New tricks for updated Adobe Acrobat

Adobe has unveiled version 9 of its Acrobat document creation software with the big addition being native support for Adobe's Flash, enabling video to be embedded directly into PDF documents.

The free Adobe 9 Reader now contains the Flash runtime, enabling native cross-platform support and readability of PDFs containing Flash content.

Other new Acrobat 9 features include PDF Portfolios that enable users to integrate a mixture of audio, video and 3D objects into multiple PDF documents, which can be navigated via a new carousel style front-end.

Adobe said that the new version makes it easier to create forms from Microsoft Word or Excel documents and additionally it now support 256-bit AES encryption.

Stephen Partridge, business development manager for Adobe, said that he believed that the software offered features that will really change the way people work. "Acrobat 9 will make a real change to how you can communicate - it will make a real difference."

Adobe also said that the new version is two to three times faster, as version 9 offered speed enhancements. Recalling the sluggish opening speed of previous versions, Partridge said: "We've done what we can to make it as fast as possible."

Three new versions will be offered: Standard, Pro and Pro Extended. Adobe has confirmed that the Pro version will be integrated into its forthcoming Creative Suite 3.3 Editions.

Adobe 9 is also designed to work with its new Acrobat.com service, currently in beta. This will enable users to store and share PDF documents using its ConnectNow offering, in a similar fashion to the collaborative tools offered by Google Docs.

Adobe also offers its 'Buzzword' word processor, which it acquired in a deal last year .

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