Adobe, once the standard for creating rich media and extravagant Flash, CSS, and other explosive designs, is now in trouble due to the open sourced nature of the Internet. The Creative Suite used to be the end-all-be-all for web designers and creative agencies, but free applications on desktop computers and applications designed to integrate with the iPad are beginning to win over many in the profession.

The three major things Adobe needs to do to keep their market relevance is to create a relevant Cloud Computing network, create open sourced development software that supports HTML5 and develop software that gives tablet users the ability to create away from their desktops.

Cloud Computing Software

Adobe hopes to make their Creative Cloud software a fully integrated experience for designers and developers. Users will be able to create content on the iPads with the many Adobe touch applications which will soon to be released and then use the Creative Suite programs to add finishing touches and make their work professional.

According to Mac World, the Creative Cloud will come with 20GB of space and be released in early 2012.

Open Sourced HTML5

For the next couple of years, Adobe will stay above water because Google’s Android operating system is still allowing Flash based applications to run on. HTML5 is the only thing used on the iPad because of its open source availability and its quick load time compared to Adobe’s Flash Player.

It is possible to create open sourced .swf documents through other applications, but Adobe’s Flash CS5 is the only viable standard for the programing platform. There are better programs which allow developers to create beautiful designs on open sourced standards. Adobe will have to use its large market share and stock options in order to develop a program that delivers the goods.

Tablet Applications

With the predominance of Apple’s mobile iOS and Google’s Android based services, Microsoft has been kicked down a couple of notches on their monopoly on operating systems because of their failure to create popular mobile software. While Adobe is still used on desktop computers, more designers will turn to the iPad in order to create.

According to Thomas Claburn of Information Week, Adobe has taken proactive steps in procuring tablet software. They have bought TypeKit, a font provider, and Nitobi, the creators of a popular open sourced HTML5 development platform. Ideas, Muse, and Edge will all be featured in the Adobe Creative Cloud when it becomes available.

It looks as if Adobe has taken the proper steps in order to thrive in the cloud computing generation. The only disappointing thing is that they were not at the forefront of the advances, like the aggressive and innovative company we know them to be.