Life after iWeb: The state of Web design on the Mac
20.05.12
The iWeb problem
While iWeb may be unavailable on the Mac App Store, it's still currently sold in boxed editions of the iLife ’11 suite. This summer, the app was updated to version 3.0.4, and will presumably keep working even after Apple ends MobileMe Web hosting on June 30, 2012. After that date, many iWeb users will have to find new hosts for their sites, but iWeb will still export to FTP and Finder folders.
However, many iWeb features, like password protection, blog and photo comments, and blog searches won’t work without MobileMe hosting. While iCloud provides convenient data and photo syncing, it’s not a Web host. It's possible that Apple could bring some MobileMe features to iCloud, but which features, and when they would be added, is an open question. Whether you’re thinking about replacing iWeb now, or are forced to do so later, finding an application that’s right for you depends on your needs.
Professional and prosumer options
If you’re ready to take your skills and sites to the next level, professional Web design software can help. These applications offer sophisticated WYSIWYG features, rich code editing tools, or both, and are aimed at building and maintaining complex sites. Dreamweaver CS5.5 ($400) is the choice of many Web design pros for designing cutting-edge sites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP. It’s suited to building and maintaining complex database-driven sites, but its rich graphical tools (and integration with other Adobe software like Photoshop) let you unleash your inner artist, too. Flux (£70, or roughly $112), sometimes referred to as MacFlux, is an HTML 5 and CSS design app for new and experienced designers who don’t mind guidance like page templates and libraries of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS widgets. Flux can also create Ruby on Rails, Concrete5, or ePub projects, as well as WordPress themes. Freeway Pro ($229) is a strictly WYSIWYG designer that’s user-friendly enough to include templates to get your site started. But it doesn’t skimp on advanced features like support for PSD, TIFF, and EPS files as well as CSS layouts and full CSS text styling.
Source: Macworld