Adobe CS5 introduces online business analytics

Adobe today unveiled its Creative Suite 5 (CS5), which will reach Australian customers in mid-May for $2,172.

The newest version of Adobe's popular software suite introduces web analytics technologies to help publishers "build profitable businesses around digital content", according to Adobe president and CEO Shantanu Narayen.

CS5 products include access to web analytics tools by Omniture, which was acquired by Adobe in an October 2009 deal worth an estimated US$1.8b (AUD$1.9b).

"By coupling sophisticated online business analytics with dazzling creative tools ... this release first and foremost addresses the challenges facing publishers and creatives worldwide -- how to build profitable businesses around digital content," Narayen said in a statement.

The new lineup includes CS5 versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro and After Effects.

It also introduces Adobe Flash Catalyst, which aims to improve collaboration between designers and developers by facilitating the design of interactive content without the user having to write code.

Adobe boasts more than 250 new features in CS5, including enhanced e-reader device support in InDesign, and 'Refine Edge' and 'Content-Aware Fill' in Photoshop.

CS5 also enables the creation of content and applications for Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2, which are optimised for mobile screens.

A YouTube video of the 'Content-Aware Fill' function attracted more than two million views since 23 March.

Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with CS5 related posts today, including one by British blogger Richard Derbyshire: "Want CS5, Cant afford CS5, will sell kidney as last resort!"

Michael Gartenberg, a partner with US consulting firm Altimeter Group, said: "Some of the features in CS5 border on the magical. Or witchcraft. Not sure which."

The full version of CS5 is available to preorder from Adobe's online store for $2,172, including GST. Users upgrading from CS4 may do so for $838.

Adobe will host an online launch for its APAC users at 2pm tomorrow, AEST.

It also has planned roadshows in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on the 3^rd, 6^th, 25^th and 27^th of May, and Brisbane and Canberra on 8 and 10 June respectively.