In line with its strategy of Network Publishing - "Publish anything, anywhere, on any device" - Adobe has released the beta version of Acrobat Reader for Palm OS for download. In addition to being able to view .pdf files on the move, Palm handheld users will be able to synchronize these files between a PC or laptop and the PDA using HotSync.

At the same time, the company has launched a number of new software packages in the US to assist in the design of Web content. Version 5.0 of After Effects, software for motion graphics and visual effects, has improved support for Web publishing, such as support for exporting files in Macromedia Flash .swf format, as well as for QuickTime and MP3 audio compression.

The publishing software company has also bundled a number of packages into collections for the cost-effective creation of video, animated and interactive content for Web sites.

The Adobe Streaming Media Collection comprises Premiere, After Effects, LiveMotion and GoLive, and the Adobe Digital Video Collection replaces LiveMotion and GoLive with PhotoShop and Illustrator. The European roll-out of After Effects and the Collections is set for the second quarter of this year.

Both Adobe and its competitor, Macromedia, are making forays into the world of 3D. Yesterday, Macromedia launched Macromedia Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio, for interactive 3D applications, and you can check out Adobe's beta of Adobe Atmosphere at the Adobe Website.