Microsoft Has Designs on Adobe

Adobe the long time undisputed leader in the DTP market is about to get some real competition. Microsoft, who has gradually been moving towards this market, is now firming up plans for new professional software suite, which will make their appearance in 2007.

The software to be called Expression Studio will have four components. The first product is Expression Web, which is a website designing tool. This will help web developers build sites in compliance with various industry standards, which include XHTML and CSS. This tool is now available for purchase through Microsoft Retail channels and comes at a cost of $299 for a new copy or $99 if you are upgrading from Microsoft Front-page. It is being pitched as a competitor to Macromedia Dreamweaver.

The other packages, which will be available in 2007, will be Expression Blend, which will help designers make Windows-based "Interactive Experiences". This translated into common parlance equals Microsoft's attempt at making a Flash killer and was formerly called Sparkle. Microsoft is also planning to take on Adobe illustrator with Microsoft Expression Design, which can be used for designing and creating individual graphical elements.

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The final product in this lineup will be Expression Media; a digital asset management system based on technology, Microsoft has inherited from its acquisition of iView Multimedia in June. This will be the new edition of iView Multimedia and will focus on management of digital media with its support for over 100 file formats.