As part of the CS4 product launch, the largest in Adobe’s history, also available today are brand new versions of Photoshop® CS4, Photoshop CS4 Extended, InDesign® CS4, Illustrator® CS4, Flash CS4 Professional, Dreamweaver® CS4, Fireworks® CS4, Contribute® CS4, After Effects® CS4, Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4, Encore® CS4, Soundbooth® CS4 and Adobe OnLocation™ CS4. Adobe Creative Suite 4 and its associated point products are immediately available through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/store. Estimated street price for the Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium is US$1799, US$1699 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium, US$1699 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, and US$2499 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection. To reward customers for staying current, Adobe is offering Creative Suite 3 customers moving to Creative Suite 4 a lower upgrade price than it offers to those moving from older, qualifying versions. For a limited time, a special introductory offer enables customers with older qualifying products to enjoy the same lower price with savings of up to US$200 off their actual upgrade price. For more detailed information please visit www.adobe.com/creativesuite. Read the full PRESS Released here.

After the launch now the hands-on. And once again thanks to PopPhoto.com for this great review by Debbie Grossman. Photoshop just got simpler. With each new version, Adobe Photoshop has always gotten more complex and slightly more difficult to use. Not anymore. Photoshop CS4 ($700, street, new; $200, upgrade) has new features and significant changes to the interface that make learning and using the software much simpler. Until now, if you had multiple files open, you would have to flip through them using the Window menu. But with CS4's new application frame, you can open several files and quickly tab between them (A), plus manage the display of lots of files at once. On the top toolbar of the new frame, you'll find the revamped Zoom tool. Finally making full use of your computer's graphics card, CS4 renders a file smoothly at any magnification. So no more restricting your editing to preset zoom levels such as 25% or 50%. You can also click and hold the tool over the image to zoom smoothly in or out. The most powerful interface change: New panels for Adjustments and Masks (B), which had been stumbling blocks for many photographers. Old hands will have to get used to the ...