Adobe just launched a new hosted online tool for web developers called Adobe BrowserLab. This free service (for now) lets you test your web pages in seven of the most popular browser configurations without having to install different browsers on your local machine. This is a huge time saver when testing new websites or recent changes to existing pages.
The coolest feature of Adobe BrowserLab is its ability to display your page using two different browsers, side by side in the same window. So, you could see the display differences say between Firefox 2.0 and Safari 3.0, side by side. It also has an “onion skin” feature that superimposes one browser view over top of another. This is very useful in tweaking the positions of your page elements.
BrowserLab is also available for use from within Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, as an extension. This tool allows you to preview content inside of Dreamweaver using different browser configurations, without having to upload your page to a server first.
For now, Adobe BrowserLab is only available as a limited free preview. Word has spread quickly this morning and the first round of free logins to the service have already been given out. However, Twitter updates from Adobe Product Manager Scott Fegette indicate that more capacity will be added soon. Adobe plans on offering BrowserLab as a paid subscription service eventually.
For complete information (and to try the service out once more logins are available), check out the Adobe BrowserLab homepage.
