Past the Alphabet
Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
Relating to in depth photograph modifying and picture creation, there are few that may match as much as what Adobe can supply. It is one of the recognizable manufacturers on the market, and is value greater than Qualcomm, Sony, Spotify, and even Nintendo. But in 2025, it nonetheless cannot determine find out how to construct an utility that is really good.
Earlier this week, the Photoshop app for Android was lastly launched, after it was initially launched for iOS back in February. In actuality, the corporate has been attempting to determine cellular gadgets since 2009, earlier than pivoting to apps that solely provided particular modifying options.
Utilizing Photoshop and Lightroom has change 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 wished to bang my head towards 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 mentioned to myself, perhaps I have to open a picture, after which it will 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. Perhaps 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 Pro 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 really 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 perpetually, however I am going to chalk that as much as my web connection, which appears to fluctuate and minimize out randomly.
Lastly, however actually not least, I wished to substantiate that the portrait mode lock shouldn’t be unique to the OnePlus Pad 3. I grabbed the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, 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 shouldn’t be appropriate” message. How is it that one of many largest and hottest digital media corporations releases one of the extremely anticipated apps, just for it to not be “appropriate” with arguably the most well-liked Android tablet maker?
The explanation why all of that is so irritating is that I clearly want editing pictures 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 mentioned app is made by a small crew or an indie developer. However that is Adobe we’re speaking about, and admittedly, there isn’t any excuse.
It is reached the purpose that I am really leaning in direction of cancelling my Inventive Cloud subscription, one thing I’ve had for no less than 5 years. The issue is that I am aware of what Adobe’s suite of apps is able to, and I am not likely fairly certain if something on the market can actually match that.
However, it certain looks like it is time for me to search out out.
