iOS 11 was a major release for Apple's mobile devices, but it was especially significant for the iPad as it turned Apple's formidable tablet line into a full-fledged computer, as opposed to oversized, glorified iPhones.
It wasn't perfect, though: The tablet did become far more functional, but Apple still held off a bunch of desktop-level apps, such as Photoshop. That was despite the iPad presumably being capable of handling them.
That'll soon change, however.
Adobe: We're Bringing Full Photoshop On iPad
Bloomberg reports that Adobe is working on a full version of Photoshop that'll run on the iPad. It's planning to announce it this coming October and roll it out by next year. Scott Belsky, chief product officer for Creative Cloud, has now confirmed the cross-platform edition of Photoshop, though he didn't provide a release date.
It's not like the iPad lacks a wealth of photo manipulation software, to be sure. Even Adobe already has a bunch for the tablet, including a much simplified version of Photoshop called Photoshop Express. However, none of these mobile versions can hold a candle to the level of functionality provided by the full version of Adobe's software, which is why mobile-focused rivals, such as Affinity Photo, have been able to garner a huge chunk of the market.
Edits On The Fly
According to Bloomberg's report, the decision to release Photoshop on iPad is a change of strategy for Adobe, which is apparently looking to encourage hobbyists and casual users to try their hand at photo editing. Professional users aren't lost on the company's radar, though. In fact, it's because of their repeated requests to do "edits on the fly" that eventually convinced Adobe to consider porting the full version over to Apple's tablet.
Of course, Apple will definitely be more than pleased about this news, especially since it'll bolster the idea that its iPad is just as powerful as a standard PC. No matter how debatable that statement is, the fact is that the lines between computers and tablets are steadily blurring. Sure, a PC is probably the better choice when it comes to intensive tasks such as video editing and rendering, but for casual users, an iPad is probably sufficient enough — and with the full version of Photoshop on board, it may be just the perfect gadget for their needs.
That being said, it's not exactly clear how Adobe plans to implement the software for the iPad, as Photoshop works best with keyboard shortcuts and maneuvers performed with a trackpad or mouse.
Do you think iPads can pass for computers these days? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
