Subscriptions. Subscriptions Everywhere.

YouTube, Microsoft Office, Fonts.com and now Adobe…

The biggest trend in the tech world of 2013 can be summed up in just 2 words: Google Glass. No. I wish, though. The 2 words are: Paid Subscriptions.

Google is gearing up to unveil a YouTube subscription service that would allow users to sign up for access to individual channels. - PC Mag

You have pay for selected channel subscriptions? Which channel are you actually willing to pay to subscribe to?

Microsoft is pushing its Office 365 subscription features on businesses and home users. Rather than paying for the software each generation, users pay by month or by year.
- Mashable

Office 365 doesn’t bother me. I’m head-over-heels crazy in love with Google Drive.(Don’t you dare start charging me, Google!)

Monotype has unveiled a new Master subsription at Fonts.com, which is designed to provide greater flexibility and choice to creative professionals.
- NetMagazine

I love, love, love fonts! Searching for slick fonts and downloading them is a favourite past-time.

And then last December:

Adobe introduced its Creative Cloud subscription service last year with Creative Suite 6. Users could pay $29.99 to access one Adobe product each month or $49.99 to access the entire Creative Suite
- Mashable

That part didn’t really matter to me but then…
they decided to do it with all Adobe applications in the future. CS7 ought to be a part of the subscription program. I’m absolutely gutted.

May 7 Update: Adobe announced today that there will never be a Photoshop CS7.- Creative Bloq

The Creative Cloud concept seems pretty cool. It’s useful, I get it. It’s the paid subscription part, I’m having trouble with.

$5 here, $10 here, $30 here… Oh dear!!

What is up with the tech companies out to get you with paid subscriptions? Gosh, life was so much easier in 2012!