Filed under: Software, Freeware
Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1 released
Adobe's freeware and flagship PDF apps are getting a refresh this week, as Acrobat 8.1 and Adobe Reader 8.1 for Mac are now available through Adobe's download site and via the update option within both programs. New features include the obligatory bug fixes, Adobe3D support in Reader, enhanced Flash and InDesign integration in Acrobat, and a handy-dandy "Send to FedEx Kinko's" button for US users who need to cut down on all-nighters.Unfortunately, the aggravation involved in installing or updating Reader 8 has not decreased appreciably since the first round of vehement complaining. The Reader installers are still segregated into PPC and Intel versions, and the machines I updated insisted on downloading 44 MB of updates immediately after installation; that is, when the installation actually proceeded as expected (didn't work on a machine with a managed user account). Ah, consistency!

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
adam said 12:08PM on 6-07-2007
Just go to ftp.adobe.com and navigate to this folder:
pub -> adobe -> reader -> mac -> 8.x -> 8.1 -> enu
Inside that folder are two versions of 8.1: one for PowerPC and one for Intel.
These are the whole applications ... you don't have to use that stupid download manager.
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G. Snyder said 12:28PM on 6-07-2007
Why does one need the adobe reader per se - it seems like the native mac app (preview) does most things just fine.
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Edd said 12:32PM on 6-07-2007
I just installed this to compare it to Preview, and was not impressed. Clunky UI, slower to load, annoying installation. I've switched back to Preview already.
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Justin Miller said 1:37PM on 6-07-2007
One handy thing that I keep Acrobat around for is IRS tax forms, since some allow you to fill them out in the app, then print/fax them. Very handy when you don't have a scanner and/or want to stay all digital.
But yeah, it still sucks. Thanks for the FTP server tip, though!
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ptackbar said 1:49PM on 6-07-2007
I assume there is still no plugin support for Firefox. Can anyone confirm?
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Jon said 1:59PM on 6-07-2007
In re Adam's FTP pointer, here are the links:
Directory with downloads:
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/8.x/8.1/enu
Intel version:
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/8.x/8.1/enu/AdbeRdr810_en_US_i386.dmg
PPC version:
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/8.x/8.1/enu/AdbeRdr810_en_US_ppc.dmg
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Kevin Brosnan said 5:50PM on 6-18-2007
Re comment 5 Adobe Reader plugin for Firefox
Adobe specifically says that other browsers are unsupported at
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=333545&sliceId=1
"Acrobat/Reader 8 supports viewing PDF files inside Safari windows on Mac OS X, and will only run on Mac OS X 10.4.3 and later. It does not support any other browser (such as Firefox and Opera)."
You can suggest that Adobe develop such a plugin at http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform
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David Breindel said 9:34PM on 6-24-2007
What's with 8.1 and mathematical expressions? It doesn't print out all the x's and y's in a complicated expression.
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Kim George said 1:16PM on 6-28-2007
I am having trouble consistantly saving a comment stamp to be part of the final document. (flatten it per se) I want to add a stamp (in this case a signature) and it stay as a permanent part of the doc forever. I have acrobat 7.0 prof?? HELP??
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