Adobe releases Creative Suite with Macromedia Studio 8

Adobe Creative Suite 2 and Macromedia Studio 8 in one box from Adobe Systems Inc.

As the Adobe-Macromedia merger is complete, Adobe announced three new Adobe-Macromedia product bundles that combine the design and publishing power of Adobe Creative Suite 2 and Adobe video tools with the interactive strength of just-released Macromedia Flash Professional 8 and Macromedia Studio 8 software.

Adobe Design Bundle combines Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium with Flash Professional 8 software; the Adobe Web Bundle brings together Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium and Studio 8; and the Adobe Video Bundle delivers Adobe video solutions coupled with Flash Professional 8.

The Adobe Bundles are available internationally in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish language versions. The Adobe Design Bundle and Web Bundle are available for purchase today and the Adobe Video Bundle is expected to ship in early 2006.

Adobe Store offers no direct upgrade from Golive to Dreamweaver. The installers for the Adobe products contained in each bundle are separate from the installers for the Macromedia products. Users will have to install the products separately. For example, in the Adobe Design Bundle, customers must install Creative Suite 2 separately from Flash Professional 8.

These tools are aimed at Adobe’s traditional customers: graphic designers, Web developers and videographers. The new bundles will help consolidate the tools creative professionals use and save them money. Additionally, users of Adobe Creative Suite 1 will be able to buy upgrades ($900 for the Web Bundle and $950 for the Design Bundle), rather than purchase a whole new package.

Macromedia Studio 8 includes Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Fireworks, Contribute, and FlashPaper.

Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium includes Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2, GoLive CS2, and Acrobat 7.0 Professional software with Version Cue CS2, Adobe Bridge, and Adobe Stock Photos.

Get Adobe Creative Suite 2 Trial DVD

Macromedia introduced attractive Studio 8 upgrade pricing at the version 8 launch to encourage users to upgrade to the Studio 8 suite. Some Studio 8 upgrade options and pricing for certain customers will end, and new upgrade pricing will take effect, after 31 December 2005 (midnight PST). Policy and Pricing changes and information are below:

* Pre- and post 31 December 2005, any past commercial Studio customer can upgrade to Studio 8 for $399.
* After 31 December 2005, commercial customers who own both Dreamweaver (any version) and Flash (any version excluding Flash Basic) can upgrade to Studio 8 for $399.
* After 31 December 2005, any past commercial Dreamweaver customer can purchase the Studio 8 upgrade for $799.
* After 31 December 2005, any past commercial Flash customer (excluding Flash Basic) can purchase the Studio 8 upgrade for $599.
* After 31 December 2005, any past commercial Fireworks or FreeHand customer wishing purchase Studio 8 upgrade cannot do so, and must purchase a full new Studio 8 license at $999.