Google will not Index Flash Content

Timeline and History of Flash

• Adobe Flash – History and Future
• 1996 – Macromedia Flash
• Macromedia Flash v4 introduced basic HTTP API’s
• Flash v5 ActionScript v1 + XML API’s
• April 2006 – Adobe buys Macromedia
• Adobe Flash CS3 – ActionScript 3 + Air
• Flash CS5 – AIR for iOS and Android
• Adobe Animate Focus on Gaming, web + Mobile + Desktop

Facts about Adobe

As many companies used to do, Adobe Systems used to sell all of their software as ‘one and done’ boxed sets. This meant going to the store, grabbing the box containing Photoshop, Flash, or whatever software, and paying for it. That was it, what was in the box was what was there, and it stood alone. However, Adobe has begun selling subscriptions to all popular software packages. Instead of buying a particular version of Photoshop and owning it forever, now it’s required to pay Adobe monthly for the software.

Adobe’s Create Suite software

This has both its ups and downs. Adobe’s Create Suite software was quite expensive – starting at $1,300 for the whole suite, climbing to a potential $2,600 depending on the version. This is a hefty up-front cost. Prohibitively, those who don’t have $1,000 to drop on the software might not find it helpful. The subscription model is better for those trying Creative Suite software on a temporary or experimental basis. It costs less than $50 to try a single program for a month. They don’t pay for more subscriptions if the software is not helpful. A ‘rolling release’ subscription style also means that customers can get new features as they become available. They don’t have to wait for Photoshop’s ‘next’ version. It simply becomes available through the continuously updating version they already have. This is further encouragement to continue paying through subscriptions. It doesn’t require throwing down another $800 to get new features.

Fight Piracy

This feature allows Adobe to ‘fight piracy.’ The new subscription version of Creative Suite requires one to connect to Adobe’s servers. This makes it impossible to pirate Adobe’s software, as would-be pirates cannot access their servers. Being cheaper, it also encourages those pirating $1000 software to buy access to $50 software. All this does is put more money in Adobe’s pocket. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, piracy helps Adobe, meaning the software is being used everywhere. It makes people dependent on Adobe whether or not they pay, which puts Adobe in a powerful position.

Adobe used to cost $1300! p/a

A position that many artists and creative types are not happy about. Many people are upset that the software they depend on for a living is now a recurring payment. This ultimately costs more money in the long run, even though less money is involved up-front. Even if Adobe Creative Suite costs $1,300, purchasing a particular version and keeping it was undoubtedly viable. Even though one wouldn’t keep getting new features, the cost boundary was finite. With the subscription style, Adobe earns money if someone uses their software. It ends up being a resource sink, especially for those who can’t get the software under a discount.

Adobe’s Profits Gone Up

Adobe has undoubtedly seen its profits go up due to earlier factors. Every month, they receive money from every user instead of a lump sum per purchase. The significantly lower barrier to entry also has far more customers trying out their software. Because the said barrier is lower, there is less risk in trying out Creative Suite. And trial users who decide they can’t live
without it become more money for Adobe. This is very harmful to consumers, however. With all the eggs in one basket, Adobe is the lynchpin it all depends on. Adobe could raise prices, and there would be practically nothing customers could do. The subscription nature of the Creative Cloud means that customers can’t weather the storm with what they have. If they can’t or won’t pay for Creative Cloud, they will lose access to the programs. And for many of these people, these tools are how they make their livelihood. They cannot bargain and leave Adobe open to doing very consumer-unfriendly things.

Licensing Models

These changes mean users don’t own the software they’re paying for even more than existing software licensing models. These customers are merely renting the software from Adobe. This further restricts what little control they had under traditional license schemes. While most software packages only grant a license for use, that license is still a thing one owns. The license can be
used for whatever the user pleases, bearing some restrictions under the license and copyright law. Most people do not like having abilities and rights taken from them, especially if they have few to begin with.

Subscription Model Upsets Developers

This renting model upsets users as the programs do not undergo drastic changes. So most feel like they are paying for no real reason; they’re paying for the same thing each month. There’s seemingly no added value in the subscription besides the occasional new feature. Customers do not want to pay and only get occasional new features in return constantly.
The forced unification of all customers onto this rolling version of Creative Cloud is much nicer from a developer’s view. This is hard to argue against. There’s only one codebase to work on, bugs are fixed once, and maintenance is easier. A consistent rolling release makes far more sense from an engineering perspective. It makes much better use of programmer time, which is very expensive, which
saves Adobe money in the long run. This makes practical business sense and is a no-brainer.

Is Adobe in the Controller seat?

Adobe’s saving money is a significant reason, but it benefits customers. Focusing on a single version of Adobe tools means that developers can spend time making it stable. Stability is essential for a tool one will spend hours and hours using. Developers spend more time on coding is efficient at its highest. This leads to a better user experience with software and expands the range of hardware it runs nicely on. But Adobe still has all of the power in this dynamic. They won’t risk doing anything too upsetting for fear of bankrupting themselves, but they’re still the controller. This model is reminiscent of ‘my way or the highway,’ which leads to disgruntled customers if misused. But many customers will go with it anyway because they ‘need’ Adobe one way or another.

Summary of Adobe Creative Cloud

Creative Cloud is making a lot of money, approximately 55% of total revenue. This improved from stagnating during 2014, with an 8% revenue decline the year before. It was an excellent move from a pure business perspective. Adobe is doing much better revenue-wise than it had been for quite some time. They are succeeding in a world where many competitors struggle to keep up with them. Adobe might be winning, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the customers are winning along with them. Time will tell if this move benefits the customers relying on Creative Suite as much as Adobe. Hopefully, the customers will win as much as Adobe in the end.