What is Windows Home Server?

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 Version 2.11 PR6 Released

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

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Brian has also released version 2.11 PR6 of My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011.

Windows Home Server 2011

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 operates as database back-end for My Movies clients in multi-zone environments.

The My Movies for Windows Media Center or My Movies Collection Management products can be downloaded and installed on client PC’s to maintain movies in the database on My Movies for Windows Home Sever 2011.

My Movies may not be pre-installed on commercial products, nor in any way redistributed or provided to end-users by installers that is not part of our installer program.

Change Log:

Added: Better messages when attempting to start services without the required amount of points.

Change: Event handling functionality now requires 2500 points or integrator license.
Change: New handbrake version for video converter.
Change: Ability to process unidentified discs have been split into when system was online, available for all, and when system was offline (boat functionality), which is available only for users with 2500 points or installer integrators version.
Change: MPEG-2 option deprecated as copy target, and instead added as part of video converter.

Fix: Video converter only checked for 1250 points, despite it requirering 2500.
Fix: Some requests could time out when downloading from WHS to apps.
Fix: AnyDVD panel did not show for installers when clicking for it.
Fix: If you hit update on your account to update points, it did not always correctly enable the service options.
Fix: Delete after conversion checkbox is now only available when a conversion goes to the same folder as the original.

Before installing a pre release version, you must make a backup of your database using the Collection Management program. There are no guarantee that a pre release version functions as expected, and it should therefore only be used for evaluation purposes. The database backup ensures that you can revert back to the latest stable version.

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.11 Pre Release 6 can be used as server for My Movies 4.03 Pre Release 6 clients.

You can download the Windows Home Server 2011 edition here Check out our review of My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.0 Pre Release 7

My Movies for Windows Media Center 4.03 PR6 Released

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

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My Movies for Windows Media Center 4.03 PR6 Released

Brian has just released My Movies for Windows Media Center version 4.03 PR6.

Here is the change log:

Added: Feature table dialog for users with less than 2500 points.
Added: Meta-data storage for JRiver MediaCenter (500 points required).
Added: New Media Player Classic Home Cinema edition with updated path.

Change: Internal replacement of menu and toolbar components.
Change: Event handling functionality now requires 2500 points or integrator license.
Change: Options for refresh rates now allows for incorrect refresh rates as well, such as 60 Hz for PAL.

Fix: Import dialog could throw an error.
Fix: MediaBrowser checkbox option could get unchecked if you do not have 500 points.
Fix: Edit movie online button opened an incorrect view.
Fix: Minor updates to the refresh rate changing.
Fix: Directors got added to actors list.
Fix: Automatic refresh rate change did not revert when checking resolutions.
Fix: “Online titles” option did not include titles of type Online (Folder Content).
Fix: API returned wrong image path in case of a multi-zone environment.
Fix: Issue with TV Series on DVD and category list.
Fix: SageTV properties file could continue to be stored by folder monitoring.
Fix: SQL Server 2008 R2 should be installed under Windows 8, but it did not, if the release was not with Windows Media Center.
Fix: Box set titles did not display correct backdrop.
Fix: Various fixes to box set contribution.

Before installing a pre release version, you must make a backup of your database using the Collection Management program. There is no guarantee that a pre release version functions as expected, and it should only be used for evaluation purposes. The database backup ensures that you can revert back to the latest stable version.

My Movies 4.03 Pre Release 6 can be used as client for My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.11 Pre Release 6 or My Movies for Windows Home Server 2.00.

Download My Movies 4.03 PR6 now Check out our review of My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.0 Pre Release 7

Flipboard for iOS updated to version 1.9.5

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

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Flipboard for iOS updated to version 1.9.5

The personalised magazine app Flipboard has been updated to version 1.9.5.

Flipboard creates a personalized magazine out of everything being shared with you. Flip through your Facebook newsfeed, tweets from your Twitter timeline, photos from Instagram friends, sounds from SoundCloud and much more.

Fill Flipboard with the things you like to read, from niche blogs to publications like Rolling Stone and Lonely Planet, and use Instapaper or Readability to save articles to read later.

Flipboard creates a single place to enjoy, browse, comment on and share all the news, photos and updates that matter to you.

In addition to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, you can flip through your newsfeeds and timelines from Google Reader, LinkedIn, SoundCloud, Tumblr, Flickr, 500px, Sina Weibo and Renren on Flipboard.

What’s New in Version 1.9.5

Bug fixes, plus all the great features from 1.9.4:
★ Enjoy world-renowned journalism from The New York Times. Paid subscribers can now access the full paper on Flipboard.
★ The New York Times’ Top News section is free to all readers.
★ Connect Flipboard to Google+ to enjoy the activity in your Circles in the form of a beautiful magazine.
★ Log in to YouTube to flip through videos being uploaded and shared by the channels you follow.
★ Fully localized editions for Germany, Italy, Korea, Netherlands and Spain—including hundreds of regional recommendations in the Content Guide.

Download now from the Apple App Store

LinkedIn app for iOS updated to version 5.0.5

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

0

LinkedIn app for iOS updated to version 5.0.5

The LinkedIn app for iOS has been updated to version 5.0.5.

Get on-the-go access to your professional network with LinkedIn for iPhone & iPad. Find and connect with more than 150M members worldwide, read the latest industry news, keep up-to-date with your groups, and share content with your network from anywhere.

What’s New in Version 5.0.5

Performance and other miscellaneous improvements

Download now from the Apple App Store

VLC Media Player 2.0.3 Released for Mac, brings Mountain Lion support

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

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The excellent VLC Media Player for the Mac has had an update, taking it to version 2.0.3.

Here are the most important improvements for VLC for the Mac:

VideoLAN and the VLC development are proud to present a minor update adding support for OS X Mountain Lion as well as improving VLC’s overall stability on OS X. Additionally, this version includes updates for 18 translations and adds support for Uzbek and Marathi.

Download VLC Player here

The Digital Lifestyle Show 363 Conga Line

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

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The Digital Lifestyle Show 363 Conga Line

This weeks Digital Lifestyle Show has just been released – and it’s show 363.

Here’s what Ian says about this week show:

Welcome to show 363. Garry, Andrew and I get to together to talk over the weeks news including Ceton Media Center extenders, Office 2013, Netflix v LoveFilm v NOW TV,Windows Home Server backup alternatives, Raspberry Pi news, XBMC and lots more.

You can listen to or download the show from here.

Hands-on with the ZTE Grand X Android based smartphone

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

0

Hands-on with the ZTE Grand X Android based smartphone

Last night in London ZTE announced their next smartphone, the Android 4.0 based ZTE Grand X and we got some hands-on time with it.

The ZTE Grand X combines an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core chipset with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The powerful processor delivers fast download speeds and video processing and, combined with the 4.3-inch 16 million colour Sharp screen (960×540) and cinematic surround-sound Dolby Mobile Sound technology, enables the Grand X to provide a compelling mobile entertainment experience.

The phone is very lightweight and fits nicely into the palm of your hand. It has rounded corners and a textured back.

The phone comes with 4GB of internal memory and this can easily be expanded using MicroSD.

The rear camera works pretty well (it was a rather dark area we were in with lots of people taking pictures of it so I expect the camera to perform better in a real world situation) and the front camera is ok, but then you are not likely to take pictures you want to keep with the front one, are you?

The sound quality is good – it utilises Dolby Mobile Sound.

Overall I found the phone to be fast and responsive with a bright and clear screen – I look forward to trying it out properly. Expect our full review soon.

Specifications

Processor: NVIDIA Tegra 2, Dual-core (AP20 Dual Core 1GHz)
Display Size: 4.3” – 16M QHD (960 x 540)
Modem: NVIDIA i450 (HSDPA Cat14, 21Mbps)
Weight: 110g
Dimensions: 127mmx64.6mmx9.9mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi, DLNA
Camera: Dual Camera 5MP AF Flash/0.3 MP
User Memory: 4GB + up to 32GB Micro SD
RAM: 512 MB
Storage: 4GB, expandable to 32GB (Micro SD)
OS: Android 4.0 (ICS)
Battery: 1650 mAh Li-Ion
Others: Dolby Mobile Sound / HD Voice / HD video capture and playback / Facetones / Evernote / Documents to go / Tegra Zone (Gaming Marketplace)

Virgin Media will offer the ZTE Grand X on prepay for £189.99, or on contract from £24 a month all the way up to £37 depending on your chosen package. Phones 4u have yet to release their pricing, but expect that any time now.

The ZTE Grand X will be available sometime during August.

Learn more from the LTE Grand X website

Lights-Out Beta for Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Andrew Edney

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Jul 19, 2012

0

Lights-Out Beta for Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Martin Rothschink has just been in touch to say that he has also just released a beta of his Lights-Out add-in for Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

The Add-In basically allows you to monitor and control all power aspects of your server and PCs on your network. You can turn on, put to sleep, hibernate and shut down PCs on the network. You can even monitor the actual PC usage and server remote access as well.

Lights-Out enhances a Server in these areas:

Power management, to run your server on demand
Client backup, to run a scheduled backup and use Wake-On-Lan
Uptime chart, to give a graphical overview of device activity in your network

Download the new beta from here

ZTE announce the ZTE Grand X Android based smartphone

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

1

ZTE announce the ZTE Grand X Android based smartphone

Tonight in London ZTE announced their next smartphone, the Android 4.0 based ZTE Grand X and CDW were on hand to cover it.

The ZTE Grand X combines an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core chipset with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The powerful processor delivers fast download speeds and video processing and, combined with the 4.3-inch 16 million colour Sharp screen (960×540) and cinematic surround-sound Dolby Mobile Sound technology, enables the Grand X to provide a compelling mobile entertainment experience.

The NVIDIA Tegra processor means games run fast and smooth, and one-touch access to the Tegra Zone gives mobile gamers quick access to the world’s best mobile games.

The ZTE Grand X incorporates a variety of connection capabilities including Bluetooth, WiFi and DLNA which enable users to share content across multiple devices such as TVs and displays, printers, cameras, and other mobile and multimedia devices. The smartphone also allows users to capture, play and share content using the HD video capability.

ZTE will be showing off the Grand X at the Westfield Startford Olympic area as part of their ZTE Grand Xperience, giving people the chance to see and try one for themselves.

ZTE are aiming the new phone at 18-35 year olds, and as such has teamed up with Professor Green to promote it, so expect to see lots of posters and advertising!

Specifications

Processor: NVIDIA Tegra 2, Dual-core (AP20 Dual Core 1GHz)
Display Size: 4.3” – 16M QHD (960 x 540)
Modem: NVIDIA i450 (HSDPA Cat14, 21Mbps)
Weight: 110g
Dimensions: 127mmx64.6mmx9.9mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi, DLNA
Camera: Dual Camera 5MP AF Flash/0.3 MP
User Memory: 4GB + up to 32GB Micro SD
RAM: 512 MB
Storage: 4GB, expandable to 32GB (Micro SD)
OS: Android 4.0 (ICS)
Battery: 1650 mAh Li-Ion
Others: Dolby Mobile Sound / HD Voice / HD video capture and playback / Facetones / Evernote / Documents to go / Tegra Zone (Gaming Marketplace)

Virgin Media will offer the ZTE Grand X on prepay for £189.99, or on contract from £24 a month all the way up to £37 depending on your chosen package. Phones 4u have yet to release their pricing, but expect that any time now.

The ZTE Grand X will be available sometime during August.

We got some hands-on time with the phone tonight, so expect that shortly.

Learn more from the LTE Grand X website

Windows 8 To Be Available October 26th, 2012

Microsoft

Jim McCarthy

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Jul 18, 2012

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Windows 8 To Be Available October 26th, 2012

Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will be available to the public on October 26th, 2012!

Microsoft just announced via a blog post that Windows 8 will ship on October 26th, 2012. Here is what they said:

Windows 8 will be available on…

…October 26^th, 2012! That’s right! Just a few minutes ago, Steven Sinofsky announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 – whether in upgrade fashion or on a new PC – starting on October 26^th. Earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Tami Reller told attendees Windows 8 would be available in October. But now everyone has a specific date to mark on their calendars. It’s on mine!

So mark your calendars! The upgrade will cost $39.99.

Microsoft Blog Post

Microsoft talks about using your feedback to make Narrator work better with touch in Windows 8

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

0

In the next in their series of Building Windows 8 articles, Microsoft talk about using your feedback to make Narrator work better with touch.

This is how this article starts:

When the Developer Preview build was released, we took the opportunity to reach out and gather feedback on Narrator from as many people who require visual assistance tools as we could. To start with, we worked with the community of folks inside Microsoft (we are fortunate to have a significant and organized community that is engaged in the accessibility of all Microsoft products) to install Windows 8 and send us their impressions, and we held internal accessibility events where people could come and try it out in person. We also held usability studies where we invited people to Microsoft’s campus to experience Narrator on a touch screen and walk through common tasks to see where we could improve. Millions of you downloaded the Developer and Consumer Previews, and many of you tried out Narrator and sent us some great feedback. We followed up with a number of people who contacted us via @BuildWindows8. Lastly, we attended the CSUN conference for Technology and Persons with Disabilities, where we were lucky to have the chance to sit down with people one-on-one as they tried out the Windows 8 Consumer Preview for the first time on touch screens.

There were a couple of key scenarios we wanted to validate. In particular, we wanted to make sure touch users could get up and running using Narrator on a new PC, right out of the box. That includes finding and installing accessible apps from the Store, and accomplishing basic everyday tasks like sending email, reading webpages, and listening to music. The excitement around the work we’d done so far was overwhelming and gratifying, but it was clear that we still had more work to do to make touch Narrator even better.

Thanks to all of your constructive feedback, we identified key areas that we’ve improved for the Release Preview:

Responsiveness: We heard that Narrator on touch screens didn’t feel responsive enough.

Gestures: Some people had difficulty with Narrator gestures, particularly some of the more complicated multi-finger gestures.

App exploration: Finding particular elements on the screen (e.g. finding tiles on the Start screen) could be hard for people not already familiar with the particular app or UI.

Web navigation: The commands available in the Consumer Preview were not extensive enough for some webpages.

We worked heavily on each of these areas for the Release Preview, and we’re still working in some areas for the final release of Windows 8. We wanted to share with you some of the improvements you can already experience in the Release Preview today.

To continue reading, click here.

I wonder what the next article will be about?

My Movies for Mac OS X Updated to version 1.21

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

0

As you may know, I am a huge fan of My Movies, and now Brian has released an update to My Movies for Mac OS X – taking it to version 1.21.

Introduction

My Movies for Mac OS X allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 475,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. The application supports Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.

Notice! The application is currently in Pre Release, and is freely available to everyone during this Pre Release period. The Pre Release distributions contains a time bomb functionality, allowing to function typically for one month from the release date.

My Movies for Mac OS X requires you to create a user account, or log on to an existing My Movies account to be able to use the program. Your collection will follow your user account through our online servers, allowing you to switch between different clients without ever loosing your data. If you log in to an existing My Movies account, your current collection will automatically be synchronized to My Movies for Mac OS X. Users of My Movies for iPhone, iPad or Android will automatically have their collection synchronized between My Movies for Mac OS X and your movie devices.

Availability

My Movies for Mac OS X is available in two different versions; an unlimited “Pro” application, available for purchase through the Mac App Store, and a “Free” application which is identical to the “Pro” version, but limited to 50 titles, a limitation that can be lifted either through contribution points or purchased points.

The Pro application can be purchased by clicking here.

The free application is at this time not available through the App Store, but instead available as a direct download on this page. This is due to Apple not allowing for trial software on the App Store.

The Free application can be downloaded by clicking here.

My Movies for Mac OS X and My Movies for Windows

My Movies for Mac OS X is a standalone software, synchronizing with the My Movies WebService.

The application is not a client for My Movies for Windows servers, such as My Movies for Windows Home Server and My Movies Collection Management functioning as server. This means that you cannot connect it to the My Movies Windows based solutions.

It is not planned that for the software to function as a client to the My Movies Windows software package at any point. The internal structure and functionality of the application differs in many ways to how the Windows software packages function. Depending on user feedback, it may be that this at some point will change, and while we would like the requests as feedback, it is not something users should expect.

Interface Overview

Below is an overview of the interface of My Movies for Mac OS X, allowing you to see the functionality of buttons and interface areas. You can click the image to view it in a larger version.

What’s New in Version 1.21

– Added option to log in using a Facebook account.

My Movies for iPad and iPhone 1.83 Released

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

0

My Movies for iPad and iPhone 1.83 Released

Brian has just released and update for My Movies for iPad and also for iPhone – its now at version 1.83.

What is My Movies for iPad?

My Movies for iPad allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 475,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. If you have one or more titles that is not in our service, you can report it and it will be created within 48 hours by our staff.

If you would like to evaluate the application, you can install My Movies for iPad Free, which is a freely available identical version with the exception of it being limited to 50 titles, and only 10 items in release and trailer lists.

You can use My Movies for iPad as a standalone product by adding titles by barcode or title searches, use it along with My Movies for iPhone Light or Pro or use it as a companion to our My Movies software packages for Microsoft Windows, allowing you to keep your movie collection synchronized between all devices and clients.

My Movies for iPad requires you to create a user account, or log on to an existing My Movies account to be able to use the program. Your collection will follow your user account through our online servers, allowing you to switch between different clients without ever losing your data. If you log in to an existing My Movies account, your current collection will automatically be synchronized to your iPad, and users of My Movies for iPhone can use it’s batch barcode scanning functionality to quickly add titles and automatically have them synchronized to their iPad.

You can within the program activate an online collection website of your movie collection, allowing you to send friends and family a website that allows them to browse your entire collection.

With My Movies for iPad, you can keep track of movies you own, previously have owned, rented or movies you wish to purchase. Never again will you have to purchase or rent a movie twice. Users of My Movies for Windows Media Center can also use the application to start playback of movies on their Media Center.

Features:
– Add titles by barcode, title search or manual creation.
– Preview titles with complete details before adding to your collection.
– Add titles to different groups (Owned, Wished, Rented, …), and move titles between groups.
– Report missing titles to our staff to have the titles created in our service.
– Report incorrect data to our moderation team if you find an error in our database.
– View movie trailers for titles in your collection.
– Management loans to friends and family by selecting from contacts or typing name.
– High resolution front and back covers.
– Search your collection.
– Browse using our movie wall or list views with large or small thumbnails.
– Sort titles using advanced data options.
– View actors and directors with photos, biography and list of titles the person stars in.
– Update movie profiles from our service to always have the latest, most complete and accurate data.
– Create an online collection website to share with friends and family.
– Upload your collection directly from My Movies Windows software suite as an alternative to synchronize through our online servers.
– See weekly releases of titles on Blu-ray and DVD including all details and trailers. (Release lists are not complete in all countries).
– Start playback of movies in My Movies for Windows Media Center.

What is My Movies for iPad?

My Movies for iPhone allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 575,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. If you have one or more titles that is not in our service, you can report it and it will be created within 48 hours by our staff – a service you will not find elsewhere.
You can evaluate the full application, by downloading My Movies for iPhone Free, which is a freely available identical version with the exception of being limited to 50 titles, and only 10 items in release and trailer lists.
You can use My Movies for iPhone as a standalone product, or use it as a companion to our My Movies software packages for Mac OS X, allowing you to keep your movie collection synchronized between clients.

What’s New in Version 1.83

Added: Facebook Login option.
Added: Option to turn on flash when scanning barcodes.
Added: Vertical swipe option to switch between front and back covers on cover scrolling..
Change: Updated RedLaser barcode scanner library.
Change: Users now gets a better message if the password on their account have been changed.
Fix: Titles without covers is included in cover scrolling when swiping between covers.
Fix: Issues with connection model when connected to WHS both internally an externally.
Fix: Issue with multiple Dune players, where it could connect to the incorrect player.

Download My Movies Pro for iPad Download My Movies Pro for the iPhone

Adobe Reader for iOS updated to version 10.3

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

0

Adobe Reader for iOS updated to version 10.3

Adobe have today released an update to their Adobe Reader app for iOS.

Adobe Reader is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platforms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types—including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files. Now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Adobe Reader offers fast, high-quality interaction with PDF.

View PDF files
• Quickly open PDF files from email , the Web or any application that supports “Open In…”
• View PDF Portfolios, PDF Packages, annotations and drawing markups
• Read text annotations such as Sticky Notes

Access encrypted PDF files
• Open and view password-protected PDF files
• Access files secured by Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management, which helps protect sensitive documents
• Supports the highest grade of PDF encryption, up to AES256

Interact with PDF files
• Search text to find specific information
• Use bookmarks to jump directly to a section in your PDF file
• Select single page or continuous scroll modes
• Easily zoom in on text or images for a closer view
• Quickly navigate through large files using thumbnails
• Select and copy text from a PDF file to the clipboard

Print and share files
• Print wirelessly with AirPrint
• Share PDF files with other applications using “Open In…”
• Email PDF documents as attachments

Available languages
English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Polish and Turkish

What’s New in Version 10.3

• Add text to your PDFs with the Add Text tool
• Use forms that have Field Validation, Calculation, and Formatting
• Organize and manage your documents in Reader’s improved file organizer. Create folders, copy, move, rename, and delete files.
• Help us make Reader better by optionally sharing anonymous usage data with us
• Look up definitions with our new Dictionary Support (requires iOS 5 or later)
• Fixed several bugs and performance issues

Download from the Apple App Store