Following our previous article, Adobe Answers to Linux Development Questions, several people on Digg.com and elsewhere had comments about questions they would like to see Adobe answer. I said I would see what I could get from Adobe. I again contacted Kelly Murphy of A&R Edelman, a PR firm handling Adobe’s media inquiries, and asked her assistance. Kelly was kind enough to get answers to your questions. Well, what passes for answers from big, corporate entities with policies in place as to what can be said and when it can be said.
Here are some of your Adobe Linux questions with the answers Adobe is willing to give you. All I ask is that you do not shoot the messengers (me and/or Kelly). The questions are in red, Adobe’s answers are plain text and my comments about the answers, if any, are in italics.
1. Is Adobe working on GNU/Linux versions of other Adobe products besides Adobe AIR? If so, can someone list which ones?
Adobe develops products based on customer needs and demand. Adobe has shown a commitment to the Linux communities through a number of offerings including Adobe AIR for Linux, Adobe Flex Builder 3 for Linux, and Adobe Flash Player for Linux and Adobe Reader for Linux. We have not made any other announcements about other Linux based products at this time.
I am so tempted to make a pithy, sarcastic comment about “announcements”. Instead I will just say Adobe is a purveyor of the obvious here. It is a given that most Linux users already know about these projects mentioned by Adobe. Developers will likely know about all of them. Average users already know about Flash Player and Reader for Linux. The question would not need to be asked if Adobe had already been forthcoming about its’ Linux plans for the future. I suppose it is extremely difficult for closed-source companies to see a benefit to openness with regard to future product speculation.
2. Will Adobe offer GNU/Linux versions of a current Photoshop anytime in the near future?
Adobe does not comment on unreleased products and product updates. We will continue to listen to the needs of our customers to determine the future direction of Photoshop.
I am not fluent in corporate-ese, but I think Adobe is saying, “We are not going to tell you anything. Thanks for asking though.” 
3. What keeps Adobe from releasing Reader for GNU/Linux at the same time as Reader for Windows?
In order to deliver new versions or dot updates of Adobe Reader as quickly as possible to the greatest number of users, we focus resources initially on the platform(s) of the majority of Reader users. This is currently Windows (and Mac). With that said, we then work to deliver updates to the Linux version of the product as quickly as possible.
Note, as well, that we continually monitor customer usage and market trends, which can influence future plans.
In this answer I think we are seeing the result of Adobe monitoring its’ downloads and noticing a smaller “market share” for Linux downloads. Of course, my one download of Reader gets stored on a file server and installed on new Linux desktop systems from there. I only download when there is an update. I guess I should download from each system needing to use Adobe Reader instead.
4. When does Adobe project there will be a usable version of 64-bit flash for 64-bit GNU/Linux?
The Adobe Flash Player team is working on support for 64-bit platforms as part of our ongoing commitment to the cross-platform compatibility of Adobe Flash Player. We have not yet announced timing or release dates. However, you can run Flash Player in a 32-bit browser running on a 64-bit operating system.
So, unlike Microsoft, Adobe is not going to keep announcing the new and improved 64-bit Flash will be available on Tuesday of next year. Then, of course, continually pushing back the release date. As long as Adobe is willing to say “we are working on that” I can be happy with that answer.
There you have your answers. If anyone comes up with more Adobe Linux product questions for me to ask Adobe please feel free to login and comment here.
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FYI: I made a couple of edits today to add missing punctuation.
[...] http://blog.eracc.com/2008/10/01/ “I again contacted Kelly Murphy of A&R Edelman, a PR firm handling Adobe?s media inquiries, and asked her assistance. Kelly was kind enough to get answers to your questions. Well, what passes for answers from big, corporate entities with policies in place as to what can be said and when it can be said.” [...]