Technology
10.04.11
WoodWing + Adobe: What It Means for You
Why would WoodWing join forces with Adobe?
WoodWing's primary focus has always been related to workflow, helping publishers push content to different channels. When the iPad emerged as a new channel, there was no existing solution for publishers to make apps, so WoodWing developed its own. Its partnership with Adobe allowed WoodWing to create a set of tools that worked with Adobe InDesign, and ultimately competed with Adobe's own solution. Rather than continue to compete with its partner, WoodWing returns its focus to workflow with Adobe's Digital Publishing Suite serving as the publishing engine for tablets.
What changes?
For designers, not as much as you'd think. WoodWing will continue to develop and support its creation tools -- the plug-ins that work with InDesign to enable designers to create apps. WoodWing users will continue to use Content Station to manage assets and turn InDesign layouts into working apps. Currently, Content Station generates files that are placed into a folder alongside WoodWing's Reader framework and converted into apps using Apple's XCode software. As a result of yesterday's announcement, Content Station will be retooled so that apps are uploaded as .folio files to Adobe's servers and displayed and shared using the Adobe Viewer app before being submitted to Apple.
Adobe will continue to offer its own set of creation tools, giving designers a choice. Adobe's announcement yesterday of a $399 edition will make it much more accessible for small shops and freelance designers.
How does this benefit our community of editorial designers and creatives?
Adobe's Viewer streamlines the process of building apps without using complicated development software. Today you share a pre-released WoodWing app by adding the recipient's iPad identification number to a database maintained by Apple and then load the app via iTunes. With DPS, the app magically appears on the recipient's iPad using Adobe's intuitive Content Viewer app.
Currently, WoodWing users need to build an app to Apple's simulator or an external device in order to test functionality. With DPS, users can preview widgets and functionality right on their desktops, as well as through the Content Viewer on an external device.
Adobe offered integrated analytics using its Omniture service that will help publishers and designers better understand how their apps are used by consumers.
When does all of this happen?
WoodWing will demonstrate its DPS integration next week at IFRA Expo 2011 in Vienna, and expects to be fully integrated with DPS in early November.
When we have more questions, where do we go for answers?
Right here, for starters. SPD will continue to maintain this post for questions posted by members and visitors, with answers from Joe Zeff Design and others. Also, bookmark
these links:
http://www.joezeffdesign.com/blog
http://woodwing.com/en/tablet-publishing-overview
and
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitalpublishingsuite/