PdfMeNot converts PDF to Flash

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 13th February 2008
Comments (9) Stumble
PdfMeNot converts PDF to Flash

The new service is currently in limited beta, but will officially launch on Thursday.

The latest update to Adobe's ubiquitous Reader software has highlighted major shortcomings in the security of the Portable Document Format used all-too-often by web masters to ensure a magazine-like look to distributed materials.

While keeping your software up-to-date is important, the team behind the infamous BugMeNot compulsory registration bypass system has pre-announced a way to read PDF files without ever opening them on your computer.

Called PdfMeNot–and there's a surprise–the software is designed to offer a Flash-based PDF reader right in your browser. All the work is done on PdfMeNot's servers, so you don't run the risk of having your system exploited just because you downloaded the latest spec sheet for that new motherboard.

Although sites like Google have been offering a PDF-to-HTML conversion system for a long time, PdfMeNot is one of the very few that doesn't miss the point of using PDF in the first place: rich text and graphics that match the print equivalent as closely as is possible.

Due for official launch on Thursday, you can try out PdfMeNot early using the username stateless and password systems.

A nice idea addition to the browser toolbelt, or are the fears over PDF security unfounded? Give us your opinion on the new service over in the forums.
Quote rjkoneill 13th February 2008, 09:04
way i see it is that this could go either way
its a great idea - but will the common user really benefit form it all?
Quote steveo_mcg 13th February 2008, 09:28
Is flash any better than pdf, arguably yes. Its much better than waiting for adobe reader to open however i think i prefer the pdf - html converters for most things.
Quote UncertainGod 13th February 2008, 09:38
It's a nice implementation but I doubt it will become very popular unless they came up with an embeddable applet for website creators, that would be useful.
Quote iwog 13th February 2008, 10:21
there's bug me not plugin for FF so i dont see why they wont release PDFMeNot the same way.
Quote Tiger99 13th February 2008, 11:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by iwog
there's bug me not plugin for FF so i dont see why they wont release PDFMeNot the same way.

Take a look at the Firefox extension PDF Download, it's already providing a solution to this problem. Also, the HTML output is selectable whereas it seems with PDFMeNot you can't select any text/content. Or can you?

PDF Download -> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/636
Quote Hamish 13th February 2008, 14:15
Quote:
Originally Posted by UncertainGod
It's a nice implementation but I doubt it will become very popular unless they came up with an embeddable applet for website creators, that would be useful.

flashpaper?
Quote Firehed 13th February 2008, 14:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger99
[Take a look at the Firefox extension PDF Download, it's already providing a solution to this problem. Also, the HTML output is selectable whereas it seems with PDFMeNot you can't select any text/content. Or can you?]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Summary
Although sites like Google have been offering a PDF-to-HTML conversion system for a long time, PdfMeNot is one of the very few that doesn't miss the point of using PDF in the first place: rich text and graphics that match the print equivalent as closely as is possible
Quote [USRF]Obiwan 14th February 2008, 09:32
hmmz rapidshare.com did not work :(
Quote Cupboard 14th February 2008, 14:43
Now I have moved to using Foxit reader, I am much happier with PDFs. They no longer take ages to open, they no longer crash Firefox and memory usage has been reduced. All in all, I am a very happy Foxit reader user.
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