Adobe Reader has been in existence for over a decade and has gone through various evolutions during this time. One result of this is that it has been increasingly loaded with plug-ins and extensions which mean that it's consistently criticized as being bloated and slow.

The truth about Adobe Reader's speed

It is true to a certain extent that the extra plug-ins and extensions can make Adobe run more slowly. Adobe Reader is still a PDF reader that has much to offer though. With the latest version of Adobe Reader, Adobe have addressed some of the speed issues and the memory footprint has been improved consistently throughout the development of Adobe Reader XI.

Interface and stand-out features

This version of Adobe Reader is not only slightly faster, but also displays a clearer, simpler interface that makes it easier to use. Adobe Reader XI still features the classic tools from previous versions (Zoom, Text selection, Snapshots and Read out loud), but now it also includes renewed features such as the ability to leave comments as sticky notes. A new feature you’ll find in Adobe Reader X is the Share tool, with which you can easily share the document by email or via the Adobe SendNow service.

Built-in security precautions

If you were worried about security issues in Adobe Reader, fear not: Adobe Reader XI is probably the safest version ever released, thanks to the new Protected Mode than loads images, code and 3D objects in a special area in memory, isolated from the system.

Adobe Reader XI is undoubtedly an important update in the history of this popular PDF reader – an essential tool to open, read and print PDF documents.

Download Adobe Reader XI 11.0.03 in Softonic

Adobe Flash Player is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web.

Features

Adobe Flash Player 10 includes a range of interesting additions and improvements when compared to previous versions. Top of that list is the inclusion of support for the H.264 video codec and the HE-AAC audio codec, which together offer a much richer, higher-definition picture along with crystal-clear sound. Introducing these capabilities in Adobe Flash Player with only slightly reduced performance looks set to trigger another revolution in web video, as HD movies are already an important element on YouTube - and they look and sound great!

Quality

Adobe Flash Player 10 irons out some of the problems that previous versions have suffered from (like security and stability issues), as well including support for ActionScript 3.0. It also makes fantastic 3D graphics possible. This makes for more dynamic and interesting navigation, games and interactivity on websites.

Conclusion

Adobe Flash Player 10 represents a leap forward in terms of quality as well as stability and security. It's therefore a highly recommended download for all users.

Download Adobe Flash Player Firefox, Safari, Opera 11.8.800.42 (Firefox) in Softonic

Adobe Flash Player (originally a Macromedia product) remains the standard platform for viewing a wide variety of web content, varying from navigation elements to every video you watch on YouTube.

Some of the main reasons to use Adobe Flash Player are:

-simple to use
-high performance
-small file size
-near-HD quality

Additions and Improvements

Adobe Flash Player 10 includes a wide range of interesting additions and improvements when compared to previous versions. Some of these great new features include the inclusion of support for the H.264 video codec and the HE-AAC audio codec, which together offer a much richer, higher-definition picture and crystal-clear sound. By introducing these capabilities and only slightly impacting performance, Adobe Flash Player is set to encourage another revolution in web video, since HD movies are becoming standard on YouTube. They also look and sound fantastic!

Adobe Flash Player 10 also irons out some of the problems that previous versions have suffered from. These include previous security and stability issues. This update also includes support for ActionScript 3.0 and makes fantastic 3D graphics possible. This means more dynamic and interesting navigation, games and interactivity on websites.

Adobe Flash Player 11 represents a leap forward in terms of quality, stability and security.

Download Adobe Flash Player (for IE) 11.8.800.42 in Softonic

Powerful Functions and High Performance: - Extracts all size of images including small images as well as large images from PDF within a few clicks. - Supported standard image JPG format completely, and you can specify the page ranges for extracting as you like. - You're enabled to process a single or a batch of PDF files and save them as JPG format at one time. - No require of any professional skills for both beginners and experts. So that you can handle this powerful tools on your PC as easy as 1-2-3. - Standalone utility to extract pdf file images that does not require Adobe Acrobat Reader or any other third party tool to be installed to carry out the pdf image extraction process.

- Enables users to save the extracted pictures as JPG image format within one click. - Intuitive interface design makes people feel comfortable while they are running this PDF Image Extract software. - 3 different importing methods enables all users to load PDF files effortlessly.

iStonsoft PDF Image Extractor is a tool that an easily, fast and batch extracting images from PDF files.

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PDF Merger Software Key Features: - Very attractive user interface and simple to use. - Merge multiple files on a single click. - Delete or remove PDF files according to your own specific needs. - Supports import batch PDF documents by 3 different methods. - Append, arrange, rearrange, organize and manage PDF files as your need.

- Does not require Adobe Acrobat or special technical skills to operate the software. - Combine PDF files in an order set by the user. - Preserve the quality of generated PDF documents by pertaining bookmarks, annotations and more. - Preview PDF files in the built-in viewer before converting as you like.

This kind of problem can be easily solved with a PDF merger that supports to merge PDF documents into one. After combining PDF files, you can share and manage PDF documents on PC easily.

Download iStonsoft PDF Merger 2.1.31 in Softonic

It's simple and quick. Need NOT install Microsoft Office. Need NOT install Adobe Acrobat Reader. Support for multi-page MDI and TIFF files. Support for many kinds of images.

As a convenient tool to view MDI and TIFF images. Support for multi-page MDI and TIFF files

Download MDI Viewer 3.1 in Softonic

If you're looking for a simple way to view PDFs in Windows 8 or Windows RT, Adobe Reader for Windows 8 fits the bill nicely. The app is extremely lightweight and very basic. The main window shows options to open a file, read the "Getting Started" PDF, visit the support forum, and to try out EchoSign of the full featured Adobe Acrobat program.

PDFs opened without any problems and Adobe Reader for Windows 8 was even able to open PDFs from other installed apps like Dropbox for Windows 8. There is a history of your recently viewed PDFs on the main page as well. The history can be cleared easily.

Those looking for the ability to make edits and annotations to PDFs will have to look further than Adobe Reader for Windows 8. Windows 8 users should check out the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat for a more full featured and can zoom in and out, unlike Adobe Reader for Windows 8.

Overall, Adobe Reader for Windows 8 is a simple and easy to use way to open up PDFs in Windows 8 and Windows RT but it's lacking many basic features.

Download Adobe Reader Touch for Windows 8 1.0.7.1855 in Softonic

Foxit Reader Portable on the other hand is light and quick. The proof is in the pudding for starters - compare Foxit Reader Portable's 8.5MB against Acrobat's more than 320MB and you can see why it opens documents in a snap. The key is that Foxit Reader Portable doesn't have all those annoying splash-up screens, endless credits lists and plugins - as well as the fact that it doesn't need to be installed, obviously!

Foxit Reader Portable's interface been designed with ease of use in mind. You have several toolbars available, which you can show or hide at your will and which give you access to all the available utilities: zoom, text selection, image snapshot, search tool, rotation or full screen view, among others. There is a small ad in the upper right corner, but you can deactivate it by going to the View menu and deselecting the Advertisement option.

One added bonus in Foxit Reader Portable is that you can annotate PDF documents in several ways by highlighting text fragments, underlining them, strike them out or even add personal comments.

If you want a small, fast, stable and portable alternative to Adobe Reader, then look no further: Foxit Reader Portable is what you need.

Download Foxit Reader Portable 5.4.5 in Softonic

Adobe Creative Suite 2 is a suite of photo and web applications that originally debuted back in 2005.

The apps included in Adobe Creative Suite 2 are as follows:

• Adobe Creative Suite CS2 (Standard)
  
• Acrobat 3D 1.0 (Windows)
  
• Acrobat 7.0 Standard
  
• Acrobat Pro 8.0
  
• Audition 3.0
  
• GoLive CS2
  
• Illustrator CS2
  
• InCopy CS2
  
• InDesign CS2
  
• Photoshop CS2
  
• Photoshop Elements 4.0/5.0
  
• Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0

This is a lot of applications for a suite but is very useful for graphic and web designers. Adobe's most current version of its Creative Suite is currently on its 6th generation, offering tons of upgrades from Adobe Creative Suite 2. Still, legacy users will be glad to know that the software installs fine on modern operating systems like Windows 7 and 8 by installing the software in Compatibility mode.

Photoshop is still plenty useful for Adobe Creative Suite 2 users, offering tools for basic image editing. Users who are looking for a free, modern alternative to Photoshop will want to try out GIMP instead.

Adobe Acrobat Pro 8.0 is very outdated as well. The most current version is Adobe Acrobat Pro XI. Users who want a simple PDF viewer can download Adobe Reader XI or Foxit Reader.

It's nice to see that Adobe is allowing users to continue to use Adobe Creative Suite 2 but there are more modern and free applications that may serve you better.

Download Adobe Creative Suite 2 Standard (CS2) in Softonic

Coolest Features: One of the coolest features of Convert PDF to Word Software is that there is absolutely no loss in quality and no waste of time! -It takes one-minute to turn a 100-page PDF file into text. -No changes in original layout, content, and formatting. -Convert even Encrypted PDF files. -Open multiple files and convert 200 PDF documents with a single click.

For home and office. Convert PDF to Word Software is an amazing new pdf-to-word super converter. It converts pdf to doc, rtf, and txt formats. The software preserves the original format, layout, and bitmap images of the pdf document.

Download Convert PDF To Word Desktop Software 2.8.1 in Softonic

This product does not require Adobe Acrobat or any other PDF reading software. This product will quickly convert pages of PDF files to image files and display them in the interface of your application. This protects your PDF files from being modified.

This ActiveX control was designed to allow software developers to add PDF viewing and editing capabilities to their applications.

Download ActiveX PDF Viewer 2.3 in Softonic

Like Foxit’s other PDF apps, Foxit PhantomPDF is a lovely program to use. It’s light on resources and quick to install. Once it’s up and running, there’s a tutorial and a welcome wizard, as well as lots of help and online resources. Thanks to this ease of use and excellent planning, using Foxit PhantomPDF is a really pleasant experience.

Creating PDFs
To start creating PDFs from scratch, you’ll need to use the Foxit PhantomPDF Advanced Editor – basically an editing app that allows you to create a PDF as easily as making a Word or other document. You’ll be able to add text, graphics, images and more, all from within a very easy-to-use interface. What’s more, you can create PDFs from common Microsoft Office programs, like Word and PowerPoint, in just one click.

Editing PDFs
Foxit PhantomPDF also helps you out when it comes to editing PDFs, whether on a document level, like when you want to remove or replace pages, or on a content level, like when you want to add stamps, correct text or add images such as stamps and comments. All these tools are available across Foxit PhantomPDF’s top menu, while right clicking will bring up even more options.

Reading PDFs
If you want to carry out simpler tasks, like reading a document in PDF format, Foxit PhantomPDF can help you out. There are a selection of viewing modes, bookmarking, excellent full screen navigation, and more.

In all, Foxit PhantomPDF is a fantastic app, with all the functionality you’ll need from a full PDF creation and editing app. It’s smooth, easy to use and, all in all, great investment.

Download Foxit PhantomPDF 5.4.3.1106 in Softonic

PDF Splitter Tool comes with east to use and highly interactive user interface. Splits large sized PDF files into several small PDF files with the fractions of seconds. It supports PDF files with "Owner" password and offers an popup box to enter the password. It supports PDF files with "User" password and offers an popup box to enter the password. This ultimate PDF Splitter works as a standalone utility, that does not require Adobe Acrobat or Reader be installed on users computer. Compatible with Windows such as Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP and 2000. This PDF Split solution can used by any common computer users with facing any difficulties.

PDF Splitter is lighting-fast desktop utility to split large size PDF document that means you can split large size PDF files in a short span of time. This program is also capable of removing owner password directly and for the user password, you need to enter the password, and then PDF Splitter will remove the password and split the PDF. And, unlike other similar tools available in the market, this tool will let users to split very large size PDF files i.e. 500 MB without any slugging.

PDF Splitter is designed for those PDF users who are looking for an easy way to split large size PDF files when they don’t have any Adobe products on their system and those who don’t trust online PDF Split service for their sensitive PDF files.

Download PDF Splitter Split Large Size PDF 1.5 in Softonic

Also, PDF to Text supports converting the PDF files that have some restrictions, such as "Content Copying", "Saving as Text" are not allowed.

Key Features: Friendly interface, small, accurate, and fast. Working without Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. Supports converting PDF documents to plain text files. Retains the original text, format and layout (as much as possible) in the output text files. Supports converting PDF to TXT in batch mode. Converts all pages of a PDF into ONE plain text file. Supports converting the PDF files that have some restrictions, such as "Content Copying", "Saving as Text" are not allowed.

If you want to let your documents management system supports PDF search or want to extract the text from PDF files, it might be useful.

Download PDF to Text 3 in Softonic

Convert photo to PDF with excellent ability - Enables you to create your own PDF eBook by converting bulk pictures into PDF documents. - Supports almost all popular image formats including JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF. - Merged with numerous multiple choices including add file/folder, delete option, clear all option and move up/down option. - Supports to convert multiple PDF files at one time to save your precious time.

Flexible settings - Supports saving output files in the same folder as source files. Or saving PDF documents into user-defined location. - Integrated with Merge function to combine multiple image files into one single PDF file. Simple to use - Supports to add files or folders by dragging and dropping directly. - Software incorporates intuitive and intellectual interface with swiftly accessible toolbar. - Absolutely compatible with all Windows operating system.

With this powerufl iStonsoft image to PDF converter, you can specifically convert picture to PDF files!

Download iStonsoft Image to PDF Converter 2.1.12 in Softonic

From simple text boxes to calculated fields to complex programming features in PDF forms, pdf-Office Professional provides everything necessary from the first steps to the creation of highly professional PDF forms. This is not least ensured by an intuitive form editor that allows simple graphic representation of the form fields and text from scratch, as with MS Word. Once created, documents can later be edited or added to in pdf-Office Professional at any time.

This software solution will also help to electronically fill out any preprinted paper forms easily and quickly or save filled out PDF forms. Even complex forms with fastidious computations, defaults, examinations and document Javascript are very simply realizable.

For beginners and professionals pdf-Office Professional is the outstanding all-in-one solution. Applelinks editor´s review: "Even complex forms with fastidious computations, defaults, examinations and document Javascript are very simply

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Foxit Reader is a lightweight and lightning quick utility for reading PDF files. PDF (Portable Document Format) is now one of the most ubiquitous document formats on the net. The problem is that Adobe Reader is both bulky and slow.

Foxit Reader on the other hand is light and quick. The proof is in the pudding for starters - compare Foxit Reader's installation file of just 12MB against Acrobat's more than 320MB and you can see why it opens documents in a snap. The key is that Foxit Reader doesn't have all those annoying splash-up screens, endless credits lists and plugins.

Foxit Reader's interface been designed with ease of use in mind. You have several toolbars available, which you can show or hide at your will and which give you access to all the available utilities: zoom, text selection, image snapshot, search tool, rotation or full screen view, among others. There is a small ad in the upper right corner, but you can deactivate it by going to the View menu and deselecting the Advertisement option.

One added bonus in Foxit Reader is that you can annotate PDF documents in several ways by highlighting text fragments, underlining them, strike them out or even add personal comments.

If you want a small, fast, stable and functional alternative to Adobe Reader, then look no further: Foxit Reader is what you need.

Download Foxit Reader 5.4.5.0124 in Softonic

Also, PDF to X supports converting the password-protected PDF files and specifying page range to convert (for DOC, RTF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIF, PCX, TGA files), and supports converting the PDF files that have some restrictions, such as Content Copying, Saving as Text, Page Extraction, Printing are not allowed (for HTML and TXT files).

Key Features: Supports converting PDF documents to Word (*.DOC), WordPad (*.RTF), HTML, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIF, PCX, TGA and TXT files. Friendly interface, small, accurate, and fast. Works in batch mode. Works without Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. Retains the original text, images, format and layout in the output files as much as possible. Supports converting the password-protected PDF files (for DOC, RTF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIF, PCX, TGA formats). And so on.

If you want to edit the PDF files in Word or WordPad, publish PDF content as HTML web pages on the web, capture PDF documents, let your documents management system supports PDF search or want to extract the text from PDF files, it might be useful.

Download PDF to X 3.2 in Softonic

It retains the original appearance of PDF files in the output jpg/png/bmp and other image files. Also, PDF to JPG supports converting the password-protected PDF files and specifying page range to convert.

Key Features: Friendly interface, small, accurate, and fast. Working without Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. Supports converting PDF files to JPG, PNG, BMP, TIF, GIF, PCX, TGA images. Retains the original appearance in the output jpg/png/bmp and other image files. Supports converting PDF to images in batch mode. Supports processing the password-protected PDFs. Supports specifying page range of PDF files to convert.

The PC users who need to convert PDF files to images may need this software.

Download PDF to JPG 2.2 in Softonic