Adobe Introduces Software to Help Create, Secure, Sell and Read eBooks
Press release from the issuing company
San Jose, Calif., (January 29, 2001) Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced two products that address the growing demand for the online purchase of digital content: the Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader™ 2.0 and the Adobe Content Server™ 2.0 for eBooks. Both products result from the company's recent acquisition of Glassbook, Inc. and further Adobe's eBooks mission—to help the publishing industry sell compelling digital content and provide consumers with an engaging electronic reading experience.
"While electronic novels are getting the most visibility today, Adobe's vision for eBooks is about giving consumers in content-heavy environments such as education a rich reading experience along with the ability to print their content," said Michael Looney, senior director of eBooks, Adobe. "With the launch of these products, Adobe is delivering on this vision with an eBook reading experience that most closely mirrors what's expected in a printed book including colorful pictures, complex graphics and rich fonts."
Designed for online book publishers, retailers or distributors, the Adobe Content Server is an easy-to-use, all-in-one system that secures and sells Adobe PDF-based eBooks. Key software features of the Adobe Content Server enable easy packaging, protection, distribution, and sale of Adobe PDF-based eBooks.
"The large number of publishers who already have their content archived in Adobe PDF are ready to take advantage of the growing eBooks market. By leveraging their Adobe PDF-based files, the Adobe Content Server immediately enables their eBook environment without high conversion or integration costs," Looney continued.
Many publishers use Adobe's award-winning software in their current workflow, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign™ and FrameMaker. The Adobe Content Server 2.0 leverages the Adobe PDF files created for print purposes, and secures and prepares them for online distribution and purchase.
"We developed our unique in-house digitizing process using Adobe tools so we could produce eBooks easily," said Robin Kuo, president of ComicsOne. "In addition, the Adobe Content Server gave us an amazingly simple solution to create and sell eBooks without the painful and costly process of having to convert our files."
Pricing and Availability
Acrobat eBook Reader 2.0 is available for download today at no charge from the Adobe.com Web site at www.adobe.com/products/ebookreader/main.html or the Barnes and Noble.com website at www.bn.com (see today's related press release). The product is available in English for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.