Adobe Reader Blog

I often get asked how feature requests come into Adobe for inclusion in a product like Adobe Reader. Well, there are many channels, including user groups, focus groups, pre-release programs, customer and partner interviews, market analysis, etc. But now, with Adobe Reader 9, end-users have another valuable way to provide us feedback. It’s called the Adobe Product Improvement Program (APIP).
The program is similar to those run by others in the software industry. Initially, it will be available to people using the Windows version of Adobe Reader 9. It’s completely anonymous and strictly “opt-in”, which means you must make the choice to participate. It will be offered to a small percentage of Adobe Reader 9 Windows users automatically, but you can always enable it manually through the product if you’d like to participate. If you choose to participate, information about how you use Adobe Reader 9, such as how you use certain features and functions of the software, are sent to Adobe. But, again, no personal information is collected. Also, it won’t affect your experience with the product or its performance. It will just help us build a better Adobe Reader for you moving forward.
For more information, check out Lori’s Blog Posting. You can also read our APIP FAQ.

Well, it’s here. And, Adobe Reader 9 adds new capabilities, better performance and stronger security. Here are the highlights:
Improved launch speeds
Looking for faster launch speeds? Adobe has enhanced general performance and, in particular, has reduced launch times with Adobe Reader 9. Try it: You’ll notice the difference.
PDF Portfolios
Packages, introduced in Adobe Reader 8, have been greatly enhanced and renamed. Portfolios provide easy navigation when you work with multiple PDF documents and other document types. They also enable you to work with a collection of materials such as drawings, e-mail messages, spreadsheets, and videos as a single file, which makes distribution, storage, retrieval, and collaboration easy for end users.
Native Adobe Flash support
Adobe Reader 9 can natively display rich media content, which you’ll notice immediately with Portfolios. Interested in viewing SWF and FLV files? Adobe Reader 9 is the answer.
Acrobat.com (beta)
In addition, Adobe Reader 9 includes easy access to Acrobat.com (beta), an exciting new set of online services from Adobe. With Acrobat.com, you can create PDF files online; create and coauthor documents with others; host live web meetings; upload and share PDF files and other types of documents and control who has access to them; and even embed a rich, interactive preview of your document in a web page. All of these services and more are provided online, so you can access them from anywhere. And you’ll find easy access points from within Reader 9. As an added convenience, Acrobat.com leverages Adobe AIR, so you can interact with Acrobat.com from your desktop. Acrobat.com on Adobe AIR is a small application that is included with your download of Adobe Reader 9. Available in select languages.
Security enhancements
Adobe Reader 9 provides new digital signature functionality for an improved user experience. The new version also adds support for 256-bit AES encryption and new advanced security capabilities.
But, that’s not all. Adobe Reader 9 offers a new PDF Standards Pane, improved CAD and geospatial functionality and accessibility enhancements.
So, download Adobe Reader 9 now! Or, distribute Adobe Reader 9 in your enterprise or bundle it with a CD or computer!

I’ve had several inquiries from our Windows and Macintosh users regarding methods of determining whether Reader 8.1.2 or Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 is installed. I’ve included instructions for Acrobat as well…
1. Determining if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 is Installed
Windows
There are multiple ways to determine if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 is installed. First, both will display the 8.1.2 version number in their splash screens. To check, simply click Help >> About… Another method is to check the registry settings. For Acrobat, search for: SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\8.0\Installer\Updates\812 and with Reader, search for: SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\8.0\Installer\Updates\812. Lastly, you can also check Add and Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
Macintosh
There are two ways to determine if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 is installed on a Macintosh system. First, both will display the 8.1.2 version number in their splash screens. Simply click Acrobat >> About Acrobat or Reader >> About Reader. Second, check the CFBundleVersion String in the Info.plist for “8.1.2”. For Acrobat, open up the package contents for the Acrobat application file, open the the Info.plist, and look for the value associated with CFBundleVersion. For Reader, open up the package contents for the Reader application file, open the the Info.plist, and look for the value associated with CFBundleVersion.
2. Determining if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 is Installed
Windows
There are several ways to determine if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 is installed. First, check Add and Remove Programs in the Control Panel, but make sure you to enable the “Show Updates” check box. Then, Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 will show up as a child entry underneath 8.1.2. Another way is to click Help >> Adobe Plug-Ins. Click on “Comments”. The API should be dated 6/7/2008. The last way to check for the update is to query the registry setting, which is HKLM\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\8.0\Installer\VersionSU= ”1” for Acrobat, and SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\8.0\Installer\VersionSU= ”1” for Reader.
Macintosh
There are two ways to determine if Adobe Acrobat or Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 is installed. First, simply click Acrobat >> Adobe Plug-Ins or Reader >> Adobe Plug-Ins, then click on “Comments”. The API should be dated 6/7/2008. The other way, is to look for the following files: /Library/ApplicationSupport/Adobe/AcrobatProPatch812su1.txt AND AdobeAcrobatProfessional.app/Contents/MacOS/SelfHealFiles/SecurityPatchStamps/APP_Adobe/AcrobatProPatch812su1.txt for Acrobat, and /Library/ApplicationSupport/Adobe/ReaderPatch812su1.txt AND AdobeReader.app/Contents/MacOS/SelfHealFiles/SecurityPatchStamps/APP_Adobe/ReaderPatch812su1.txt for Reader.

For those of you who are using Adobe Reader 8.1.2, please apply Security Update 1, which resolves a critical vulnerability. This issue does not affect Reader 7.1.0, or the upcoming Reader 9 release (expected to be available by July). To learn more about the update, please see Security Bulletin APSB08-15.