Adobe Lightroom: Perpetual to Subscription Transition: Difference between revisions
Rework some of the intro |
Added mention of Maps module becoming unavailable, explained privacy issues for professional photographers |
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|December 2017 | |December 2017 | ||
|Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses. | |Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses. | ||
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|November 2018 | |||
|Map feature becomes unavailable in Maps module for everyone on a perpetual license<ref>https://robertreiser.photography/re-enable-maps-view-in-lightroom-classic/</ref> | |||
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|2018–Present | |2018–Present | ||
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# '''Feature Reclassification''': New functionalities, such as advanced editing tools and enhanced syncing capabilities, were incorporated into the subscription model, positioning them as premium features accessible only through ongoing payments. | # '''Feature Reclassification''': New functionalities, such as advanced editing tools and enhanced syncing capabilities, were incorporated into the subscription model, positioning them as premium features accessible only through ongoing payments. | ||
# '''Cloud Integration Justification''': Adobe leveraged cloud-based features and services as a rationale for the shift, emphasizing improved collaboration, storage solutions, and real-time updates as benefits of the subscription model. | # '''Cloud Integration Justification''': Adobe leveraged cloud-based features and services as a rationale for the shift, emphasizing improved collaboration, storage solutions, and real-time updates as benefits of the subscription model. | ||
# '''Technical Lock-In Mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription. | # '''Technical Lock-In Mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription. This includes deliberate omission of highly requested features (catalogs on network volumes, local sync for the iPad version Lightroom Mobile). | ||
=== Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed-->=== | === Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed-->=== | ||
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* '''Ownership Rights''': Consumers lost the sense of ownership over the software, as access became contingent upon maintaining active subscriptions rather than possessing a perpetual license. | * '''Ownership Rights''': Consumers lost the sense of ownership over the software, as access became contingent upon maintaining active subscriptions rather than possessing a perpetual license. | ||
* '''Offline Access Limitations''': Subscription models often require periodic internet connectivity for license verification, limiting offline access to editing tools compared to perpetual licenses. | * '''Offline Access Limitations''': Subscription models often require periodic internet connectivity for license verification, limiting offline access to editing tools compared to perpetual licenses. | ||
* '''Privacy Issues:''' Working with the software on multiple devices is only feasible by using the cloud service, which potentially requires images of third parties (clients, models) to be shared with the company and their cloud storage provider(s) without end-to-end encryption. In a practical environment, a model/client will not be asked for their permission for this. If they are asked and object, the photographer's workflow is disrupted. For non US citizen, Adobe cloud storage can mean that the US government can theoretically illegitimately gain access to their persoal data. | |||
==== Market and Industry Implications ==== | ==== Market and Industry Implications ==== | ||
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* '''Capture One''': Provides single-purchase licensing options alongside subscription models. | * '''Capture One''': Provides single-purchase licensing options alongside subscription models. | ||
* '''Affinity Photo''': Offers a one-time purchase model without subscription commitments. | * '''Affinity Photo''': Offers a one-time purchase model without subscription commitments. However, while it can process raw images, it is more of a Photoshop alternative than a Lightroom one. | ||
* '''Darktable and RawTherapee''': Open-source alternatives that remain free and perpetually available. | * '''Darktable and RawTherapee''': Open-source alternatives that remain free and perpetually available. | ||