Adobe Media Player 1.0 and Adobe TV

Posted on April 23, 2008 at 5:07 am

Watching your favorite shows on the Internet is nothing new, but it seems as though everyone is trying to get on the bandwagon. Services like Joost and Hulu have already given us plenty of access to our favorite programming and many other undiscovered ones as well.

Now Adobe has decided to launch its own version of online television. Users can choose programs from a few major television networks or Internet only stations via Adobe Media Player 1.0. Having instant access to shows allows more control over what you watch and when. Instead of worrying about missing your shows, you’ll be able to watch them on your own customizable schedule.

In order to enjoy using Adobe Media Player 1.0, you must have Adobe Air installed on your computer system. It’s a relatively small download and won’t take long to install. Although Adobe Media Player 1.0 is a Beta version, it works reasonably well. There are a few kinks in the application that cause it to stall every now and then. Despite this little setback, it still works better than some Beta applications I’ve previously tried.

The interface for Adobe Media Player 1.0 is free from clutter with a clean look. On the main screen you’ll notice CSI: NY and The Hills proudly displayed on it. To reach other programs, just select the “Popular Genres” section or search for them in the “Catalog” space. As you begin to search for programming, a sidebar will be shown for a more convenient selection method. The large thumbnails and menu options also allow easier reading instead of having to search all over the place.

Users can also download most shows instead of just watching them streamed from the Internet. However, there are some that are only available as online streams. Most programs are delivered in high quality with hardly any buffering, but there are others that are very poor in quality.

Depending on which program you choose, viewing these shows in fullscreen can be easily done and at a good quality. Considering that this is a Beta version, encountering some issues isn’t a surprise. Hopefully, they can be cleared up soon for a more enjoyable experience in the future.

Adobe has definitely been busy lately. Not only has it released an entertainment service via Adobe Media Player 1.0, but it has also released an instructional one as well. With Adobe TV, users can also view multiple channels of Adobe only content geared towards photographers, designers, video professionals and even developers. These instructional videos can provide useful tips and techniques from the Adobe team.

There are more than 100 videos that offer podcasts for Creative Suite, Photoshop secrets, case studies and a few other things. These tutorials are meant to help Adobe users understand how to benefit most from the Adobe products they use on a regular basis.

You’ll be able to subscribe to this video content and hopefully develop some inspirational ideas. It seems as though Adobe is trying to offer a more hands on approach to their users. Instead of having to go through the learning process alone, you can view instructional videos step by step.

Overall, Adobe has created two useful services that have great potential. Once the bugs have been cleared up in Adobe Media Player 1.0 and it has a larger selection of mainstream television programs, it will be a totally cool application. With Adobe TV, users can feel confident as they learn with guided help. Both services are convenient to use and worth a look.

Ms Yokum
Tech Enthusiast & Blogger

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