Iouri Tchernoousko, International PM, Adobe Core ServicesDarin Goble, Dir. Client Services, Moravia Worldwide

Adobe Localization Prerelease Programs

Objectives for today

– Describe the history of prerelease programs at Adobe and review the benefits of localization prereleases

– Demo enabling technology– Experience with Photoshop CS5– Discuss the role of 3-way partnerships (enterprise

+ users + agencies)– Preparing for the future

3

History

• Prerelease for the US• Japanese prerelease program• Localization prereleases (Dreamweaver, some

ad hoc UI feedback through other products' main prereleases, etc.)

= little or no direct customer feedback outside the US

Benefits• Understanding real concerns and requests from the field• Making UI/translation concerns inseparable from usability experience• Creating an interface between the developer/localization team, agency

and end-users• Discovering or confirming long-standing UI/translation issues• Validating translation ideas (especially for new features), giving translators

an extra source of reference• Keeping agencies' quality in check• Extra measure to discover defects early and reduce cost• Extra testing• Possible substitute for UI translation review• Help product teams discover functional defects and defects in English UI• Increased engagement with end-users• Avoiding criticism from GEOs after the release• Redefining the PM’s role and relationship with service agencies…

Technology

• Customized third party deployment• API to corporate bug base and Akamai

Support at Adobe: capabilities of the prerelease team

• Program setup and organization• User/tester selection and invitation• Moderating and facilitating discussions• Implementing and demonstrating results

Prerelease portal demo

Photoshop CS5 (1/2)• Why did we do it?• Languages used• Tester selection criteria and methods• Types of forums opened• Ground rules

discussion languagewhich issues to pay attention to

• Metrics:number of bugs reportednumber of real bugsapprox. number of testing hrs gainedmeasuring testers' satisfaction levels

Photoshop CS5 (2/2)

What were the results?• Approximately 40 total bugs reported• 25 converted to real bugs• 5 severe long-standing UI issues discovered or confirmed in Italian and French• Final reports prepared by moderators (language leads) per language• Nearly 100 topics opened across 4 languages; approx. 450 posts made• Multiple issues forwarded to the core testing team• App. number of testing hrs. gained: >200 (depending on the calculation basis)• A survey measuring testers' satisfaction levels was conducted at the closing of the project

Role of the LSP (1/2)

• General forum moderation• Provide language support• Become an extension of the PS Team• Ensuring appropriate engagement

• Fostering open communications• Escalate when appropriate• Identifying and reporting bugs• Generate interest and community engagement• Final reporting

Role of the LSP (2/2)

• Creating and managing clear Roles / Responsibilities

• Ensure transparency is established• Multiple resources on the LSP side provide

value• Project Manager• Localization Lead• Lead Linguist

Benefits to the LSP

• Removes “black box” aspects of conventional localization models

• Enhances product knowledge and expertise• Creates a stronger partnership with clients• Additional opportunity to provide value• Inclusion earlier in the localization process

Other CS5 Results

• Dreamweaver• After Effects• Adobe Ideas

Continued Program Development… • Likely challenges:

– Forum organization– Moderating the forums– Weeding out bad feedback– Selecting the right frequency for updating localized builds– Discussion language and the UI language of the prerelease program– Keeping prerelease participants interested– Following up on core issues reported– Building a community around your product– Reacting to submitted comments– Need for a central request-collection mechanism– Rethinking the role of the PM

Tester selectionWhere do they come from:

• Prerelease participation form• Adobe user groups• Interest groups on social media portals:

• Facebook• LinkedIn• Regional social media sites (Vkontakte, Orkut, etc.)

• Adobe’s regional offices • LSP

Advertizing a prerelease program:• AUGs• Adobe Core Services’ Globalization blog• Cross-advertising on main product prerelease• Social media portals / Twitter• Cross-market with other Adobe products (i.e, DI family, Installer, etc.)

Prerelease interest form

CS and non-CS products, and beyond…

• Significant product commitments:– Acrobat– Photoshop– Lightroom– InDesign– Illustrator– FrameMaker– Dreamweaver

Outreach besides localization prerelease…

Adobe user groups

Adobe TV

Globalization blog

Q & A