Adobe's New Subscription Service Goes Live And Is Cracked In Less Than 24 Hours
from the DRM-less-effective-than-leading-deodorant-brands dept
Adobe's products are widely acknowledged to be some of the most pirated software in the world. Not that Adobe has done much to prevent this sort of behavior. True, it has (with the BSA's aid and blessing) "raided" infringing companies and extracted license fees. But it's done nothing at all to make its software more appealing to prospective purchasers. The prices are still astronomical (even more so in many foreign countries) and its steadfast adherence to planned obsolescence means those paying the exorbitant asking price may find themselves with incompatible software a few years down the road.In an effort to combat piracy and lower the admission fee, Adobe has launched a subscription-only platform called Creative Cloud which gives subscribers access to Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Dreamweaver and Fireworks for $30-50/month.
In what will come as a surprise to roughly no one, Creative Cloud has already been cracked.
Adobe latest product, the subscription based suite Creative Cloud is cracked and available on torrent sites one day after its release. The torrent is posted on torrent sites such as the Piratebay and is nearly 1.4 GB big. It was posted by an apparently Chinese user. Comments on the torrent report that the software can be installed and works.Adobe claims the software will work for 99 days without an internet verification (although the Cloud phones home once a month) before becoming inoperable. It also requires an internet connection during install, but blocking Adobe's access post-install and applying the crack seems to do the trick.
You have to wonder how much was invested in building a DRM scheme that managed to hold out for almost 24 hours. You also have to wonder if this result, combined with any issues the phone-home system may cause for paying users down the road, have had any effect on Adobe's future DRM plans. If this crack works, it's like having no DRM at all, which would definitely be a cheaper route to take during development. Any hopes that a dip in piracy would result in a corresponding sales bump have effectively been scuttled.
At this point, pushing forward with DRM would take the company toward SimCity-esque levels of customer antipathy. Server side-only saves, anyone? Grayed-out menu selections and tools that only work when the software is in touch with headquarters? Accepting the inevitable would save Adobe money, time and aggravation. Or maybe, deep down, Adobe doesn't care. This cracked software is building them a future customer base that will be addicted to its software because they got their first hit for free.
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From the financial point of view she would not even be able to pay the $30 dollars per month. She uses the neighbors open wireless connection as she can't pay for her own after rental, basic survival and college expenses are paid. She pays them alone.
Now suppose Adobe doesn't care about those poor souls pirating the thing out of their sheer benevolence. When this girl graduates and starts putting her skills to fruition she'd need a copy. There's an option that seems to encompass her needs for 75 USD per month. That's a shitload of money for our country wages. We'd have 170 BRL considering the average wages for a designer starting their career hovers around the 2500 BRL or nearly 1000 USD (BRL = Brazilian Reais and USD = US dollars). And I'm not talking about other software she might need. It's not payable. The only alternative is piracy.
Imagine those who use occasionally for some random, personal endeavors?
The subscription version is actually much more expensive in the long run if you consider the CS4 pack is still pretty much usable these days. When Adobe stops acting like morons and charge non-extortive prices I'm sure piracy will slow down. How about $2-3 per month per product? Maybe even I who rarely use their products would sign in every once in a while to edit my stuff.
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Go to:
Windows -> Single-Window Mode.
Gimp is very powerful, it can do almost everything Photoshop can with the exception maybe of the light photon trajectory calculations that Photoshop can do and its used to enhance photos taken, everything else Gimp can do it too, is just that is not as automated as Photoshop and have a different layout.
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And be sure to ignore all the other FLOSS out there, even though there are all kinds of tools that do all kinds of tasks, even though they're constantly improving (with the help of developers AND users), even though they run on just about anything, even though they...oh, never mind. You already have.
Your masters at Adobe approve of your conduct, slave.
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Maybe GIMP has greatly improved since I last tried to use it. I was simply stating that I didn't like it when I did. I was simply stating that from my experience with GIMP (which wasn't THAT long ago) the claim that it was less clunky than PS seemed very backwards.
Furthermore, I don't think Adobe is stupid enough to allow themselves to have an EA or RIM moment. They have to put on the "PIRACY IS BAD, m'kay?" face publicly because it's expected of them in the business world. But deep down they actually know that it helps them stay on top.
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That is, if you can stand to have your eyeballs bleed. It's hideous. It's one of the most appalling displays of incompetence in software you will ever see -- right up there with IE and Outlook. And it's ongoing. As in "Has there been a gaping security hole in Acrobat yet this month?" "No, but there will be. Count on it."
The only reason people go for their products is that people go for their products. (Which is kinda your point, I think.) The sheep, bleating in their ignorance and cowardice, are afraid to even TRY something else. Or they try one thing (Gimp) and then whine because it's too much of a challenge. And so the herd continues to throw money at Adobe while simultaneously complaining about the cost and the terms and the unreliability and the and the and the.
Install a spine. Dump Adobe. They're obsolete.
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As one who has used both reasonably extensively, I would say they're both very awkward to use, and about equally so.
While neither has an advantage in terms of usability, they're very different to use. Someone who is used to PS will have some difficulty learning the GIMP way, and vice versa.
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Try doing that, and see what happens. Good luck.
I find that when you zoom in 400%, you can work pixel by pixel. It's fiddly to work with Photoshop in that way, I tried to when I was in college.
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On the mac, Pixelmator is an *ok* alternative, but still missing a few tools I use in Photoshop all the dang time.
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I "need" it, therefore I can take it
Put aside for now the arguments over whether DRM or IP laws are worthwhile or selfish, effective or useless. The bottom line is that they exist. It is unfortunate that some schools are so stupid that they willingly lock their students into the slave treadmill of proprietary software licenses, DRM, and IP. So why support that system in the first place? Because "everyone" is doing it? (They're not.)
What if the school fees go so high that her only choice is to become a hooker, drug dealer, or thief to pay for her book licenses. Justifiable? She's using her neighbor's wifi bandwidth. If the neighbor is OK with that, great. If not, the argument is, "they didn't use big enough locks (so to speak) so it's mine for the taking?"
Yes, I think a lot of things in these areas are stupid and wasteful and I wish more people and organizations were more sharing and open. However, if more people had the backbone to just say "no" to this stupidity and vote with their money (including their school and software choices), I believe economic forces would drive organizations to improve their customer service or die. I've seen it many times before.
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Re: I "need" it, therefore I can take it
However, if more people had the backbone to just say "no" to this stupidity
You're sending confused messages here. So we're supposed to 'obey the law' just because it exists, no matter how stupid, while at the same time making a stand against the companies who have had those laws pushed through?
No. I will not pretend to be stupid. I will not pretend that non-scarce things are scarce. I will not pretend that ideas and culture can be owned and restricted. I am making a stand. I will not obey laws which run counter to the good of society.
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On the similarity of Adobe users to gamers
Oh, I know, I've heard the whining: "But but BUT there isn't anything else."
Bullshit. If you spent 1/10 the time you spend whining on actually learning then you would be getting productive work done using FLOSS, you would be paying $0 to these idiots, you would no longer have to put up with their crap, and you would solve this problem permanently.
Anyone sticking with Adobe deserves to be fleeced, to lose all their work, to be screwed by their DRM. Why? Because they're begging for it.
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The package works if you need all the software and want to stay current with the automatic upgrades.
Plus, you can discontinue the subscription temporarily and pick it up later with no penalty. (The software stays on your computer, it just wont open until you renew...)
There's also a $19.99 per-month deal for any ONE product PhotoShop/DreamWeaver/InDesign/etc with automatic upgrades...
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Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jun 26th, 2013 @ 5:47am
I love the gimp, but for making money, even (especially ) basic use is much much faster in photoshop.
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Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jun 26th, 2013 @ 5:47am
If you are building a table and will probably let the screwdriver rust to death then go to harbor freight.
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Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jun 26th, 2013 @ 5:47am
PhotoShop is better from day one.
It has little to do with ones experience level (value of PS vs GIMP), though that is certainly relevant. It's that PS is just faster to do many types of operations (better select tools, better stamp type tools, pretty decent content fill delete all being super simple tools).
The more advanced, but hardly difficult to use effectively things, such as vector support and non-destructive editing are pretty useful for someone that has even a brief amount of experience.
Yes, PS is a tool for professionals, but it hardly requires an expert to benefit from it's use. I oft see stated that PS 6 is enough for anyone, and CS2 being free is all one needs, but the newer tools benefit the inexperienced users most.
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Creative Cloud Was Released over a year ago
Adobe did release a major update to their major products; so you are probably referring to 24 hours after the release of that update; not 24 hours after the release of the subscription service.
The Creative cloud Subscription includes some services; such as a dropbox like file sharing utility and integration with Behance a platform for sharing work. I assume such services are not easily 'crackable' due to their nature.
But, I'm not the least bit surprised that the desktop software was cracked, though.
[Disclaimer: I am an Adobe Community Professional http://www.adobe.com/communities/professionals/ ]
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Just Subscribing
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If you can't access your "licenses", Adobe treats you as a pirate first, customer second, and you will have to pay full price to restore your previous lost information despite owning the software (now locked out).
I despise Adobe, but my company will not use anything else, even with all the alternatives presented.
Because in the corporate world, licenses must be on file or risk being sued and I've yet to see too many businesses embrace open source software because they see "virus", not cost-effective solutions.
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Free, but stuck in time
The big potential drawback that I can see with installing a cracked version of the Creative Cloud apps is that you won't be able to get any updates to your product, and importantly you won't get any upgraded functionality that comes down the pike to paying Creative Cloud users. Unlike with previous Creative Suites, there won't be updates available via the Adobe website, they will only come down through the Creative Cloud client software - which means going online and being checked to see if you're a subscriber. And contrary to what has happened in the past, Adobe are actually releasing new features for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. much more frequently, since they're no longer constrained by having to hit a release date for an entire new version and consequently pushing back features that aren't ready yet.
The other thing you'll miss out on with the pirated copy is access to the extra features of Creative Cloud - the 20GB of file storage, integration with Behance, the free ProSite portfolio, Business Catalyst, TypeKit, etc. - because again, that will require connecting to Creative Cloud.
As time goes by, I expect that the gap between what owners of the pirated software get and what paying subscribers get is going to get a lot wider - unlike some of the naysayers I've heard complaining about Adobe having no incentive to improve their software, I've actually used it, and see no evidence to back up that claim - quite the opposite!
One thing I will say against Creative Cloud - and Adobe's pricing generally - is that they are still charging a lot more to people outside of the USA, and really need to be more transparent about why this is so. They've already caught heat for this in Australia, and I'd be very surprised if the EU doesn't start looking into this at some point. This has been going on for way too long - I went to New York in 2007 and picked up a copy of CS3 whilst I was there because it was so much cheaper than the UK version. At the very least, they should consider making the discounted prices for the first year of Creative Cloud permanent - I don't think that is going to hurt their bottom line in the slightest, and might actually boost it.
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Re: Free, but stuck in time
Is there any reason to expect that future updates won't be cracked just as easily, and hence available ~24 hours after release? It's more work than automatic updates, I guess, but on the plus side Adobe can't take functionality away without permission.
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Well, that's a gamble you're going to have to take. A lot will depend on how the updates are delivered through Creative Cloud, and how easy it is to intercept the update and combine it with the existing software configuration. Since the article doesn't give much detail of how the CC package was obtained, it could be that whoever did it got lucky, and that Adobe may now change their system to block that route.
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DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
And in any case, PIRATES CAUSE DRM, not honest people.
Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
http://techdirt.com/
Where "I'm a pirate! You can't stop me!" is one of the more thoughtful fanboy positions.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Stupid executives cause DRM, I don't disagree that they're not dishonest though.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Strong DRM = Bad
Weak DRM = Pointless
No DRM = Good. You can always sell T-shirts.
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Re: Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
There are other ways to fight piracy. Take for example putting out a software where people pay you (except pirates) to use that they actually like. You open up the communication and say "hey, we'll fix problem you want fixed if you sign a 2 year contract, pay us some money for it, or just are willing to buy a private version for companies willing to do that". Of course use a NDA and have specific version number or tacking method for each customer so you can track who leaks something if it leaks. It's not DRM, just a tracking/liability for breaking an NDA. You collect money, develop new stuff and privatitize the new version to paying customers.
You still have a good product people like in the public (that is pirated/cheaper for students or something), but you're also giving people a reason to pay you.
Then after 6 months or a year, release the private version to the public to get even more money for it....
See you can profit with a good product without DRM....
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Re: Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Weak DRM = Pointless
No DRM = Good. You can always sell T-shirts.
It works more like this:
Strong DRM = Pointless for piracy and frequently screws even your best customers
Weak DRM = Pointless for piracy and occasionally screws your customers.
No DRM = Thanks to pirates, your product becomes the de facto industry standard and every working professional must buy a copy.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Because of those rules, chip manufacturers (NVIDIA, AMD) don't release full specifications for their in-chip media decoding capabilities. You see, apparently that could expose them to lawsuits, because they would, technically, be giving you the ability to "break" DRM.
And thanks to that, you can't have proper media decoding in open-source drivers. You have a kludge of reverse-engineered code that "sort of" works.
Thanks a lot Hollywood. Because of your paranoia, I have to pollute my system with binary blobs - and trust that those blobs wont wreck my system - just so I have a decent video experience.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Not quite the same thing.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
private property is transferable and reducible. "Intellectual property" is not. Your argument is invalid.
Asserting property rights over creative output causes more problems than it solves. That is a proven fact, however much you rave about it, crazy copyright lady.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
If I have a house and have no locks on any of my doors it doesn't automatically become zoned as public property that people can just come and go as they please.
Where exactly do you come up with these screwed up ideas?
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
DRM is not always used to stop piracy. Often it's just a way for the greedy to be even more ridiculously greedy.
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Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Go get yourself one of those CDs and slit your throat with it, you useless waste of space.
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Re: Re: DRM like locks on doors to state clearly: PRIVATE PROPERTY.
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Sounds like they drew the wrong conclusions.
YEEEEEAAAAAAHHH!
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You've drawn the wrong conclusions
The version of Photoshop available in Creative Cloud is a desktop application, just like the old versions of Photoshop. Photoshop was not "put in the cloud".
Creative Cloud is primarily just a different way for Adobe to sell their desktop / creative suite products.
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Just to clarify what this means - customers in Germany are being charged the equivalent of $80 per month as opposed to customers in the US paying $50.
I don't really have any issues with them using DRM to be honest, but their international pricing is a joke.
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Probably fine for serious developers, but expensive for casual ones.
They would need some serious fringe benefits to make that worthwhile.
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A single product, such as Photoshop is available at $20 a month.
That said; I agree it is expensive for casual users; but probably a no-brainer for a professional user who makes their income off said tools.
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It's all about the taxes
It would an interesting exercise to work out where your Adobe software is actually billed from. I'm guessing it's not in Germany, in your case...
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Be honest
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What I don't understand is why Abode doesn't simply release old versions of their software for free. That would stave off most of the piracy, let people get accustomed to their software, and build a legitimate audience for the latest products. They could also get contact info and other useful marketing data that they don't get from pirates. It's not like they've ever been successful at preventing people from getting their stuff.
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Think of the poor developers
Here is a guy that probably told his boss that it was a bad idea when it started, but then put in tons of thought and effort to make something that would be effective. Instead, he is waiting to get his walking papers.
The moral of the story: if you are a developer being told to add DRM to something, you are better off playing solitaire for a year and using a text file to store a password for your DRM plan.
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Then there is their penchant for data mining. Their software wants to connect every two or three days and phone home. It's sure not that they are upgrading that often or putting out tweeks. The last thing is that photoshop has become bloated beyond all necessity. It's certainly too expensive for the job it does.
I've been using GIMP for maybe 4 years or better. It does everything that photoshop does for my needs. It actually gives you a choice about whether you want it's name in the Exif metadata, unlike photoshop. It's price is far more realistic.
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Fucking rocket scientists, I tell ya.
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That and a lack of serious competition on the professional side. It's just what everyone uses.
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Bad Adobe
Here's an idea! Build a series of small light tools people can use. Lower the price that individual people can afford. License your tools for enterprise in a reasonable way. Eliminate DRM altogether. Create upgrades (add value) people want to pay for.
DRM seems to be Adobe's biggest source of aggravation. When I read the forums and use Adobe products myself, it's always the DRM that causes annoyance. No matter how they implement it, it stops you from using the product and causes you to do things you shouldn't need to do.
1) Being on the internet. Why is this necessary? What if I'm on the train using my laptop?
2) Requiring original DVD media. Installing Adobe products on a USB drive? Can't do it. Huh? I have a new Ultrabook. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to install Adobe products on it since none of the DVD media will copy to my thumb drive and be readable.
I'm still using CS4. Even the DRM on that version is unreasonable. I have no plans to "upgrade". When I need to, I'll seek other solutions to my creative tools. I've already moved on to Visual Studio and no longer use Dream Weaver. I'll replace PhotoShop with Paint.Net, InDesign will probably be replaced with Quark, Illustrator may be replaced with Canvas or Corel.
Perhaps Adobe will simply buy up all the remaining tools made by other vendors. That may work.
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Re: Bad Adobe
They cannot do that to Gimp, Scribus, Inkscape, Blender etc. as all are open source with multiple copies of the source code on private machines.
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A very smart move because whether you like it or not it will be cracked.
A new security is nothing more than a new challenge being issued by the company making it.
It says one thing, I bet you can't crack it and of course they're always wrong. If it can be secured it can be unsecured plain and simple.
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