Adobe Unveils Next Generation AcrobatR XI

[Adrian Wong]

October 15, 2012 — Adobe® Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today unveiled Adobe Acrobat® XI software, a powerful new solution that rises to today’s complex document challenges. The industry standard for PDF software will now feature complete PDF editing and export to Microsoft PowerPoint; along with new capabilities and functionality designed for tablets and mobile devices, such as touch-friendly capabilities on tablets and smartphones allowing users to add comments, fill in, save and sign forms.

Acrobat XI also supports IT departments with more seamless Microsoft Office and SharePoint integration, easy deployment, applications virtualization and robust application security to help provide a low cost of ownership and sound return on investment.

Products included in this release are: Acrobat XI Pro, Acrobat XI Standard and Adobe Reader® XI.

The mounting productivity inefficiencies and cost of document-based challenges are highlighted in a recent global IDC white paper. A typical company with 1,000 employees has a productivity cost of US$15.9 million annually according to the white paper. Addressing these inefficiencies would be tantamount to hiring an additional 213 people.

“The compounding complexity of work has never been more pressing. As the number of mobile devices and the use of cloud services surge, information workers must be empowered to work more effectively with documents anywhere on any device," said Melissa Webster, program vice president at IDC. "They need a solution that enables them to collaborate with others inside and outside the firewall while at the same time meeting IT and organizational requirements for streamlined management, application security, and secure delivery of information – all with a high ROI.”

The importance of working collaboratively with documents is evident in the amount of time workers spend on it. According to the white paper, information workers spend approximately 15 hours of their workweek reviewing and approving documents. In a telephone poll of about 900 information workers in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, conducted by Adobe’s external agency to understand the type of document related activities most dominant in the workplace, about 60% of them responded that they work with documents to facilitate reviews by multiple parties.

“More and more information is being generated, shared and consumed in documents than ever before,” said Kevin M. Lynch, SVP and GM of Acrobat and Document Services at Adobe. “Working with online forms, collaborative PDF reviews and signatures are the everyday norm for business professionals who were once simply content creators. IT departments need to support these changes while maintaining and maximizing the use of existing infrastructures and systems, as well as provide support and services that enable their organizations to take advantage of new business opportunities, improve results, justify return on investment, and lower the total cost of ownership.”

Vicky Skipp, Regional Director, Adobe South East Asia said “Adobe Acrobat XI is a powerful new solution that rises to meet the demands of a Malaysian market that is challenged by complex documentation and an increasingly integrated environment by offering an easier way to efficiently manage, collaborate, and boost productivity. Acrobat has been a trusted desktop solution for leading organizations across Malaysia for many years and this latest version upgrade will continue to improve the business functionalities within various industries.”

Vivien Borillo, Manager of Creative Services, Baker & Mckenzie said “The new Acrobat XI will make our jobs easier. With this software, we can easily edit/revise documents even without the original file, and without disrupting the original formatting.”

With Adobe Acrobat XI, new and improved features and functionality for business professionals now include:
• Edit PDF files, modify paragraphs, images, and objects by simply clicking and dragging using the new, intuitive Edit Text and Images tool. Arrange and visually merge select contents and multiple documents into one organized PDF file, while retaining source file integrity.
• Enhanced mobile capabilities. Work with PDF files across tablets and smartphones in touch-friendly Adobe Reader to annotate and add comments, as well as fill in, sign and save forms.
• Save PDF documents as PowerPoint, Word or Excel files or reuse parts of or entire PDF files as Microsoft Office documents and Web pages without retyping. Reflow paragraph text without disturbing format.
• Improved protection of all PDF files created from Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel to help prevent copying, editing, or printing without permission.
The new and improved IT features and functionality now enable IT professionals to:
• Standardize on an easy to use, full-featured, consistent, trusted PDF Reader for iPads and Android tablets. Additionally, deliver Acrobat XI and Reader XI as a centrally managed, touch-friendly, virtual application with new support for Microsoft App-V via Citrix XenApp.
• Integrate Adobe Acrobat XI more seamlessly with Microsoft Office and Microsoft SharePoint, enabling users to do more with PDF in an Office or SharePoint environment.
• Streamline deployment and maintenance with free Adobe tools to aid configuration and installation, as well as enhanced support for Microsoft SCCM/SCUP and Apple Remote Desktop.
• Help mitigate risk and protect systems and data with industry-leading security technology, in addition to the Adobe PDF Whitelist Framework, allowing selective enablement of JavaScript for both Windows and Mac OS. Easily deliver multi-step PDF file preparation and security measures using the Action Wizard to help ensure organizational consistency.

Pricing and Availability
Acrobat XI and its associated products are scheduled to ship within 30 days. They will be available through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe.com South East Asia store at shop.adobe.com/sea. Adobe Store price for Acrobat XI Standard is expected to be RM 1,022 (USD 339). Adobe Store price for Acrobat XI Pro is expected to be RM 1,533 (USD 511). Upgrade pricing and volume licensing are available. A free 30-day trial of Acrobat Pro will be available upon product shipment. Reader XI free download will be available at get.adobe.com/reader upon product shipment.

[ZuePhok]

ten versions later, they still can't make it to crash less.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

ten versions later, they still can't make it to crash less.

Adobe what...

[Chai]

I have performance issue with Reader, but it almost never crash on me.

And don't forget Photoshop, the greatest Adobe software... It has even become an English word, almost...

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Chai

I have performance issue with Reader, but it almost never crash on me.

And don't forget Photoshop, the greatest Adobe software... It has even become an English word, almost...

I think he's referring to Adobe Acrobat software itself. The reader is pretty stable, although the web version can be a bit cranky. Not sure if it didn't load the PDF correctly or something.