said Jim Moar, chief executive officer, OptiMine. “The integration of our automated bid optimization coupled with SearchCenter+’s robust data will enable Adobe’s Online Marketing Suite customers to be even more successful.”

About the Adobe Online Marketing Suite
The Adobe Online Marketing Suite, powered by Omniture®, offers an integrated and open platform for online business optimization, a strategy for using customer insight to drive innovation throughout the business and enhance marketing efficiency. The Suite consists of integrated applications to collect and unleash the power of customer insight to optimize customer acquisition, conversion and retention efforts as well as the creation and distribution of content. For example, using the Suite, marketers can identify the most effective marketing strategies and ad placements as well as create relevant, personalized and consistent customer experiences across digital marketing channels, such as onsite, display, email, social, video and mobile. The Suite enables marketers to make quick adjustments, automate certain customer interactions and better maximize marketing ROI, which, ultimately, can positively impact the bottom line

Digital Publishing Suite to Support iOS 5 Newsstand

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (0)

Publishers To Create Newsstand-enabled Applications with Full Support for Subscriptions

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 7, 2011 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that publishers will be able to use Adobe® Digital Publishing Suite to create magazine and newspaper applications that appear in the Apple Newsstand section of the iTunes App Store and the Newsstand folder on the iPad. With more than 600 titles created to date, the industry-leading Adobe Digital Publishing Suite includes full support for Newsstand subscriptions, which can significantly boost sales and advertising revenue by combining greater content discoverability with flexible payment options required by readers.

As a true cross-platform solution, content owners can use Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to target their new digital editions at iPad, Android tablets and BlackBerry Playbook devices.

“Digital Publishing Suite support for Newsstand will provide Adobe’s publishing customers the ability to deliver engaging content directly to the digital doorstep of subscribers on their iPads,” said Todd Teresi, vice president and general manager, Media Solutions, Adobe. “Adobe technology is fundamental to the transformation taking place across publishing and now readers will be able to easily obtain their magazine and newspaper subscriptions in one location and get access to the latest issue as soon as it is published, further accelerating magazine adoption on tablet devices.”

Publishers will be able to use Digital Publishing Suite to create files that are detected by Newsstand and automatically downloaded to the Newsstand shelf, eliminating long download times which can present a barrier to reading content on iPad devices. Applications built with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite and enabled for Newsstand will allow publishers to better merchandise their content with support for Newsstand push notifications and icon covers displayed on the Newsstand shelf, reflecting the latest issue of the magazine or newspaper.

“Tablet devices are changing publishing forever and Adobe Creative Suite® 5.5 software and Adobe Digital Publishing Suite helped us deliver an outstanding product in a new digital format,” said Emin Kadi, publisher and creative director at fashion and design magazine, Clear. “Now, with full support for iOS 5 Newsstand subscriptions, we will be able to further monetize our digital editions and make our content more discoverable.”

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite
Launched in 2010, Adobe Digital Publishing Suite is available in both Enterprise and Professional editions, targeting a wide range of business and media publishers. These hosted solutions allow business publishers, media publishers and advertisers to create immersive reading experiences that combine the visual impact of print design; the flexibility of the tablet format; the immediacy of touch interaction; and the engagement of interactive elements such as video, audio, animated infographics, and 360-degree views. Adobe Digital Publishing Suite tightly integrates with Adobe InDesign® CS5.5 and Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 software, empowering designers with industry‐standard page layout capabilities to create highly designed, engaging digital content that includes a new class of interactivity.

Availability
Publishers will be able to use Digital Publishing Suite to build applications enabled for Newsstand soon after Apple releases iOS 5 and the Newsstand application.

Additional information about Digital Publishing Suite is available at www.adobe.com/digitalpublishing and on the Digital Publishing blog. Connect with the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adobedigitalpub and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adobedigitalpub.

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201109/090711AdobeDPSiOS5Newsstand.html

Adobe Carousel Photography Application for Mac and iOS Devices

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (0)

Adobe Imaging Magic Delivers All-New Way to Browse, Enhance and Share Photos Across Devices

LAS VEGAS, Photoshop World 2011 — Sept. 7, 2011 — During the Photoshop World 2011 keynote, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) announced Adobe® Carousel™ for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Mac OS. Adobe Carousel is designed for anyone who loves photographs, takes a lot of them, and needs a simple way to view, browse, adjust and share them without worrying about manual syncing or storage. Adobe Carousel uses the powerful photo-processing technology that is used in Adobe Photoshop® Lightroom®, so customers get the finest photo-editing results delivered consistently no matter what the device. Photos look great and are easy to share directly with family and friends.

Adobe Carousel is comprised of a set of client apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac OS desktops (versions for Windows and other devices are expected in the first half of 2012). When customers import their photo library into Adobe Carousel, or take new photos using Adobe Carousel on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, those photos are automatically accessible on any supported device through the cloud-based smart mesh technology incorporated in Adobe Carousel. Once imported, any edits, deletions or additions to the library made on one device are automatically updated across all devices linked with the account. With Adobe Carousel, manual syncing and device storage limitations are a thing of the past.

Setting up Adobe Carousel is easy. Customers will just download the apps, set up a subscription plan on their iPhone and iPad, and they are ready to go. Subscribers can import a virtually unlimited number of JPEG files, and install Adobe Carousel apps on as many of their compatible devices as they want.

“With Adobe Carousel we are extending the power of Adobe’s imaging expertise beyond the desktop and onto tablets and smartphones, delivering instant access to your complete photo library and the freedom to edit and share photos anywhere, any time,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products, Adobe. “Thanks to Adobe Carousel, users never need to worry about wasting time syncing, remembering if a photo was saved to a particular device, or worrying about maxing out storage on their iPhone or iPad.”

Familiar multi-touch gestures provide a fun and interactive experience to explore tens of thousands of photos quickly and easily, and Adobe’s powerful photo-processing engine lets users adjust exposure, shadows, highlights, white balance, vibrance, clarity and contrast. There are also over a dozen “Looks” that allow customers to quickly experiment with the appearance of a photo. Adobe Carousel simplifies and enhances photo sharing by allowing subscribers to invite friends and family members to collaborate on a photo library free of charge – so anyone with a Carousel capable device can view existing photos and contribute new ones, apply adjustments and Looks to images, and easily grab and flag favorite photos. Users can also share photos by sending them directly to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr or via email.

Pricing and Availability
The Adobe Carousel apps will be available through the iTunes App Store and for Mac later this month. Through Jan. 31, 2012, Adobe plans to offer Adobe Carousel for a special introductory price of US$59.99/year or US$5.99/month. Anyone subscribing at that price will be able to renew at that same price for an additional two years. At the conclusion of the introductory offer, Adobe Carousel will be US$99.99/year or US$9.99/month. By subscribing, customers automatically receive any enhancements and updates to Adobe Carousel at no additional charge. Customers receive a complimentary subscription for up to 30 days and can purchase a monthly or yearly subscription at any time from their iPad or iPhone.

Customers can download and install the Adobe Carousel apps as many times and across as many devices as they want as a part of their subscription (no additional fees apply). For more information, including system requirements, visit www.photoshop.com/carousel

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201109/090711AdobeCarouselAppDebuts.html

Advances in Broadcast Workflows at IBC 2011

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (1)

Announces New Ways to Protect and Deliver Streaming Media, Online and On-device and Acquires Digital Color Correction Technology to Enhance Professional Video Solutions

SAN JOSE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Sept. 8, 2011 — At the IBC 2011 Conference and Exhibition, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) is showcasing new video technologies and initiatives that are enabling media professionals to create, deliver and monetize premium video content across a myriad of platforms and devices. For content delivery, Adobe® is announcing a new version of Adobe Flash® Media Server that can now deliver Flash technology to Apple iPhone and iPad devices (see separate release), a new version of Adobe Flash Access®, a robust content protection solution that is available for the Android platform and showcasing widespread adoption of Adobe Pass, a TV Everywhere user authentication solution used by leading broadcasters (see separate release). For content creation, Adobe is announcing the acquisition of certain assets of IRIDAS, a leader in high performance tools for digital color grading and enhancement of professional film and video (see separate release); accelerated industry adoption of Adobe solutions for video creation, along with an expanded partner ecosystem.

Adobe will demonstrate its new solutions and highlight key customers and partner focused initiatives during the IBC 2011 Exhibition at its stand (Hall 7, Stand 7.G27) in the RAI Convention Center, Sept. 9-13.

“At Adobe we understand the issues professional broadcasters and media publishers face throughout the entire creation-to-delivery workflow, at a time when others in the industry are focusing on one piece of the puzzle or shifting their focus altogether,” said Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager for professional video and audio, Creative and Media Solutions Business Unit, Adobe. “Adobe is dedicated to helping our customers streamline their entire video workflows for any screen, and looking out for their bottom line with new ways to monetize their content on mobile devices.”

Groundbreaking New Ways to Stream Media and Protect Content to a Myriad of Devices
IBC 2011 attendees will be the first to see significant new versions of Flash Media Server and Flash Access video delivery and content protection solutions, which enable video businesses to deliver scalable, protected streaming content online, including new support for mobile devices (see separate release). With Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers now have a single, simple workflow for delivering content using the same stream to Flash-enabled devices or to the Apple iPhone and iPad. Adobe Flash Access 3.0 gives media publishers a streamlined workflow to easily protect, monetize and scale the delivery of premium video content, for the first time reaching Android mobile devices, the first of many mobile platforms.

Adobe Pass for TV Everywhere Gains Momentum
Further exemplifying Adobe’s strength in video delivery to any screen, Adobe is demonstrating Adobe Pass, the leading TV Everywhere authentication solution, which now supports top U.S. pay TV providers. Adobe Pass makes it easy for TV programmers and media companies to validate that users are entitled to content based on their pay TV subscription package. This enables content owners to have direct relationships with consumers; Pay TV providers to add more value for their customers; and Pay TV subscribers to watch the content they are already paying for anytime, anywhere. This is the promise of the broadcast industry’s TV Everywhere initiative.

Adobe Pass is now offered as a TV Everywhere implementation option to content providers serving approximately 90 percent of the U.S. pay TV market via Comcast Corp., DirecTV, Dish Network Corp., Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Inc.., Verizon Communications, Inc.., Cablevision Systems, Charter Communications, Suddenlink Communications and others. Content providers can leverage Adobe Pass to help pay TV subscribers to easily access TV Everywhere content via content provider websites and mobile applications. Adobe Pass is also seeing rapid and widespread adoption with popular programmers and over-the-top services including Fox Networks, Hulu, Turner Broadcasting (including the CNN app for iPad), MTV Networks, Scripps Networks Interactive and AMC Networks, which have chosen the solution to seamlessly and securely establish a user’s entitlement to premium content anywhere, anytime and on virtually any device.

Further Advancement in Industry Leading Content Creation Tools
Adobe Creative Suite® 5.5 Production Premium software has taken the industry by storm with breakthrough new features and performance that help video professionals deliver content to virtually any screen. Demand for Adobe’s video content creation tools has exploded, growing 22 percent year-over-year with 45 percent growth on the Mac, fueled by the large number of Apple Final Cut Pro customers switching to Adobe Premiere® Pro. Adobe continues to show its commitment to streamlining video workflows and announced the acquisition of certain assets of IRIDAS, an industry pioneer with a family of software products that cover all aspects of a unified color workflow, from on-set to finishing.

Strong Industry Adoption by Leading Broadcasters and Universities
Highlighting the growing demand for Production Premium across the broadcast industry, Adobe is also announcing that leading U.K. broadcaster ITV has selected Adobe Story, an online and offline collaborative script development tool, to manage preproduction of over 500 episodes per year of ITV’s popular programs Coronation Street and Emmerdale (see separate release). The beginning of the Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium script-to-screen workflow, Adobe Story integrates directly with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and other Adobe software to streamline the planning and preproduction phases. As the script is drafted, Adobe Story reduces production costs by automatically turning script content into relevant metadata that travels with the content and can be used throughout the Adobe digital video workflow.

Also from the U.K., the University of Salford, a leading higher educational institution offering strong opportunities in research and innovation, will engage in a strategic alliance with Adobe. The integrated collaboration will encompass the opening of a new Adobe branded, dedicated VFX studio standardized on Adobe Creative Suite CS5.5 Production Premium and the introduction of CS5.5 within its campus-wide NLE technology platform for future teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The partnership will also encompass training, research and development with a focus on new broadcast workflows. A prestigious school for leading U.K. broadcasters ITV and the BBC, the University of Salford is at the heart of MediaCityUK, a new media hub for content creation in the northwest of England.

Expanding Broadcast Partner Ecosystem
Recognizing that multiple third-party technologies are mission critical to many professional broadcast video workflows, Adobe has also expanded its ecosystem of broadcast solution partners and banded together with leading solution providers Active Storage, Primestream, Chyron, FilmPartners, Harmonic, IPV, S4M, SeaChange and Red Giant, among others. These dynamic partnerships are driven by strong customer demand to ensure the tightest possible integration with Adobe’s professional creation-to-delivery workflow.

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201109/090811AdobeIBCShowcase.html

Adobe Acquires IRIDAS Technology

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (0)

Company Extends Leadership in Professional Video with the Acquisition of Premium Tools for Digital Color Grading and Enhancement

SAN JOSE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Sept. 8, 2011 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced at the IBC 2011 Conference and Exhibition that it has acquired certain assets of privately held IRIDAS, a leader in high-performance tools for digital color grading and enhancement of professional film and video content, including stereoscopic technology. Color grading is an essential component of finalizing professional film and television content and is becoming an increasingly important part of modern content creation with the advent and rapid growth of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.

With the addition of IRIDAS technology, Adobe® Creative Suite® Production Premium and Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection, the world’s leading video tools for professionals, are expected to gain a comprehensive set of tools so video editors can manipulate color and light for any type of content, including professional film and television. The addition of premier color grading tools exemplifies Adobe’s commitment and leadership in the digital film and video space.

“Adobe has set the standard for rich communication and collaboration across all media and we’ve been rapidly innovating on solutions for professional filmmakers,” said Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager for professional video and audio, Creative and Media Solutions Business Unit, Adobe. “The integration of IRIDAS’ leading color grading technology helps us continue to deliver high quality tools and redefines how professionals in the motion picture and video industry view, manipulate, enhance and produce their digital creations from script to screen.”

The addition of IRIDAS technology includes SpeedGrade, an award-winning toolset for Stereo 3D, RAW processing, color grading and finishing of digital content. IRIDAS offers the only non-destructive tools for primary and secondary color correction that are optimized for multi-core CPU and GPU performance, paralleling the industry-leading speed and efficiency of the Adobe Premiere® Pro and Adobe Mercury Playback Engine software.

“Joining forces with Adobe provides us with an amazing opportunity to get our technology into more peoples’ hands,” said Lin Sebastian Kayser, chief executive officer, IRIDAS. “Adobe has demonstrated real commitment to the professional film and video market with its recent releases and has a known track record of integrating acquired technologies. With the addition of our color grading technology I believe Production Premium can lead the HDR video and stereoscopic charge as the film and professional video industry evolves.”

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201109/090811AdobeAcquiresIRIDASl.html

Use Your Imagination and Win $10,000

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mabear | Comments (0)

Adobe has launched Adobe & Imagination Challenge, a new contest for students 15 years of age and older, encouraging them to show off their creative abilities with Adobe Creative Suite® 5.5 software products. Individual students who submit their creative pieces will have a chance to win $10,000. First prize winners in each of the four weekly judging sessions, and the grand prize winner, receive a $10,000 prize and will have their work showcased on Adobe.com!

Work must be submitted online, where it will be featured for fellow students to vote on. The pieces will also be reviewed by a panel of professionals — including DeadMau5, Jake & Amir, Rivers Cuomo, and Scott Dadich — who will select the top 10 finalists for each of the weekly judging periods. Students in North America can submit entries from August 21 to October 15, 2011, for weekly judging.

Let your students know about this rewarding opportunity to express themselves and show off their talents with CS5.5 tools.