LAS VEGAS - San Jose, CA's Adobe www.adobe.com has introduced a new, low-cost DVD authoring software. Titled Encore DVD, the $549 authoring tool is expected to begin shipping this summer, with an update anticipated by the end of the year.
The new authoring tool is a response to Adobe's own research, which suggests that 50 percent of its Premiere NLE customers are planning on purchasing a DVD-R drive this year. And with drive prices dropping, the company feels that percentage could increase.
Encore DVD will initially be delivered as a PC product, with no immediate plans for a Mac version. The tool promises seamless integration with Adobe's Photoshop tool, allowing users to make changes to graphic elements without having to leave the authoring environment. Adobe says Encore DVD is the only DVD authoring application that allows users to alter .psd files without having to leave the application. Rather than taking a "flow chart" approach to authoring, Encore is based on a "list view" approach, allowing users to see lists of all video clips, buttons or graphics at once.