Microsoft going after Adobe?

[ktinkel]

Well, we have often heard rumors that this was in the cards. But is this the big threat?

In a nutshell: Microsoft has announced plans to release Expression Studio, including vector graphics software and web development tools. It also includes a purported “Flash killer” dubbed Sparkle. These programs are based on acquisition a couple of years ago of the Chinese (Hong Kong) company Creature House, and more are expected.

Is this a big threat for Adobe? Hard to imagine. For one thing, Adobe has an entrenched position that will be hard to attack. For another, Microsoft has never got programs right in the first (second, third?) release. We could all be old and withered before the new MS software becomes a serious contender in the professional graphics world.

But there is a lot of chatter, so we should at least read up on it, right? Here are a few of the articles on this topic:

Microsoft Monitor Weblog
eWeek (on Sparkle)
eWeek (on Expression Studio)
PhotoshopNews.com (sort of a review)
By Designers for Designers (another review)