Adobe Reader Gets Connected

Written By
Jim Rapoza
Jim Rapoza
Published: Jul 2, 2008
Updated: Feb 2, 2021
1 minute read
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REVIEW: Just about a week after Adobe released version 9 of Acrobat, the latest version of the tool that most people use to read PDF files was also released. For most users, Adobe Reader 9 won’t seem like a major departure from the previous versions of the free PDF reading tool.

The interface has been streamlined a bit, making it simpler to view multiple page PDF files. And search can be easily done across multiple PDF files.

However, the majority of the new features for Adobe Reader 9 fit into two camps: increased integration with the Acrobat.com Web site and support for new features introduced in Acrobat 9 (click here to read my review of Acrobat 9).

Probably the coolest of the new Acrobat.com features is the ability to launch screen sharing and Web conferencing using Adobe ConnectNow directly from Adobe Reader. This will make it a very attractive and easy to use Web conferencing option for regular users.

The other Acrobat.com features revolve around easy uploading and sharing of documents. To use the Acrobat.com features, users will need to create a free account on the site.

Adobe Reader 9 also can now open and interact with content created in the new Acrobat 9. This included the ability to view PDF Portfolios and fill out forms online. Adobe Reader 9 can also now view PDF files with embedded Flash content.

The Adobe Reader can be downloaded at http://www.adobe.com/go/EN_US-H-GET-READER.

Jim Rapoza

Jim Rapoza, Chief Technology Analyst, eWEEK.For nearly fifteen years, Jim Rapoza has evaluated products and technologies in almost every technology category for eWEEK. Mr Rapoza's current technology focus is on all categories of emerging information technology though he continues to focus on core technology areas that include: content management systems, portal applications, Web publishing tools and security. Mr. Rapoza has coordinated several evaluations at enterprise organizations, including USA Today and The Prudential, to measure the capability of products and services under real-world conditions and against real-world criteria. Jim Rapoza's award-winning weekly column, Tech Directions, delves into all areas of technologies and the challenges of managing and deploying technology today.

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