PDF CanOpener 4.0

PDF CanOpener 4.0 is for creative users and developers to identify, locate and manipulate data in PDF documents. It provides visual display and tools to analyse internal PDF structures and to navigate through the PDF structure (font type, color spaces, page location, etc.). The developers can then edit, copy & paste and print the PDF structural information through PDF CanOpener 4.0.

The new version 4.0 is compatibile with Acrobat 8.0 or later. It includes a new installer and a security mechanism which assists users to migrate to newer Operating systems and 64-bit platforms. PDF CanOpener 4.0 also features improved navigation, ability to highlight field annotation types and ability to provide instant information through pop-up windows.

Read more about PDF CanOpener 4.0 at http://www.windjack.com/product/pdfcanopener/. A free trial version of software is also available for download. The PDF CanOpener 4.0 is priced at USD 195.00.

The news appeared at http://www.planetpdf.com/developer/article.asp?ContentID=WindJack_Solutions_releases_PDF_CanOpener_4&gid=8085

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WindJack releases PDF CanOpener 4.0

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pdfToolbox 4 version 4.5 is the updated software from callas software and its transparency flattening  is based on Adobe technology. pdfToolbox 4 can handle PDF files with live transparency for CMYK and spot colors, drop shadows, vignettes, translucent or softly blending objects while maintaining most raster, vector and text elements without any differences.

pdfToolbox 4 will allow the Publishers and Printers to accept the incoming files with live transparency without any need to update their own Raster Image Processing (RIP) solutions. It also offers an advantage to Designers and Agencies to easily and automatically create standard-based PDF files from one Master file, add drop shadows and use vignettes without compromising the creativity.

pdfToolbox 4 version 4.5 offers a stand-alone automated transparency flattening solution and it does not require the installation of Adobe Acrobat Professional and pdfAutoOptimizer 2 which were required for the previous versions of pdfToolbox.

pdfToolbox 4 version 4.5 is available for the price of EUR 499 while the upgrade from previous versions is free. The pdfToolbox Server 4 version 4.5 is available for the price of EUR 3999. A trial copy of the software is available for download from http://www.callassoftware.com

The press release appeared at http://printingnews.com/web/online/Products/callas-pdfToolbox-4-Provides-Cross-Platform-Automated-Transparency-Flattening/4$13312

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callas software announced updated pdfToolbox with cross-platform transparency flattening

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Kaspersky Lab’s report also showed that of the top ten software vulnerabilities identified on most infected users come from Adobe products including Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat both accessing files in PDF formats.

News source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/gadgets-tech/06/12/10/adobe-hackers-favorite-1st-quarter-2010

To view the complete Kaspersky Lab Report, go to http://www.securelist.com/en/.

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Adobe on top of the list of virus attackers favorite in Q1 2010

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I compiled the most common responses I received when I posted my experience in installing Adobe Acrobat 9 on a Windows 7 platform. Out of the comments I received, many reported that they had a good start with Adobe Acrobat 9 but with the installation only.

After installing Adobe Acrobat 9, the other users experienced a number of problematic situations within Acrobat itself such as closing instantly, not being able to print, freezing when scanning and so on.

Note: now, obviously the comments  have been made by those who have encountered problems more likely than not, however, they are interesting nonetheless. Take some time and read through these Acrobat 9.0 and Windows  7 comments yourself…

Windows 7 is actually still in its test run phase for many users but it surely promises a lot as it is considered as the worthy successor of Windows XP. It is just depressing that Adobe may not be keeping up with all the functionality problems that users experience when combining it with Windows 7. A good support system or a dependable resource of information both for Windows 7 and Adobe Acrobat users should really be in place for everyone who may still want to make this combination works.

For any comments or reactions, feel free to post. If you want to post questions, try asking your questions at our PDF Question/Answer site at 4x PDF Help site.

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Adobe Acrobat 9 + Windows 7: A Bad Combination?

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The attackers could exploit the latest bug to hijack the targeted computer through the compromised “authplay.dll” file packaged with every installation of Reader and Acrobat. The temporary fix is to rename or delete this file and it will work for Reader and Acrobat but this temporary fix does not work for Flash Player causing it to crash.

Adobe will patch this critical bug for Flash Player but the fix for Reader andAcrobat will be bundled with the impending patch which was earlier scheduled for 13th July. This previously planned patch will now be brought forward to 29th June to include the fix for the latest bug.

Read more details on http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177811/Adobe_delays_Reader_patch_as_attacks_spread_exploit_code_goes_public?taxonomyId=82

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Adobe delays security patches for Reader and Acrobat

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The key difference between Adobe’s existing and new update technology is that the latter would update the software in the background without additional notification or permission from the user. The existing update technology alerts the users on the availability of patches but leaves it to the discretion of users to install the patches. Hence, the new update technology would ensure that more and more users are fully-patched and covered for any known PDF vulnerabilities.

Adobe also intends to reduce the interval between regular updates from seven days to three days.

Adobe has recently been swarmed with numerous vulnerabilities and attacks on PDF documents. As per one of the studies, PDF vulnerabilities were responsible for nearly 80% of exploits in 2009.

The news appeared at http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9175043/Adobe_to_switch_on_silent_PDF_updates_for_Reader_Acrobat

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Adobe to enable silent PDF updates for Reader and Acrobat

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PDFTiger allows Windows users to create PDF documents from commonly used file formats such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, TXT and other printable documents. PDF documents can also be created from images in BMP, JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIF and TIFF formats. The software also has the capability to combine multiple pictures into a single manageable PDF document. PDFTiger enables users to save PDF files as MS Word documents while retaining the layout, fonts, formatting and tables. PDF documents can also be exported to TXT, HTML, Flash and images.

The software brings all the conversion options into a single interface with provision of buttons to launch quick and easy-to-use wizards. The software also supports batch conversion through use of folders where users can add all the files in a single attempt for conversion.

A free 30-day trial version of PDFTiger 1.0 is available for download from http://www.pdftiger.com

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PDFTiger.com for rapid conversion of MS Office documents and images to PDF

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It also has the capability to forcibly open the file if the open (user) password is not known. Advanced PDF Password Remover 5.0 supports all the version of Adobe Acrobat (including 9.x). A trial version of the tool is available to download from http://www.advancedpdfconverter.com/products/pdfpasswordremover.html

The press release can be read at http://www.prlog.org/10560627-how-to-remove-pdf-document-restrictions.html

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Advanced PDF Password Remover 5.0 removes file security restrictions

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Adobe has recommended its users to update their current version of software to 9.3.1 and for the users who cannot update to 9.3.1, Adobe has provided them with version 8.2.1. The Adobe users can check the security bulletin and the procedure to update the software at http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-07.html

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Adobe releases critical Security updates for Adobe Reader and Acrobat

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According to Sans Internet Storm Center analyst Bojan Zdrnja, there is evidence of a high level of skill in recently analysed Adobe Reader exploit code. “If we are to judge the new year by the sophistication the attackers have started using, it does not look too good,” he wrote in a blog post.

Bojan also says that the large cross-platform base of users — many of whom are business based, makes it an attractive target for hackers.

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IT managers should watch PDF and Adobe Reader’s software closely in 2010

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But it’s not the concept of PDF Portfolio’s that troubles them per se, but rather the fact that in certain bleeding-edge PDFs, Adobe include a warning message that tells you to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader if you want to view the PDF in question. No ifs, buts or maybes — if you want to view this PDF, then you’ll need to use Adobe’s software.

The reason for this, according to Adobe’s Leonard Rosenthol is that:

Apple’s Preview application doesn’t even support the complete PDF 1.4 specification, let alone the current ISO 32000-1 standard. Nor, unfortunately, do most other 3rd party vendors. That is why we (Adobe) are unfortunately forced to put such notices/warnings in PDFs files that use “more advanced” features of PDF so that users get SOME experience rather than blank pages…

His response sounds reasonable on the surface, but it raises a few other important questions.

• these PDFs can’t be opened by any none-Adobe software, it doesn’t matter if the PDF reader supports the relevant advanced PDF feature or not. Why doesn’t Adobe recommend other 3rd party software along side their own?
• should Adobe be encouraging the use of advanced PDF features, for widely distributed PDFs, before these advanced features have been implemented by the majority of other PDF software vendors?
• a document that can only be opened by Adobe software, isn’t really portable, is it?
• are PDFs simply becoming too complex? Perhaps there is a reason why the majority of PDF software vendors do not support certain advanced PDF features.

These questions will likely be quickly dismissed by Adobe, but there’s little doubt in my mind that a philosophical discussion about the future of PDF needs to take place. It seems that Adobe, and the ISO committee responsible for the next PDF specification update, are trying to make PDFs bend in a way that they were never originally designed to bend, and that without careful consideration, the Portable Document Format could lose its way.

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Are PDF Portfolio’s A Bad Idea?

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A limited number of users also received a beta-updater which Adobe says is going to assist in ensuring that security updates were efficient and accessible.

Adobe also launched the Reader/Acrobat JavaScript Blacklist Framework which allows users to prevent certain JavaScript function calls — this will allow IT decision makers to make these high-level decisions.

Gone are the days where a PDF was as safe as a printed page…

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A mammoth patch for Reader (and family)

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“The release of this new, essential option now gives existing and new users of our products the ability to conform with industry standard PDF work-flow which is rapidly becoming an essential requirement within the wide-format digital printing industry,” states Ramin Shahbazi, Shiraz Software’s business development director. “We’ve put our Adobe PDF Engine plug-in through intensive and rigorous testing world-wide prior to bringing it to market and this solution will now provide reliable, accurate and supported implementation of the latest Adobe PDF specification.”

Read the full press release at WhatTheyThink >>

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Shiraz Adobe PDF Engine plug-in released

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Foxit Phantom joins a growing list of products that are moving into Adobe Acrobat territory, which includes Nitro PDF Professional and Nuance’s PDF Converter Professional. For anyone that has previously used Foxit Reader, Phantom is basically their Reader product on steroids and includes a wide range of functionality and a much improved user interface.

The new product will retail for US$129 and is available for immediate sale.

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Foxit Software Launches Adobe Acrobat Competitor: Foxit Phantom

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It’s funny. For years Adobe had to tread a thin line between generating revenue from the electronic document format that they created and not stepping on the toes of the vibrant community of independent developers which sprung up around the Portable Document Format in its early years — and played a significant role in the rise of this astoundingly popular format. The thin line was caused by the fact that up until 2008, PDF was a proprietary format, published by Adobe as an open standard. And in order for independent businesses to invest time, effort and money in building products around this open standard, they had to be safe in the knowledge that Adobe weren’t going to screw them over in some way. So in the early days Adobe couldn’t really go adding features to the PDF specification that were only available in Adobe products because this would have discouraged other companies from building products and businesses around the format.

But, now that PDF is an official ISO standard, Adobe aren’t constrained in the same way. They can, more or less, do whatever they want — and if anyone complains, they have an ISO standard which can be vigorously waive in the face of the plaintiff. Clever.

Indeed, Acrobat doesn’t just create PDFs anymore, it creates Adobe PDFs — a small but growing distinction.

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PDF and Adobe PDF

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