Archive notice: This article was originally published on May 8, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro adds web-conferencing features including options for archiving and editing recorded online meetings, new presence functions that connect with instant-messaging clients, and reporting tools for compliance and usage analysis.
New e-learning features include breakout rooms for separate workgroup sessions inside virtual classrooms, rapid creation of video-based content, integration with Blackboard and SumTotal learning-management systems, and tools for organizing and tracking online classrooms. Meetings and training sessions can be individually tailored to improve attention and learning outcomes.
Together with the new Adobe Presenter, Acrobat Connect Pro can create Adobe Flash Player-compatible presentations from Microsoft PowerPoint files, incorporating video, narration, animation, interactive elements and quiz questions. Presenter adds question grouping and random playback, simpler video handling, and options for publishing presentations on mobile devices or within PDF files.
Adobe said that Acrobat Connect Pro lets participants join virtual meetings or classrooms through a web address, regardless of operating system or browser version, without additional downloads. The release was expected at the end of May 2008 as a hosted service or software licence.