Filed under: Internet, Office, Web services, web 2.0
PDFMeNot Offers Flash-based Online Viewing
When people think about the most irritating apps on their computer, Adobe Reader usually shows up on the list. Our readers tend to think the alternatives (like Foxit) are the way to go, and I couldn't agree more.
That's why I decided to give PDFMeNot's web app a try. I'm a Foxit user, but I really don't use PDF files that often. If PDFMeNot works well, that's one more app I can leave off my flash drive. Also, I enjoy the irony of thinking that I'm getting away from Adobe, when really I'm just choosing Flash over Reader.
Damn it. You win again, Adobe.
I did a quick Google search and located an unclassified Air Force finance report, and dropped in the URL. It took a little bit (about three minutes or so, but it was a 728-page report) for the document to be displayed, but once it was up it worked nicely.
The developers are nice enough to offer a tools page, where you'll find a bookmarklet, Firefox extension, and even code to embed the viewer on your own page.
Since it only functions as a viewer and I can't print from it, I'll be sticking with Foxit portable. I will, however, keep PDFMeNot filed away for days when I forget my flash drive somewhere.
That's why I decided to give PDFMeNot's web app a try. I'm a Foxit user, but I really don't use PDF files that often. If PDFMeNot works well, that's one more app I can leave off my flash drive. Also, I enjoy the irony of thinking that I'm getting away from Adobe, when really I'm just choosing Flash over Reader.
Damn it. You win again, Adobe.
I did a quick Google search and located an unclassified Air Force finance report, and dropped in the URL. It took a little bit (about three minutes or so, but it was a 728-page report) for the document to be displayed, but once it was up it worked nicely.
The developers are nice enough to offer a tools page, where you'll find a bookmarklet, Firefox extension, and even code to embed the viewer on your own page.
Since it only functions as a viewer and I can't print from it, I'll be sticking with Foxit portable. I will, however, keep PDFMeNot filed away for days when I forget my flash drive somewhere.
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They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jdw242b said 2:00PM on 9-11-2008
if FoxIT and other alternative PDF readers would integrate better with the apps I use, OnBase, etc., I'd switch, but so far nothing I do makes FoxIT better (alas) than Adobe.
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Fred Thompson said 8:27AM on 9-12-2008
The downside of the "free" online PDF viewers (Scribd, PDFMeNot, Issuu, edocr, etc.) is THEY host your data. That means you can forget about access security, content security or privacy. IMNSHO, they are trying to build equity based on other people's content. How about they CREATE their OWN content with THEIR labor instead of being the digital equivalent of the kid catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
PDF can be embedded in a web page but there are some limitations.
Macromedia FlashPaper works well but Adobe is dropping it http://www.adobe.com/products/flashpaper/eod_faq/ and it forces an icon onto your desktop, just like Acrobat. You'd almost think Adobe is trying to take over the desktop (desktop sharing, conferencing, documents, etc.)...
Pied Piper on a grand scale.
FlashPaper has its own format.
The freeware Flashpaper Component http://www.digitalflipbook.com/archives/2007/04/flashpaper_comp_4.php gives programmers a way to modify FlashPaper appearance and functionality.
SwishPaper http://forums.swishzone.com/index.php?showtopic=23508 is free but has a really ugly, bulky control bar. Development seems to have stopped.
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Fred Thompson said 8:27AM on 9-12-2008
(Grrr...Download Squad has a 3 URL limit per post)
There's are some good discussions at:
http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/09/04/startups-in-chaos-as-adobes-flashpaper-discontinues/
http://groups.google.com/group/geekup/browse_thread/thread/57b98b2515481131
Print2Flash looks like a decent full replacement.http://print2flash.com/index.php
What's the "ultimate" solution? Possibly an Open Source Flash-based PDF reader with print, export, scroll, resize, download and appearance options.
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Fred Thompson said 8:27AM on 9-12-2008
I found another free alternative: http://vuzit.com/tools/embed
Unfortunately, it's not ready for prime time, so to speak. There is no print button, scaling is limited, navigation buttons are sparse.
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Jeff said 8:59AM on 9-12-2008
I think other people are having problems with Acrobat that I am not having. I use many PDFs a day and have few, if any, problems. And none of the problems listed in the linked article.
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