Google Inc. has just upped its game for its line of Chromebooks, announcing today a new integration with Adobe Systems Inc. that will bring Photoshop to Chromebook users.
For users of Adobe’s Creative Cloud, the first program to “initially” appear on a Google Chromebook will be a ‘streaming version of Photoshop’ on the Chrome operating system (OS), according to a company blog post. While neither company has explicitly said so, the word “initially” is an alluring one, as it could mean there could be future Creative Cloud and Google Chrome integrations in the works.
“This streaming version of Photoshop is designed to run straight from the cloud to your Chromebook. It’s always up-to-date and fully integrated with Google Drive, so there’s no need to download and re-upload files – just save your art directly from Photoshop to the cloud. For IT administrators, it’s easy to manage, with no long client installation and one-click deployment to your team’s Chromebooks,” wrote Stephen Konig, product manager for Google, in a company blog post.
Photoshop for the Google Chromebook will land in the U.S. first, with preference to Adobe education customers with a paid Creative Cloud membership. To get access, users will have to apply by heading over to Adobe.com.
One of the biggest criticisms of the Google Chromebook is that it’s not a full-featured laptop, as it doesn’t run some of the apps that professionals (like artists and graphic designers) typically need. Instead, the Chromebook typically needs Internet access to run Google apps like Gmail, Google Drive, and so on. However, Google touts that as making it a faster, simpler laptop running on its Chrome, meaning it typically takes seconds to boot up – and comes with an attractive price tag starting at around $200.
So while it doesn’t appear as though the Chromebook will be running something as heavy-duty as AutoCAD anytime soon, adding Photoshop to its arsenal of available programs should dispel some of the doubts surrounding the Chromebook as a viable tool for not just consumers, but professionals who can use a cheaper, lightweight laptop to boost their productivity.
