Adobe Tests Streaming Photoshop to Chromebook

Adobe today announced that it has begun porting Photoshop to Chrome OS-based Chromebooks, further eroding the advantage of Windows-based PCs over this newer type of laptop. The initial Photoshop version for Chromebook will be streaming-only and available on a very limited basis , but Adobe is promising to improve things and port other Creative Cloud solutions to Chromebook too.

To be clear, this is a very limited start to what promises to be a staged rollout. The only way to get the Photoshop technology beta on Chromebook now is to be a US-based Adobe education customer with a paid Creative Cloud membership. And even then you need to apply to be allowed to try it. But if you meet these requirements, are allowed in, and have a high-speed Internet connection, you can now access a streaming version of full-blown Photoshop on your Chromebook.

"Project Photoshop Streaming enables selected participants to access Photoshop on Chromebooks," Adobe explains. "Applications delivered via streaming are easy to access and easy to manage. Even better, streaming apps work directly with files in Google Drive, so no need to download and re-upload files - just edit directly in the cloud."

This very early version of Photoshop for Chromebook provides the following features:

Creative tools. Streaming access to Photoshop with other products coming soon.

Access from any Windows device with a Chrome browser or from a Chromebook.

Learning tools. Access to Adobe Education Exchange learning content and an in-app Learning panel called 'Learn Now'.

Support. Participants can access Project Photoshop Streaming Feedback and Forum support.

To beg Adobe to let you try this curious new product, review the eligibility requirements and application process and then submit your application. Maybe this will be a more mainstream solution in the future. You know, like a Chromebook.

(Kidding. Relax.)