Adobe has just announced that in 6 months time they will launch an online version of arguably the most popular image editing software. Adobe’s CEO isn’t hiding that they plan to compete with Google, among other startups:

“If we offered a host-based version of Photoshop that’s Photoshop-branded (and is) potentially better than Picasa, you’d probably go the Photoshop route because of your belief in the Photoshop brand and the quality associated with the brand,”

And I really think that he’s right, although for the time, I have to admit that Picasa is one of the best applications you can get of the sort for Windows, and at no price whatsoever.

Even though this new Photoshop will be entirely free, it will have advertisement, so depending on how they do that, I’m not sure how well received it will be. If, for example, they allow for animated banners, it might drive some people away. The last thing I want when editing or organizing pictures is something annoying blinking in the corner of the window, but maybe that’s just me.