Adobe has launched Adobe Media Player 1.0 and a Adobe TV.
Adobe Media Player is a cross-platform Adobe AIR application that offers content discovery and interaction. Companies that are offering content for the player include CBS, MTV Networks, Universal Music Group, PBS, CondéNet, and Scripps Networks.
Adobe Media Player offers playback of streamed, downloaded or locally-stored video in Adobe Flash and can be viewed in 1080p, 720p or 480i resolutions. iTunes style the player allows users to subscribe to television shows and other content and automatically receive new episodes when they are available.
Adobe TV is available at tv.adobe.com or as a network in Adobe Media Player and offers “expert instruction and original series programming” about Adobe products. Adobe TV offers four channels targeted at Photographers, Designers, Video Professionals, and Developers. Content comes from “Adobe evangelists, leading trainers, subject matter experts, and luminaries.” Over 200 videos are available for the launch.
The media player can be downloaded here
Update: screen shots added. Interestingly the service doesn’t appear to have geographic blocking on CBS content. I couldn’t get Jericho to play (error message) but CSI not a problem from Australia, where as every other site with CBS content would automatically block me and anyone else outside of the United States. Lets hope it’s a feature, not an oversight that might be corrected.
Everyone else taking notes? Joost? Hulu? You guys watching? This is how the big boys do it.
This is the correct URL:
http://www.adobe.com/products/mediaplayer/
Alan Lewis
Product Manager, eBay Desktop
It is terrible.
Adobe as content company? I actually didn’t see that one coming. Huh. Neat.
Morphing from a product company to service company?
Here’s the video I filmed at Adobe when they briefed me on this: http://qik.com/video/51156
Possibly doing this to popularize their platform?
At what point did the honcho’s at Adobe decide it would be a brilliant idea to compete with their customers? Working in web video and having shoveled many thousands of dollars in Adobe’s direction, this is absolutely appalling.
Its a nice attempt. As time passes by I expect more improvements in it. Hopefully Adobe Media Players guys are reading this:)
@Samuel,
Adobe is actually creating an avenue for content producers to distribute their stuff made with their software (most likely) onto a wider audience, I see nothing appalling here… just common sense finally winning out.
Jon
http://dreamclue.com … get the message!
Seems interesting, but who wants to watch HD TV shows sitting at their computer? Give me an Adobe TV box that plugs into either an HDTV or standard resolution TV (suck it Apple TV) and I’m all over it.
Wow..they are only behind the curve by what? 5-6 years…
Yes, I have personally been following this for a while.
I have two Blog posts that may be of interest regarding this topic.
Adobe’s plan for world domination
http://www.crafted.com.au/blog.....omination/
Looks at a long term model Adobe may (or should) be doing with this technology outlook.
and later, after finding more about this technology.. see..
Flash DRM, a disappointing implementation.
http://www.crafted.com.au/blog.....mentation/
Thanks,
James
Sorry Duncan, I didn’t realize CBS was withholding shows from the Aussies; that just ain’t right.
This does seem more like a “Look what we can do!” type of thing rather than a major service offering. Adobe wants to push it’s platform, content companies want to push their content, win win. If you think it’s going to be the competition for everyone else, then perhaps other companies will innovate even more or create a better player.
Seems pretty neat. I’m seeing more and more cool stuff come out of AIR and Adobe these days.
I am very impressed with the quality of content from companies like xTrain.com and a few others. The programming with Dr. Brown is off the charts entertaining and educational. I would rather see a platform with professionally produced instructional design than some yahoo’s in a cube filming on a webcam. Kudos Adobe and the team at xTrain for wonderful work. I’ll be sure to tune in as it grows.
What’s perhaps most interesting about the AMP launch - and consistent with Adobe’s business model - is that it provides a rich platform for publishers. It has some cool advanced capabilities that allow third parties to hook into some advertising and reporting features that will be key as more ad dollars move into video.
Granted, Kiptronic is a partner in the AMP launch, but enabling technologies such as these will be key as video is increasingly delivered across devices and platforms.
Hulu is still better. I was excited when I saw that they had Food Network but it is just random clips not seasons of any show. Disappointing.
You hear that?….
Is the sound of Joost getting a Techcrunch Deadpool notice.
I mean. poor Joost, now they don´t only have hulu and veoh to compete with, they have Adobe Media Player aiming to their head.
= Joost is not a happy camper today.
Here is a crazy idea: Adobe should develop hardware, but not an apple tv clone. They should build a nice little cheap wifi with render with software for a remote control, and sell it cheaply to TV manufacturers.
Of course, Apple and joost should also do it. It is just a matter of time before the question: “how much disk space does it have?” becomes widely used when buying a TV set.
I have tried the media player and must say, a some stuff doesn’t not seem to work properly. I can’t even put in an “@” when signing in with my email-adress (using the alt-gr+q command).
And I must say in comparison to the really well designed and engineered user interface/experience of the joost player the adobe media player is more than conservative. Nothing really new or inspiring there…