Autodesk acquires Pixlr, takes on Adobe Photoshop

July 26, 2011 | Author: Adam Levine
Autodesk Pixlr

While Adobe is fighting with Apple and trying to sort out its SaaS-collaboration strategy, it can loose another niche which brings it the considerable part of income - the graphical design software. One of the main contenders - is Autodesk. Last week Autodesk, the maker of engineering design software acquired the online Photoshop alternative - service Pixlr. Recently, we have put together the 5 best online image editing tools and Pixlr was recognized as the best of them. In addition, Autodesk is quite straightforward in its cloud strategy. Last year it launched the SaaS-version of its flagship product AutoCAD WS. Some people might say that for the design software cloud technologies - are unnecessary, because they require first of all the speed and the rich interface of the desktop apps. But remember, the same thing people where saying about the cloud document editors.

Like with the online document editors, the main advantage of online graphical editors - is collaborative features. For example, a designer needs to reconcile a template with a client, and an engineer needs to collaborate with the chief designer on a scheme. In such cases, the real-time collaborative editing is much more effective than sending file via email back-and-forth.

In addition, the online image editors let you work on single file in office, at home or on the road, store the version history, view and edit files from mobile devices. They don't require powerful hardware and potentially much cheaper than desktop graphical suites.

In particular, AutoCAD WS provides these advantages. And probably Pixlr also will.

But Adobe is not getting ready for these new rules of the game. As you know, Adobe launched its online version of Photoshop - Photoshop Express in 2008, but it's just a beautiful toy that doesn't grow. Its editing capabilities are comparable to Google's Picasa and it provides no collaborative tools.

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Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com