14 DAY TRIAL // Adobe Labs has released three apps from its upcoming Creative Suite installment, as betas, for the public to try out and report bugs, if any. Buyers of Adobe's graphic design suite of apps can download Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks and Adobe Soundbooth for free, and even keep them for longer than 48 hours. Non-users can also download free of charge but will only be able to use the software for two days.
Unfortunately, you will be allowed to have a go at the betas starting next month, but you can nevertheless download your CS apps and wait for the day to come. Once downloaded and launched, the betas will be active for 48 hours, after which time only CS 3 owners will be able to hold on to them until the next release of CS.
Adobe clarifies that the Dreamweaver beta is for Web design and development, the Fireworks beta for prototyping, and the Soundbooth beta for audio creating and editing. All three are aimed at demonstrating the direction that Adobe Creative Suite is taking with new tech and new features implicitly. The goal is to simplify and streamline design and development workflows across all media, Adobe says.
And, since they're betas, feedback is more than welcome, so be sure to start poking around all three apps on June 1 and to report any bug to Adobe.
"Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Soundbooth are the major applications we're unveiling as public betas before the next release of Creative Suite," said David Burkett, vice president of product management for Adobe Creative Suite. "This early release software gives our loyal customers a taste of the radical workflow enhancements that we have in store, as we redefine how designers and developers collaborate to deliver stand-out digital experiences."
Dreamweaver includes a new Related Files Toolbar and Code Navigator feature that allows users to dive deeply into complex pages that include HTML files, links to JavaScript documents and integrated XML data. New features in Fireworks include a new user interface that is now consistent with other applications within the Creative Suite. Last, but not least, the Soundbooth beta also delivers new features such as the new multiple track support which allows users to edit multiple audio clips on a number of tracks, and the new ability for users to match volume levels across audio files.
The three betas are available for free download below:
Adobe Dreamweaver 10.0 Build 3963 CS4 Beta Adobe Fireworks 10.0 Build 388 CS4 Beta Adobe Soundbooth 2.0 Build 0515 CS4 Beta
All three apps require Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger) or better.