Adobe previews online website testing

 

Gallery

Posted on 3 Jun 2009 at 09:38

Adobe has unveiled new service that enables website developers to test their work in multiple browsers on a range of operating systems.

BrowserLab provides real-time screenshots of browser renderings and includes multiple viewing and diagnostic tools to help designers pinpoint compatibility issues.

Using virtualisation technology hosted on a cloud-based application, it can provide website testing in Firefox 2 and 3, and Safari 3 on Windows and Mac OS X as well as the PC-only Internet Explorer 6 and 7.

Multiple viewing and diagnostic tools allow web designers to view two screenshots from different browsers side-by-side or overlay screenshots with variable opacity. There is also a zoom function to help zero-in on bugs. Testing preferences can be customised and saved with Browser Sets, for designers who work with specific platforms.

“Cross-browser testing has been one of the biggest challenges for Web designers because it is such an arduous and time-intensive task,” said Lea Hickman, director, Creative Solutions Business Unit at Adobe. “Now with Adobe BrowserLab, designers have a simple solution that enables comprehensive browser compatibility testing in just a matter of minutes, leaving Web designers with more time to be creative and deliver the high-impact sites customers are demanding.”

In addition to the features available to all, Dreamweaver CS4 users can also test Flash technology-based and interactive site elements, including dynamic widgets, rollover effects and AJAX driven content. Users can also preview both local and remote web content without having to worry about firewalls or publicly posting confidential client projects.

Adobe BrowserLab is available now as a free preview on a first-come, first-serve basis and requires Flash 10.

Author: Simon Aughton