New Adobe service simplifies browser compatibility

When you're designing a new website one of the more time consuming tasks is ensuring browser compatibility across different browsers and different versions of browsers. To help alleviate that pain point for designers and streamline the process, Adobe has introduced a new service called BrowserLabs [1] that lets you test your designs for browser compatibility directly from Dreamweaver CS4.

If it works as advertised (and we haven't tested it yet beyond looking at the website), it could be a real boon for designers. Lea Hickman, director, Creative Solutions Business Unit at Adobe says it addresses an issue that has been a problem for designers for a long time: “Cross-browser testing has been one of the biggest challenges for web designers because it is such an arduous and time-intensive task."

In addition to the browser testing the site includes other tools to help the designer including, "Multiple viewing and diagnostic tools to help web designers easily spot potential issues...There is also a zoom function to help zero-in on bugs. Testing preferences can be customized and saved with Browser Sets, for designers who work with specific platforms."

The product is available for free, while it's in Beta, although they warn it's on a first come, first served basis. Future pricing is not yet available.

For more information:
- see the Adobe press release [2]

Related Articles:
AVG LinkScanner now available as a free browse plug-in [3]
Inventor: SSL security woes really the fault of browser design [4]
Google releases new open-source browser [4]
Unpatched web browsers a security threat [5]