Microsoft has announced a suite of web design and
graphics software in a move that will see it take on the
traditional designers’ favourite, Adobe.
The software giant’s pitch for the creative design market is
based on the concept of closer collaboration between designers and
software developers.
The Expression Studio suite has been launched with Expression
Web, software for creating standards-based websites.
This is set to be followed in the second quarter of next year by
Expression Blend (formerly Interactive Designer) for designing rich
interactive elements for Windows and Expression Design (formally
Graphic Designer) for creating visual elements for the web and
Windows.
The rebranded tools will been enhanced, with a new interface
created for professional designers and based on feedback from
community technology previews, Microsoft said. A beta release of
Expression Blend and the December 2006 CTP of Expression Design are
available for download.
The suite will be completed with a new tool, Expression Media,
based on the iView MediaPro product acquired by Microsoft earlier
this year. This will provide offline access to visual catalogues,
making it easier for designers to manage their digital assets.
Microsoft has also released the first CTP of Windows
Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E) – a cross-platform
browser plug-in for delivering rich media, animation and video
content based on Windows Media technology.
The Expression Studio suite will step up competition with
creative design specialist Adobe. The two software firms have
already been in dispute over the use of fixed document formats in
Windows Vista, with Adobe threatening antitrust action to protect
its own PDF format.
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