An interesting tidbit for this week. There’s a new format on the block and it looks like it’s drumming up some buzz as the next PDF-Killer.
The last one to hit the industry, if I remember correctly, was the XML Paper Specification (XPS) format about 4 years ago when Microsoft Office 2007 was being released with XPS creation capabilities. This time around, it’s the CDF format—Computable Document Format, a newly innovated open format that puts “interactive documents” on another level.
Having been developed by the team over at Wolfram.com, the CDF format uses mathematical computation technology to render the live interactive element of its content. The company is known for its computing software program and platform, Mathematica, which, in a nutshell, is used for computing data visualizations needed in fields dealing with complex data, information analysis, and mathematical formulae.
What is the CDF format?
According to the site, the CDF is “as everyday as a document, but as interactive as an app.” Instead of simply viewing static text, images, and tables, with a CDF document you can manipulate them through inputting data, clicking on controls, and moving sliders. If you have a graph with data calculated and projected over time, you can modify those values and see the changes visualized–on the spot.
Looking at the CDF files they have on-site, you can see why it’s being called a PDF-Killer. From a user point of view, the CDF format shares a lot of the same basic similarities and uses as the PDF: it requires a file viewer (CDF Player), can contain different types of content, and is only editable in Mathematica or other CDF content creators (creating an interactive CDF actually requires a bit of coding rather than a one click creation method, though).
The PDF already has interaction capabilities with the ability to play videos, Flash games, and manipulate 3D objects. But so far, as Conrad Wolfram (strategic & international development director of Wolfram) points out, those types of interactivity are pre-generated for you.
The CDF format provides a unique way of creating, consuming, and understanding informational content. As it is with all formats, though, each has its own strengths and uses, some of which are necessary, some not. Simple resumes and articles, for example, are still perfectly fine as a PDF. Live data and textbooks, however, may be better in CDF.
Rather than a question of will the CDF replace the PDF, I think the question facing PDF users is how the CDF format will interact with PDF files over the long run. The format was just launched, so it’s still in the early stages of adoption. So far, as per the FAQ, you can import content from PDFs and the CDF Player plugin is only supported by web browsers (no embedding CDF files in PDF, for instance).
Download the CDF player and take look at a few CDF examples in action for yourself.
One thing you’ll need when it comes to sharing large PDF files from your iPad is a solid document sharing service.With Dropbox you get 2 GB free with the ability to sync Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. 
With Good Reader, you get some versatility along with the ability to mark up your PDFs. You can open Office, iWork files, hi-res images, and even audio and video files. 
On top of all the standard features offered by mark up apps—note-taking, highlighting, and sketching, PDF highlighter has a few other special features you might enjoy. 
For those who aren’t heavy duty PDF users, sometimes the basics are all you need.This is where PDF Reader Lite comes in. While it allows you to store only 10 files, it has all the features of a standard PDF viewer–bookmarking, table of contents, and basic file management features.
Ever receive a map in the PDF format? Here’s a geospatial app that not only lets you view PDF maps on your iPad but also lets you interact with them. Navigate through maps with regular iPad gestures, add/edit waypoints, find co-ordinates, and locate yourself with the iPad’s built-in GPS system. 
PDF Manager gives you the versatility you need to handle PDFs on your iPad. With this app you have a few ways to easily manage and share your PDF files: share files via popular networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.),through email, or offline. 
As you know, PDF files aren’t really optimized for mobile devices, giving you a less than stellar viewing experience. To improve that, there’s Magachine. According to the translated webpage, this app can turn your PDF into a magazine style layout for easier reading.
Undoutedly, having the option to print up a file directly from your iPad is a necessity.Print n Share for Advanced Printing is a feature packed app that can print to all printers via Mac or PC, remotely over 3G, and to most WiFi printers.
*If you’re looking for more versatility with your PDF, check out PDF Snapshot. This app will extend your PDF applications to create, email and copy snapshots of images in your PDF. With the latest version, you can even annotate the PDF before you take the snapshot.
