* Beta versions of Opera Web browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader for Linux released
A few recent software releases should grab the interest of Linux desktop users. Beta software for new versions of the Opera Web browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader for Linux were announced last week.
A beta of Version 8.0 of the Opera Web browser for Linux was released with voice-enabled Web browsing among the new features. The latest version lets users browse Web sites by scrolling, and check e-mail using voice commands. The latter functionality could increase as more Web developers incorporate voice into Web sites, the company says.
While Firefox may be the new darling of the anti-Internet Explorer crowd, the Opera Web browser has been a strong IE alternative for several years. Opera was one of the first mainstream browsers to offer tabbed browsing, where multiple Web pages can appear in a single application window.
Also, Adobe began a beta-release program for Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 for Linux. While Linux users have been able to read PDF files for some time now using Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, Adobe stiffed Linux on Version 6.0 of the software. Now along with improved document security and project collaboration features, Linux support is being put back into the software. Adobe also said that it will be adding SuSE support for its LifeCycle Policy Server software by the middle of this year. The server platform, which currently runs on Windows, Red Hat and Solaris, lets users edit, review, forward and authenticate documents through e-mail.
While the new Opera beta is freely downloadable, the Adobe beta is being offered through a pre-release program, where users must register and are then chosen to participate.
