Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each inside and outside of the confines of Mountain View.
With regards to intensive photograph modifying and picture creation, there are few that may match as much as what Adobe can provide. It is one of the vital recognizable manufacturers on the market, and is price greater than Qualcomm, Sony, Spotify, and even Nintendo. But in 2025, it nonetheless cannot work out find out how to construct an software that is truly good.
Earlier this week, the Photoshop app for Android was lastly launched, after it was initially launched for iOS again in February. In actuality, the corporate has been making an attempt to determine cellular gadgets since 2009, earlier than pivoting to apps that solely provided particular modifying options.
Utilizing Photoshop and Lightroom has develop into a necessary a part of my workflow, so for sure, I used to be ecstatic to see it arrive on the Play Retailer. However then I downloaded it on the OnePlus Pad 3, and instantly needed to bang my head in opposition to the desk.
After I launched the app, it solely appeared in portrait view, which I assumed was solely as a result of I wanted to register first. After signing into my Adobe account, the app remained in portrait mode. Okay, I stated to myself, possibly I have to open a picture, after which it’s going to change over into panorama mode.
Nope.
It doesn’t matter what I do, the app is locked to portrait mode, and I simply do not get it. Possibly it was one thing to do with the OnePlus Pad 3, however that is not the case both. After putting in the app on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Professional Fold, it is extra of the identical.
This is not as a lot of a difficulty on foldable telephones, because of the square-ish facet ratio in comparison with many Android tablets. I knew the app was already out there on the iPhone and iPad, however hadn’t truly used it on both of these gadgets.
So after putting in it on my iPad Professional, would not ya know — it fired up in panorama orientation. Downloading an image took eternally, however I will chalk that as much as my web connection, which appears to fluctuate and minimize out randomly.
Lastly, however definitely not least, I needed to verify that the portrait mode lock will not be unique to the OnePlus Pad 3. I grabbed the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely, opened the Play Retailer, looked for the app, and could not even discover it. Then I went to Adobe’s Play Retailer itemizing web page, and naturally, the Photoshop app was proper there.
Think about my shock once I opened the Photoshop itemizing to obtain it, solely to be met with a “This app will not be suitable” message. How is it that one of many largest and hottest digital media corporations releases one of the vital extremely anticipated apps, just for it to not be “suitable” with arguably the most well-liked Android pill maker?
The rationale why all of that is so irritating is that I clearly choose modifying photos in panorama mode. I haven’t got the metrics, however I’d assume that that is the case for a lot of, if not the bulk. And no, I do not care that the app continues to be listed as “Beta,” as a result of the identical app has been on the iPad for nearly 4 months, and it really works as I would anticipate.
All of it simply harkens again to a bit I wrote in April about Android customers being handled as second-class residents. Throw in the truth that Photoshop is not even out there on Samsung’s newest pill, and it feels even worse.
In some cases, I can forgive an app not scaling or working correctly on tablets, particularly if stated app is made by a small crew or an indie developer. However that is Adobe we’re speaking about, and admittedly, there is not any excuse.
It is reached the purpose that I am truly leaning in direction of cancelling my Inventive Cloud subscription, one thing I’ve had for at the least 5 years. The issue is that I am conversant in what Adobe’s suite of apps is able to, and I am probably not fairly positive if something on the market can actually match that.
However, it positive looks like it is time for me to seek out out.
