Adobe Lightroom Beta Now Up To Version 4

Adobe Systems just announced that Lightroom has just advanced to beta version 4.

It sounds like a pretty important step in the testing process too—this is the first beta version where the Mac and Windows version are equivalent (previously, the Windows version was behind the curve in features and development). Here’s a list of the new features, straight from Adobe:

• Groundbreaking changes in the way tone curve adjustments are made and displayed, giving you the highest quality results in an interface that’s easier to use than ever before.
• More streamlined and elegant user interface - We’ve made several changes to the look and feel based on your feedback in the earlier beta releases.
• Customizable interface - You can now display only the controls you want to be visible.
• Precision white balance selection tool
• Facility to easily rename and convert files to DNG after they’ve been imported to the Lightroom library
• Increased interaction between Lightroom library organizational structure and the underlying file system
• Filter and search presets to more quickly find the photographs you want
• Better performance and improved interface for the Web module features
• Develop control improvements based on community feedback, including comments from the Pixmantec user community

I haven’t played with this beta version yet, but at first glance it looks like the development of Lightroom is moving along nicely. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lightroom played a big role in the next version of Creative Suite—the next question, then, will be what becomes of Bridge….