Apago Releases PDF Shrink 4.0 Upgrade
Encryption, JPEG 2000 Support, and New Wizard Make it Even Easier to
Optimize PDF files for Web, E-mail, CD, and More
Alpharetta, GA--July 24, 2006--Apago Inc., a software developer for the
graphic arts and document management industries, today announces the
availability of PDF Shrink 4.0 for Mac OS X. PDF Shrink can reduce most PDF
files--including those created by Mac OS X iLife and iWork applications,
Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Word and PowerPoint--by as much as 90%
of their original size. Now more powerful and easier to use, PDF Shrink is
ideal for consumers and small businesses that may not have Adobe Acrobat
but need to produce PDFs at a quality and file size appropriate for use on
the Web, as email attachments, on CDs, or for on-screen reading. New
features in version 4.0 include optional encryption, support for JPEG 2000
image compression, and a "wizard" for novices to easily optimize PDFs for
various uses.
"While Mac OS X users can easily create PDF files from most applications,
these automatically generated PDFs tend to be large and inefficient. When
emailing a 7MB PDF is impractical, PDF Shrink is a quick and easy remedy
that works directly from the OS X print center or a desktop droplet,"
comments Dwight Kelly, president of Apago. "The upgrade to 4.0 makes the
application much easier to use, allowing both the novice and the techie to
get the maximum benefit."
The new, intuitive software wizard is a key feature of the PDF Shrink 4.0
upgrade. Designed to simplify the PDF optimization process, the wizard
eliminates the need to understand technical jargon by prompting users with
a series of questions and then automatically creating a new setting based
on their responses. The wizard queries the user's objectives (smallest file
size, highest image quality, etc), how the PDF will be used (Web, screen,
print, etc), PDF viewer (Acrobat, Preview, etc), and whether the user wants
the document contents to be protected.
PDF Shrink 4.0 also provides a robust Advanced mode that allows technically
sophisticated users to directly specify their settings. Because fonts and
images make up a significant part of the size of typical PDF file, PDF
Shrink 4.0 now allows users to optionally remove embedded "base 14" fonts
and to delete unused elements such as metadata, thumbnails, and duplicated
data. Users can also modify the resolution and compression level according
to the output requirements. JPEG 2000 image compression offers
significantly higher quality than standard JPEG. New encryption features
enable users to prevent unauthorized access to files through password
protection or to restrict a readers' ability to make changes to a PDF, to
print it, or to extract content from it.
The upgraded software also features a redesigned graphical user interface
for improved usability. PDF Shrink 4.0 runs under Mac OS X 10.4 and later
and takes full advantage of Mac OS X features, including PDF Services,
AppleScript and droplets.
PDF Shrink 4.0 is now shipping and retails for $35. A fully functional,
10-day demo may be downloaded from the Apago Web site at www.apago.com.
Current PDF Shrink 3.0 users may upgrade for $14 through
www.apago.com/upgrade. All Apago products can be purchased online at
www.apagostore.com. For more information, visit the Apago Web site, or call
the company at 770-619-1884.
About Apago Inc.
Founded in 1991, Apago Inc. (http://www.apago.com) is a privately held
corporation that develops and markets software for the graphic arts and
document management industries. The company licenses its technologies to
industry leaders, including Agfa, Dupont, Enovation (Fuji), OneVision,
Pindar, and Dainippon Screen, and counts Time Inc., Scene7, MOD-PAC Corp.,
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New York Times, and The New Yorker among
its retail customers. Apago is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, just
north of Atlanta.
