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Adobe Systems Announces Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 & Adds Many New Features

After just over a year since its initial beta release, Adobe® Systems today announced that Adobe Photoshop® Lightroom™ 1.0 software is now available for pre-order, and will ship in mid-February 2007.

The current Lightroom beta will expire on February 28, 2007, and continues to be available for download here.

I’ve used every Lightroom beta version since its initial release, and after seeing a demo of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 on a press conference call, I observed and learned of a number of improvements to the most recent Photoshop Lightroom beta version 4. Here are nine:

1. A range of preview resolutions and preview quality settings for images in the catalog can now be selected via a preference pane. This is significant because after importing, if files are archived and then deleted from your system, you will still see a preview of the images, but you will now be able to set both the preview size and resolution to one of a few different options. This can help to reduce the size of the Lightroom Previews file that is stored on your hard drive.

2. There are new advanced keywording tools with better funtionality.

3. The new Key Metadata Browser adds a color label and pick/reject system to help sort and locate photographs faster.

4. New to the Develop module are Virtual Copies and Snapshot tools to help present multiple versions of the same image without having to save separate versions.

5. XMP data can be shared between Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop Lightroom 1.0. I look forward to learning more about exactly what type of data can be shared, since Adobe Camera Raw’s adjustment options are slightly different than those in Lightroom 1.0.

6. Upon import from external media (such as a CF card), two destinations can be designated which means that the same data can be copied to two separate places. This can save time compared with manually backing up data to another folder or hard drive.

7. Non-destructive clone and healing capability across one or multiple images.

8. Lightrom 1.0 has the ability to stack groups of images for better sorting capability.

9. A new Hue, Saturation and Luminance targeted adjustment tool for precise and image edits. This is especially interesting, especially for reducing saturation on specific colors, and for better control over image conversions from color to black and white.

It’s also important to note that in additon to supporting over 150 native camera raw file formats, Lightroom 1.0 (and the previous beta versions) can also be used to adjust and edit DNG, JPG, TIFF and PSD file formats non-destructively.

Lightroom 1.0 Library view (courtesy Adobe Systems Inc.)

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 is a Universal Binary application that will run natively on PowerPC and new Intel-based Macintosh systems (OS10.4.3 or higher), as well as Microsoft® Windows® XP SP2. According to an Adobe representative, this version is not certified for Microsoft Windows Vista. It will run, though CD/DVD burning is not yet functional. When a Windows Vista certified update becomes available, it will be offered to Lightroom 1.0 owners at no additional cost.

The special introductory price to US and Canadian customers is US$199 through the Adobe Store, and will be available at that price through April 30, 2007. After April 30, Photoshop Lightroom will sell for an estimated street price of US$299. Teachers and students may purchase Lightroom 1.0 for $99 and for full details, visit this page.

The French and German-language versions will debut at the special introductory price of €174 (not including VAT). After June 28, 2007, the normal retail price of €249 (not including VAT) will come into effect. The Japanese-language version will debut at ¥22,000 (not including tax). After July 23, 2007, the normal retail price of ¥32,000 (not including tax) will come into effect. Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 will not be bundled or packaged with any version of Photoshop CS.

On a related note, Adobe released a beta version of Photoshop CS3 on December 14, 2006. To download the Photoshop CS3 beta, visit this page.

RELATED AFFILATE LINK: Adobe Worldwide Store

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The Sound of History: From Edison to Marconi to Bourne!

It’s easy to take the latest and greatest technologies for granted. Like electricity (which still amazes me), once we start using a specific technology on a daily basis, it’s as if it were there for hundreds of years. However, as recently as 15 years ago, delivering digital sound in a way similar to broadcast radio over the Web was just a dream. This news program video covers NetRadio and its founder, Scott Bourne, who started the world’s first internet radio station in the 1990’s.

In the interview which aired in 1995, Bourne talks about his company and the technology behind it, and I found it very interesting–it’s kind of like Star Trek meets 60 minutes. I’ve known Scott for a number of years and I highly recommend you check out his new hairstyle on one of his many podcasts and websites. One of my favorites is the iLifeZone podcast, which he hosts, along with two very knowledgeable and entertaining co-hosts: Derrick Story and Chris Breen. And if you’d like to listen to an interview I did with Scott, you can find it here.

Also, while prepping this post, I came across a great plug-in for embedding video from YouTube and other sources into WordPress blogs. It works like a charm, and you can find it here.
[youtube]XM6VnS2QHsw[/youtube]

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Highlights from the Macworld Expo 2007

The 2007 Macworld Expo is still in high gear as of this posting (the show floor closes on Friday 1/12 at 4pm). My predictions for the 2007 Keynote were not exactly right (not even close, actually), but I was just having fun, and I still think that some of my product predictions may be announced over the next 12 months. However, with the new iPhone introduction, I think we will see an iPod/internet communicator combo that uses the iPhone technology, but leaves out the phone functionality.

I also think that future models will have more flash memory (or a hard drive) and will be released within the next 12 months. For a great tour of the new iPhone, visit this link (screen shot below is from the linked web page). Be sure to click on all of the top-right icons (I’ve circled them in white) to see videos of all the features. The “accelerometer” sensor that instantly changes the screen image from horizontal to vertical is very cool.

Here are a few interesting products and related items that were announced at the show. One was on my prediction list, but it was announced by a third party:

1. The Axiotron ModBookâ„¢

Other World Computing and Axiotron, Inc. debuted the first ever Mac Tablet solution, named The Axiotron ModBook. This product uses an Apple MacBook notebook computer as its core engine, and adds touch-screen pen input, a new 13.3″ wide screen LCD and an optional Global Positioning System in a satin-finish, and a chrome-plated magnesium top shell.

There are three configurations available, and all include an integrated iSight camera and CD/DVD combo drive. I think this is an engineering breakthrough and I’m very curious how well the handwriting recognition works. I’m guessing that a wireless keyboard and mouse can be used with the device, which would give the device very good functionality at home and on the road.

The Axiotron ModBook (shown above) features Wacom Penabled hardware (which many photographers will recognize), and the pen requires no batteries or magnets. This technology allows the cursor to be controlled while the pen is hovering over the screen, providing for an intuitive, mouse-like interface with zero learning curve. My guess is that this product will work in a way similar to Wacom’s Cintiq line of touch-sensitive monitors.

During Macworld and until January 31st, Other World Computing is offering the ModBook base configuration plus the built-in Axiotron GPS Module at an introductory price of $2,199. For more information, visit www.macsales.com/modbook. This product also received an IDG Macworld Best of Show award. Related link: Mac OSX’s inkwell technology.

2. Joel Meyerowitz Presentation and Gallery

There will be a special presentation by world-renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz on Thurs., Jan. 11 at 2:45 pm. During his presentation, “Into the Light,” Joel will share his images and experiences from his 40-year career. His gallery will showcase Meyerowitz’ images from Tuscany, Cape Cod and Ground Zero in New York.

All prints were made on HP’s new Designjet Z Photo Printer Series. For more info, visit this page.

3. Mophie Illuminator Product Creation & Launch Event

Mophie, a Vermont-based company who specializes in designing and producing iPod accessories. At Macworld, the company will tap the minds of 30,000+ Macworld attendees to create a new product. This is a completely novel idea, and as someone who loves gadgets and design, I’ll be watching the Mophie blog closely. For more info about the Illuminator event, visit this page.

4. IDG Macworld Best of Show awards

Each year, the editors of Macworld magazine and Web sites announce their picks for Best of Show. To find out about all of of IDG’s Macworld Best of Show awards, visit this page. And if you’re there, enjoy the show!

Additional Macworld Expo links worth a look:

iLounge’s coverage of Macworld Expo 2007

The Mac Observer’s coverage of Macworld Expo 2007

MacMinute.com’s coverage of Macworld Expo

The Typical Mac User Macworld Expo coverage

The MacCast Macworld Expo coverage

TWiT’s Macworld Expo coverage (Check out Leo Laporte’s video interviews on MacBreak and the iLife Zone coverage by subscribing to their feeds on iTunes).