Adobe Muse Gets Another Boost
Adobe seems to be devoting a lot of resources to boosting the capabilities of Muse, its code-free, post-Dreamweaver approach to website creation. After a lengthy beta period it was released in May of last year, followed with up the addition of contact forms in August and a nicely-integrated solution to mobile site creation in December. This has now been enhanced with an update that, as Adobe puts it, "adds new functionality that is familiar to InDesign users."

For example, InDesign adopted Aldus PageMaker's use of master pages, which then migrated to Muse. Users can now apply master pages to other master pages, as well as control the positioning of master page elements such as headers, footers, logos, and navigation on individual pages. Those using platforms such as WordPress have access to a vast number of third-party addons but Muse users have to rely on Adobe to add such functionality. So we now have have updates to all the Muse widgets, including slideshow, composition, and accordion, providing more control over widget behaviors.

A new Spelling Checker is welcome, as is the ability to preview landscape orientation of tablet and smartphone versions in Preview mode. Users can now also publish to specific host sub-directory to more easily manage updates to sites hosted on Adobe's Business Catalyst or third-party hosting. This update is also supposed to offer better rendering, smaller output and less JavaScript, resulting in faster load times and compatibility across browsers.

There's no doubt that Muse is the new darling of designers that previously were shut out of website creation. The question is really to what extent Adobe can extend its functionality until it begins to encroach on the territory traditionally occupied by Dreamweaver. And beyond that, what future there is in an approach that, unlike WordPress, has as its primary function creating static sites, however aesthetically compelling, in an era in which engaging site visitors is more important than ever.

Adobe Exchange Goes Creative Cloud
Adobe Exchange is a Creative Suite extension marketplace that's available as a panel (palette) and provides a way to search, discover and install plugins, extensions and other content for Creative Suite products. Good stuff, since it delivers a platform for developers to distribute both free and paid products. However, Adobe has now introduced a new wrinkle, by providing content only available to Creative Cloud subscribers.

The first of these is Russell Brown's Adobe Paper Textures, which is apparently the most popular Adobe Exchange product (which doesn't actually say anything good about Adobe Exchange). New textures have now been added and the result is a Pro version, only available to paid members. This would thus seem to be the beginning of a trend. And perhaps not a good one, since it will only further annoy those who have purchased downloaded, licenced versions of Adobe products and increasingly feel marginalized by such Creative Cloud-specific initiatives.