Adobe goes environmentally friendly as it installs wind turbines, generating friendly electricity for its offices. During the recent December holidays, Adobe System had the turbines installed at its offices at Park Avenue and Almaden Boulevard. According to Adobe's officials, the installation of the turbines is part of a bigger plan to obtain renewable power supply for all their facilities globally, running electricals such as computers and lights.

Adobe's wind turbines

However, the hype is not really about the move for renewable energy. A few big companies -- like Microsoft and Google -- have already adapted this move, installing solar panels to supply their energy needs. However, the decision for harnessing wind power is somewhat out of the setting. After all, you will generally see these turbines in suburban or rural areas and not in high-rise offices.

Taking a different approach, Adobe installed 20 small wind turbines. Each turbine measures 30 feet in height and 4 feet in width and is installed vertically. The turbines are created to rotate slowly. This is to avoid possible bird-crashes especially since some peregrine falcons have been spotted nearby . Although Adobe won't say how much the overall construction costs, it is said that the amount is slightly lower than creating a solar system. Adobe senior director Randy Knox also admits that the reduction in electricity costs is large enough that they could cover the cost of the installation in around eight years. Knox refers to it as an "investment that needs to be developed."

The reason behind the move

But why wind turbines? After all, we often see them in big, empty spaces. The thing is that the Adobe area is not big enough to install sufficient amount of solar panels. However, it seems that they are not lacking in the wind department. Randy Knox, the head of Adobe's wind power project, mentions that "In an urban environment, there's a lot of wind tunnels, even at ground level."

Perhaps that's the reason why the new installation works. Together, the wind turbines are expected to produce 50,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Although it's enough to provide power to more than one home, the expected output will only cover around 2 percent of Adobe's electrical consumption.

So far, Adobe has already garnered the "green building" certification because of its efforts to lower electricity consumption. Still, Knox reveals that the company is also looking at solar panels as well as fuel cells as possible sources of renewable energy.

Adobe obtained the turbines from Mariah Power, which calls them Windspires. Each one can produce around 1.2 kilowatts of electricity. From where it stands, the wind turbines of Adobe can be easily seen by people who pass. This is excellent since it can make people more aware of alternative energy sources.

Although Apple has no present plans of supporting Adobe Systems’ Flash multimedia software to any of their line of smartphones, other telecommunications companies and handset manufacturers see the need for Flash 10.1 support and are currently planning to make available software updates in the very near future.

The need for broader web content range and access

Among the handset manufacturers who trust that consumers want broader access to web content through their mobile devices are Palm and Motorola. Both Palm and Motorola have plans of adding Flash 10.1 support to their range of smart phones, as stated by chief executives of both companies, at the Las Vegas-held International Consumer Electronics Show or CES.

It was only last year that Flash 10.1 was publicized by Adobe. It was also announced during that time that about 19 handset vendors have plans of shipping their models along with the software, beginning the mid of 2010. Motorola was one of the staunchest supporters of Adobe Flash 10.1, assuring Adobe that it will support the software on their Android models starting the first quarter of 2010.

The unveiling of the Backflip

It was on Wednesday that the Backflip Android handset model was first announced and made public, by the Chief Executive Office of the handset division of Motorola, Sanjay Jha. It was also during the same event that Jha mentioned about how Motorola has been preparing for a software update that will work with Flash 10.1. Nonetheless, no specific date has been given as to when this update may be utilized by users, although the plan has been going on already for not less than a year.

Adobe announced at the start of the week how they have been partnering with Google in an effort to add Flash 10.1 to the recently unveiled Android Nexus One phone, manufactured also by HTC.
 
Palm to support Flash

Other than Motorola, Palm is also prepared to add Flash 10.1 support to their range of smartphones. Paul Cousineau, director for the product marketing division of Palm, has announced in a press conference that the WebOS operating system of Palm is prepared to accommodate Flash 10.1 support. Furthermore, this support will be made available to users through a downloadable and easy-to-install plugin for their mobile handsets.

In an attempt to show how users can be benefited by a Flash content access on the Internet, Paul Cousineau played a Flash movie trailer for the film, Avatar, using a Pre handset.

Again, no specific date has been announced yet as to when the Flash support will be enjoyed by Palm users. However, representatives for the company have given the assurance that the plugin will be available soon. Blackberry and Windows mobile handsets are also set to receive Flash 10.1 support, along with Android handsets and models running on WebOS.

Given the increase in the attacks on Adobe’s software, such as their Flash Player, Acrobat and Reader, the software giant now plans to implement yet another automatic updater. This time, the updates will be done as silent security patches that do not need user intervention.

The new release

The new release is more of a response to the slew of attacks on Adobe software. It is still on beta stage, and tests focus on the silent patching feature of the updates. While silent patches are seen as more effective, there is still the need to see how this schema will work on Adobe software. Since the updaters run in the background, the company still needs to see how these can be effectively implemented among the millions of Adobe users.
Brad Arkin, security chief for Adobe, states that the updaters have configuration features for users, even with the silent patching mode. He says, “They can download and then give them the choice to install it, or it can just notify – or you can turn it off completely. And so, by giving users these options, you know, people who have a well managed environment and they’ve got good reason for why they don’t want to install an update.”

Why silent updaters

According to studies, silent updaters are the best way to install security patches and other important update files. Since these do not require any action from the user, it ensures that the software is always current, with necessary security files installed. Constant patches have become necessities, especially for Adobe software. Malicious attacks are launched every so often. With silent updaters, however, users need not keep up to date on technology news. Their installd software will be updated, regardless.

JavaScript support is here to stay

Much of the attacks on the Adobe software are done through malicious JavaScript APIs. However, the software company is far from veering away from this API type, especially since they deem it impossible to not have JavaScript support for their software, such as the PDF Reader.

Security bugs have been consistently found in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat. Unfortunately, the security officers at the company usually have only a short amount of time to respond to all these bugs and issue required patches to address the problem. Hence, they’ve come up with the JavaScript blacklist, which blacklists any new malicious JavaScript APIs found. With this blacklist, a user trying to access the blacklisted API will experience “denied calls,” which will then lead to a software crash. This then necessitates the reboot of the software.

In this scenario, the silent updater is really the better way to deal with Adobe software attacks. Disabling JavaScript APIs will only result in more problems. With automatic updates, however, particularly of the JavaScript blacklist, users can use their Adobe software without disruption.

Digital artists should rejoice. The Adobe Illustrator weakness that has left it vulnerable to hacking will be fixed come January 8, 2010. Artists do not have to fear the loss of their works of art because the Illustrator’s developers have been alerted by an unknown hacker’s attacks and are discovering ways to fend such attacks in the future. If attacks such as these can target a weak spot in software, the effect is more than about losing digital illustrations. According to Adobe, hackers can infiltrate into computer systems through the software and spread malware that could mess up the personal computer. Adobe’s security advisory emphasizes that versions 3 and 4 from the Illustrator Creative Suite are the two most vulnerable to similar attacks. Those using versions 3 and 4 may suddenly find their computers invaded by unauthorized software. Adobe hopes that the solution due January 8 will bounce all attempts to attack.

The hacker’s attack is posted through a "proof of concept" blog post. This means that the hacker's information can be accessed by cybercriminals, making this flaw a critical issue for the developers of Adobe Illustrator.

How the attack will work

The attack, however, does not work on its own. Users will have to unknowingly open an Encapsulated Postscript (.eps) file for the attack code to be generated. The scary thing about this attack code is that it is publicly available. If the code gets into the wrong hands, there could be more possibly successful attempts at infiltration and malware spread. The real solution then is to fix the software itself. Getting rid of the code is far more complicated. Adobe Illustrator users are also further warned against opening .eps files from unknown or uncertain sources. They should await the Illustrator patch, which will be available early January of 2010.

Brad Arkin, head of Adobe’s Product Security, reveals that his team has not yet confirmed if the point of concept attack can include the release of viruses on the personal computer with versions 3 or 4 of Adobe Illustrator installed. Software flows are not limited to the Adobe Illustrator, however. Both Microsoft and Adobe are experiencing software problems that should be remedied as soon as possible. Both companies are hoping to deliver patches for flaws found in Adobe’s Flash Player and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The vulnerabilities and flaws of other software, unfortunately, are only discovered when attacks have already occurred.

Microsoft's bug fixes

Microsoft’s bug fixes also extend to Windows and Office. There will be no less than six security updates to correct some of the flaws. Internet Explorer alone will need a patch to be secured. Consumers can only hope that the said security updates and patches can truly make the software safe and bug-free.

When Adobe Photoshop was released on the Apple App Store, it was just one among the over 100,000 applications available to iPhone and iPod Touch users.  After making over one million downloads in the first week after its release, it was clear that Adobe Photoshop's application was in a league of popularity of its own.  With applications for both Apple's iPhone and Microsoft's Windows Mobile devices, Adobe Photoshop had only one more major mobile operating system to conquer: Android.  In the spirit of mobile app domination, Adobe Photoshop has just released a Photoshop mobile phone application for Android phones.  If you are in need of a great photo editing application for your Android mobile, then you definitely need to check out the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android.  Here are some of the reasons you should get Photoshop.com Mobile for Android now:

1.  Get the professionalism you expect from Adobe.

Adobe Systems has been in the business of creating professional software for over 25 years.  Specializing and focusing in multimedia and creativity software, Adobe Systems has come to develop and release some of the best software for everyone, from casual users to the top professionals in the fields of photography, art, graphic design, publishing, film, videography, and other multimedia-related industries.  Adobe Photoshop is just one of the many prized software families that has come from Adobe Systems.  With Photoshop.com for Android, you get the professionalism, attention to detail, and expert experience that Adobe has to offer in the form of a mobile app that allows you to edit and manage the digital images stored in your Android device.

2.  Get the functions that you want and need.

Adobe's Photoshop.com App allows you to take control of many of the basic image-editing tools that you need.  First, the app allows you to adjust color levels, crop picture, apply various image effects, and rotate images with just the touch of your fingers.  All you have to do is select a tool and start editing your picture through the touchscreen display on your Android.  Aside from image-editing, the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android also gives you quick and easy access to sharing functions.  Once you create an account with Photoshop.com, you will gain access to a number of online tools through your Photoshop.com App.  You can upload your images, store them online, and share them with your loved ones.  The app even has an "Auto Upload" function that will send any new photos from your Android to your Photoshop.com account.

3.  Get it for free.

Perhaps the best thing about the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android is the fact that it is free.  Just like the version of the app released for the iPhone, the Android app can also be downloaded and installed, free-of-charge.

These days, you can get an iPhone application for practically anything from cooking and dieting apps to organizers and music apps. One of the newest and greatest iPhone applications to hit the Internet is the Photoshop iPhone application.  As the mobile rendition of the world-famous Adobe Photoshop, the precisely named "Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone" is a perfect compliment to those gigabytes of photos you take, store, and share through your iPhone.  Anyone who owns an iPhone should definitely check out this piece of software as an all-in-one photo editing solution.

What makes Photoshop.com Mobile?

As you probably already know, there are loads of image-editing iPhone applications out there.  Search the Apple Store and you will find at least ten great applications for image editing.  What makes Photoshop.com Mobile stand out from the rest, however, is the fact that it is a proven name in the industry.  Adobe has consistently been a leader in the field of image editing for years, which is why you can trust that their software is made by the right people for the task.  Also, if you use Photoshop on your computer, whether it be a Mac or a PC, the iPhone application version gives new avenues of connectivity between your mobile phone and your home computer.

Not only does Photoshop.com Mobile for the iPhone allow you to apply dozens of options for editing your photos, but it also gives you the tools to instantly share your files through Photoshop.com.  You also get full access to your Photoshop.com photo library, which means that you won't have to save all of your image files to your iPhone.  Instead, upload your photos on Photoshop.com and you can have full access to them through your Photoshop.com Mobile app and your iPhone's wireless Internet connectivity.  Basically, it gives you access to all of your uploaded photographs, meaning that you can save space on your iPhone for other apps, games, documents, music, videos, and other files.

Downsides of Photoshop.com Mobile and why it is still worth it

There are a few downsides to the Photoshop.com Mobile iPhone app.  First of all, it does not give you full image editing capabilities.  Instead of giving you a suite of tools, like the PC or Apple Photoshop versions do, the mobile app mainly gives you a number of filters, effects, and colors to work with.  You can do a lot of basic and intermediate image-editing tasks with this app, but some may get frustrated by the lack of a full tool set.  Still, the Photoshop.com Mobile app for iPhone is hard to pass up, especially because the app is free.  Just head on down to the Apple Applications site and download the program.

Though Acrobat Reader and Acrobat both deal with PDF files, they don’t have the same functions.  They are actually complementary programs of one another.  The main differences between the two is that one is free and can only read PDF files and not create them, while the other can do both.  Though there are other essential differences, those are the basic ones.

Acrobat Reader vs. Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat Reader is free, while Acrobat is something that you have to buy.  Acrobat Reader allows users to be able to open PDF files.  Acrobat Reader is the program that allows you to create PDF files.  But Acrobat Reader is more powerful than that.  It can allow you to save documents into PDF files, scan documents, and transform them into PDF files through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.  Also, you can save web pages into PDF format for easy saving and archiving.  Adobe Acrobat also allows for digital signing, comment creation for peer reviews of the documents, and password security and encryption for the documents.  Acrobat can also easily allow you to include media files like video and images to a PDF document.  

The Adobe Reader can also enable other functions and capabilities of Acrobat Reader.  For example, if the PDF file made in Adobe Acrobat was saved with allowances for editing and saving, then people who can view those files through Adobe Reader can save their own copy and make alterations to the original copy.  When enabled to do so by Acrobat, you can also use Adobe Reader to digitally sign PDF files.  

So, as one can see, Adobe Reader is, in a way, on a level higher than Adobe Acrobat.  One can say that Acrobat allows the creation of PDF files, while Reader allows for the adoption of the file format of as much people as possible.  As creating a PDF file for public dissemination is futile if only the people with the program which created that file can read it, Adobe has created a way for people to make use and benefit from the file format even though they didn’t buy the software.  Since the Acrobat Reader is a free download and is included with every new computer released in the market, almost everyone can view PDF files, thus promoting the file format.  This is like free advertising for the PDF format and will get people interested in creating their own PDF files.  And thus, more people would be enticed to get the Adobe Acrobat.

If you've ever consider buying adobe acrobat maybe this will convince you.

 Purchasing Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro or Pro Extended and you will have the opportunity to save up to $50. This promotion ends may 31st 2009.

That's not all if you are a commercial customer and purchases Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro you will get a free eBook together with the software, this promo lasts until sep 28th 2009

With Adobe acrobat as a working tool you will be able to do things like:

Creating self signed digital ID's

Creating secure attachments

Being able to create easy or advanced forms

Building and publishing PDF portfolios

You may read the adobe acrobat review at ixDownload but you will need to use this discount link to ensure you take advantage of any of these promotions.

A recent vote on sixrevisions.com has revealed which tools web designers deem to be most useful. Although there were over ten different tools mentioned, there were a few that designers agreed they would not want to do without. The following ranking is the result of said vote:

 

1. Firebug
First on the list of useful tools is Firebug, a tool developed by Mozilla, the same company that has also given us the immensely popular Firefox internet browser. Originally developed by Joe Hewitt, this open source extension for Mozilla Firefox allows for debugging, monitoring and editing CSS, HTML, and JavaScript in any web page. Firebug can be enabled for any site and can be opened as a separate window or as a bar in a browser. Firebug is a tool mainly used for finding errors in a website, which is a very important task for anyone whose work involves building or designing websites. It has become so integral to many people that they could not imagine getting their tasks accomplished without it.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Photoshop
Photoshop has been voted the runner-up for most useful web designing tool. Developed by Adobe Systems it allows users to edit graphics and it works on PC as well as on Mac. Photoshop is so popular that it has become Adobe Systems' most well known software. It has also become a word in modern language; people refer to "photoshopping" when they speak about graphically altering pictures. This kind of absorption into everyday language is always a great measure of success. Photoshop enables users to manipulate and create web graphics with great tools such as filters and brushes. Photoshop also allows designers to save layer comps, instead of saving different versions of an image a layer comp can be saved as part of a file and easily turned into a pdf file if necessary. This is a great way to make various versions of an image more suitable for client presentations.

 

3. Panic Coda
Third place on the list of most useful web designing tools goes to Panic Coda. This particular application was developed for Mac computers and strives to make the process of writing code easier by eliminating a number of other applications that are necessary in order to produce and constantly preview the freshly written code. Panic Coda features a built in CSS editor to make the creation of layouts a lot easier, there is a visual as well as a text mode that lets designers work on their style sheets. In order to be able to visualize the code that has been written users can employ Apple's WebKit, which shows designers exactly how things are going to look in Safari. Updates occur simultaneously to the typing or whenever the "save" button is hit. Panic Coda's text editing is really a force to be reckoned with. It has all the common features like syntax coloring, line numbering, auto completing, block editing, and international support but a few other special features are what really makes this tool so great. Designers are able to communicate with co-workers by virtue of a live collaboration feature which allows users to share whatever they are producing with their co-workers no matter where in the world they currently are. In order to make coding easier, Panic Coda allows for frequently used text fragments to be inserted by dragging them from a floating window. Another newly developed feature is the option to download plug-ins in order to add new tricks to coda. No matter if users are able to write them or know of plug-ins that others have written this feature is truly extraordinary.

 

4. Dreamweaver
Dreamweaver is the second Adobe tool that has found its way into this list. Although originally developed by Macromedia it became part of the many Adobe products when Adobe Systems acquired Macromedia in 2005. Dreamweaver was made for Mac as well as Windows operating systems and offers support for an array of web technologies, scripting languages and frameworks. Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 is the tenth version of the original applications and is available in many different languages including Chinese, Korean and Russian as well as most European languages. A major advantage of Adobe products is that they are built to integrate neatly with each other meaning Dreamweaver will work nicely in conjunction with other programs such as Photoshop.

 

5. Fireworks
Fireworks is another Adobe Systems application, however, unlike Photoshop it has been developed specifically for web designers. Like most Adobe products it works on Mac as well as on Windows operating systems and integrates easily with other Adobe applications such as Dreamweaver and Flash. This application is a bitmap and vector graphics editor, but places more emphasis on vector graphics as opposed to Photoshop which is mainly a bitmap graphics editor. It features the great ability to convert elements into symbols. When these symbols are edited later on the changes are applied to all instances in which that symbol is used.

 

Design fans who voted on which tools they would not want to live without also mentioned others apart from these five most popular applications. Among the notable mentions are tools such as Adobe Flash, Aptana, Notepad++ and GIMP.