Adobe Debuts Free Multimedia App for iPad

Adobe has unveiled Slate, a new tool for iPad that allows students and teachers to produce multimedia presentations that are viewable on any platform.

Slate allows users to combine text and images into template-driven, multi-page interactive documents that offer transition effects, professionally designed typographical themes and photo layouts and cover treatments, all in an HTML5 package that is viewable through all modern browsers.

Adobe piloted the software with a small number of teachers and students. An example of one student's work in Slate (a report on the Grand Canyon) can be viewed below.

As Adobe described it: "Bringing Adobe's unrivaled creative software expertise —  across digital imagery, page-layout, typography, and Web design — to a mass audience, Slate is made for anyone who wants to communicate with impact. Students, teachers, non-profit organizations, small business owners or corporate communicators can now turn their next report, newsletter or travel adventure into a document that captures attention. Through professionally designed magazine-style layouts with elegant fonts, beautiful colors and eye-catching motion, Slate content automatically adapts to any device for a high-impact reading experience on tablets, smartphones or computers. Slate creations are links that can be shared easily via text message, email, embedded in websites, or posted on social media channels."

Adobe has also released an update to Adobe Voice, its free storytelling tool for iPad. The new version offers improved text overlays, new font layouts and new motion graphics. It also offers the ability to see how many times a presentation has been viewed, and it includes categorized video examples.

Adobe Slate is available now via iTunes. It requires an iPad 2 or newer running iOS 8. When asked whether an Android version was in the works, Adobe representatives said they were making no announcements about Android at this time. Further details can be found at adobe.com/slate.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • laptop screen displaying a typed essay, on a child

    McGraw Hill Acquires Essaypop Digital Learning Tool

    Education company McGraw Hill has announced the acquisition of Essaypop, a cloud-based writing tool that will enhance the former's portfolio of personalized learning capabilities.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • reDesign Future9 report

    ReDesign Updates 9 Essential Competencies for K-12 Students

    ReDesign, a provider of support and resources for competency-based education, has updated its Future9 Competency Framework to reflect the essential skills K-12 students need today to thrive in their education and workforce journeys.