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Acrobat 8 No Longer Just a Document Format
Troy Dreier
9/29/2006
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Acrobat Connect
Version 8 will introduce a new product to the Acrobat line, Acrobat Connect. Connect is a simple videoconferencing tool that aims to make holding online meetings as foolproof as Acrobat makes exchanging documents. Connect will come in two versions, Connect and Connect Pro. That second one is a rebranded, improved version of Macromedia Breeze, which Adobe acquired when it bought the company last year.
There are no shortage of videoconferencing tools around, but the highlight of Connect is its simplicity. Connect makes it a no-brainer to create an online meeting space and invite others into it. The Pro version includes integrated audio and more customization options than the basic version. Neither version, however, will include built-in phone conferencing. Look for Connect to sell for $395 per year or $39 per month, while Connect Pro will likely start at around $15,000 for a typical configuration. Adobe PR wasn't able to tell us what that price includes or what extra fees users will encounter, so inquire on your own if you're interested.
Acrobat 8
Acrobat 8 Professional will include some handy new features for people who need to combine several documents into one PDF. A new startup wizard guides you through the process, and lets you select individual sheets or pages from your documents, instead of simply including the entire document. The program works on both Windows and Macintosh PCs, but only Windows users will get a visual preview when selecting pages.
Users will also be able to view the file size of the PDF before saving, then make adjustments. If you want a small PDF for e-mailing, adjust the size down; if you'll be printing from it, raise the setting for higher quality.
Adobe will provide a new option for grouping documents in this release. With 8, you'll be able to group them as packages, where each document appears separately and a handy navigation bar on the left lets the recipient move from one doc to another. This will be a big help to people combining documents that hold digital signatures. Combining a signed document with others into a typical Acrobat file voids the signature, but grouping it as a package leaves the original untouched and the signature intact.
Workgroups will appreciate the new comment and review options in Acrobat. Users will be able to add comments that exist in a layer above the text, so that the comments don't actually change the content.
Also, a new option for shared reviews lets an entire team review a document together, viewing each others' comments and getting updated text as the document is changed. When sending an Acrobat document for review, the sender will be able to impose a deadline. And, as before, even if the recipients are using the free version of Acrobat, they'll still get the editing toolbar when getting a document for review.
The Adobe 8 PDF family will have five different members, including Adobe Reader (the free viewer), Elements, Standard, Professional, and Acrobat 3D (which works with CAD programs).
Adobe Acrobat 8 will include a new startup screen that guides users through the program's various options.
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