What does the software do?
Used in conjunction with Adobe InDesign, the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite enables the efficient design and distribution of apps across an array of mobile devices including Apple iPad, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.
Adobe business development manager for design, Rupert Knowles, dubs it an end-to-end system, encompassing authoring, publishing, monetisation and analytics. "It removes much of the complexity around app creation and distribution," he adds.
When was the software launched and what market is it aimed at?
The Enterprise Edition of the software was the first to be released, in March 2011, while the Professional and Single Editions followed later in the same year.
Adobe says it is aimed at everyone involved in the production of content for mobile platforms, from design and ad agencies, to newspaper, book and magazine publishers, while corporate users, including Sotheby’s, Credit Suisse and Deloitte, use the software to produce catalogues, travel guides and brand loyalty apps.
What packages are available and how do they differ?
The suite is available in Single, Professional and Enterprise editions. Single provides smaller studios and freelance designers with an intuitive and affordable way to deliver iPad apps such as brochures, portfolios and highly visual magazines without writing code or relying on developers.
The Professional Edition is an off-the-shelf tablet publishing system that provides an immediate option for quickly publishing, monetising and analysing content consumed on tablet devices.
The Enterprise Edition is a custom package that can be built to meet the needs of large organisations. It is fully extensible, allowing publishers to integrate the Digital Publishing Suite with the Adobe Digital Marketing Suite, existing back-end editorial publishing platforms, and third-party print subscription systems.
How does it work?
The software allows publishers to bring static print layouts to life by adding interactive content to an Adobe InDesign file using the Overlay Creator Panel. The Folio Builder panel is then used to create folio files, which combine multiple articles into a publication. Finally, the Viewer Builder Service is used to create a custom app which can then be distributed through a digital marketplace.
The suite also includes an Analytics service, based on Adobe Digital Marketing Suite, to allow publishers to analyse their editorial content to gain a better understanding of reader behaviour and boost advertising revenue.
What is the USP of the product?
According to Knowles, the key is the fact that customers can use the Digital Publishing Suite to create apps from within Adobe Creative Suite. "InDesign is the market leading page layout application, so publishers can take advantage of existing in-house skills and re-use existing assets," adds Knowles.
"Adobe Digital Publishing Suite helps give publishers the gift of motion and sound, so they have the ability to create much more immersive and engaging publications than they could before. It means they can create engaging content for their readers which helps them extend their market reach and acquire news readers."
How easy is it to use?
"Very," says Knowles. "We provide tools to help customers throughout the process and so they can check that their applications or publications work correctly before they submit for approval, as well as a step-by-step wizard to ensure that all the right icons, images, metadata and certificates are included with their application."
What support is available?
Adobe offers a range of free online training resources, including ‘how-to’ videos, articles and an iPad tips application. Third-party training companies are now also offering instructor lead training courses.
Adobe can offer a range of support services. These can be tailored for individuals, small publishers or large enterprises.
What is the sales target and how many apps have been created using the software?
Adobe wouldn’t reveal its target, but at the time of writing, there are approximately 1,400 apps live, including both public and private publications.
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform PC, Mac
Hardware Multicore Intel or AMD Athlon 64 processor; 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended); 1.6GB hard-disk space (2.6GB for Mac); 1,024x768 display (1,280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card; DVD-ROM drive
Operating system
Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7; Mac OS X 10.6 or 10.7
Software Adobe InDesign CS5 or CS5.5 software required for authoring; Flash Player 10 software required to export SWF files; internet connection required for hosted services
Price Single Edition £289.05; Professional Edition £346.86 a month; annual Professional subscription and Enterprise pricing is by quote, depending on requirements
Contact Adobe 020 7365 0735 www.adobe.com/uk
ALTERNATIVES
App Studio for QuarkXPress 9
Quark’s app authoring tool allows users to repurpose existing content or design new content specifically for the iPad. It gives designers a dedicated design environment to create branded content for the iPad, including video/audio players, slideshows, scrollable regions, web overlays, pop-up windows, buttons and hyperlinks.
It also enables users to distribute apps through the Apple App Store, and design and publish content that can be purchased and downloaded from within the apps.
Platform PC, Mac
Price Free to QuarkXPress 9 users or at an upgrade cost of £279 to users of earlier versions
Contact Quark 020 7632 5612 www.quark.com/appstudio
