Lightroom 6?

D Thompson wrote in post #17131615
Interesting thought Elie. Why would there be a beta? I thought the whole premise behind going to Creative Cloud was to get updates and new features out quicker/easier. It would seem that there would not be a need for a beta version if you're only doing incremental updates.

Except you still cant release very untested software to paying customers. Many photographers may prefer to stay with the stable build during the beta period. There is always the possibility that the beta would break your catalogue entirely.

I could see adobe only offering the beta to cloud subscribers as a perk, but still calling it a beta. However, one if the advantages to a beta is to get current users to try out the new features (as there inevitably are in full number releases) and get dependent on them. This improves conversion rate. LR5 works fine for me. If I dont get to try out a beta, I am unlikely to upgrade until forced to by the need for camera raw compatibility with a new camera.

One thing I have noticed with Adobe (at least over the last couple of release cycles) is that LR has had free public Beta and even pre-release versions that have enabled the use of the new product from effectivly announcement to full release. Adobe have not released Beta/Pre-release versions of any other software that I am aware of. Not for PSCS 5 or 6, nor any version of PSE. I don't think any of the CS applications has a public pre-release program like LR. I don't know what it was like with very early versions of Adobe's products, LR is still relativly young compared to most of Adobe's other products.

Most of the major upgrades to the Process Versions have I beleive come with the release of a new LR version. This may be in part behind the public beta programs for LR. I don't recall there being any significant changes with the capablities of ACR since the release of PSCC that we haven't seen first in LR.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #17132975
Adobe have not released Beta/Pre-release versions of any other software that I am aware of. Not for PSCS 5 or 6, nor any version of PSE. I don't think any of the CS applications has a public pre-release program like LR

There were beta versions CS3, CS5, & CS6 for sure, I participated and still have the download files.

CS6 Beta
CS3 Beta

D Thompson wrote in post #17133092
There were beta versions CS3, CS5, & CS6 for sure, I participated and still have the download files.

CS6 Beta
CS3 Beta

Oh well they somehow managed to pass me right by without noticing. I guess that blows my theory out of the water.

Alan

Be warned that lightroom beta versions usually don't have a catalog (your record of images and every adjustment you made to each photo) aren't upgradable to a catalog in the new program version. So while you can play with the beta version, you'll lose all your set of adjustments when the beta stops working - and it will by design when LR comes out.

HappySnapper90 wrote in post #17138342
Be warned that lightroom beta versions usually don't have a catalog (your record of images and every adjustment you made to each photo) aren't upgradable to a catalog in the new program version. So while you can play with the beta version, you'll lose all your set of adjustments when the beta stops working - and it will by design when LR comes out.

I don't think that is true. At least I do not remember it being the case with LR4 Beta to RC1 to the full version, all of which I used. I did not find LR5 Beta much of an improvement over 4 and it was very unstable on my rather old machine, so I didn't make the move to 5. It would not be in Adobe's interest if you could not keep the work you did with the pre release versions when you upgrade to the new version. Of course new versions of catalogue files are never backwards compatible.

Alan

I have used four betas - 3, 3 beta2, 4 and 5 - and never lost a pixel.

it sucks that I just bought LR5.

nhoang82..I am still not sure I wont buy LR5 as I don't want to wait till March for LR6. The only way I will not buy LR5 is if the beta for LR6 comes out asap.

So this is where I will find LR6 beta when it is released right?

http://labs.adobe.com/