Microsoft Goes After PDF with 'Metro'

digerati · Apr 27, 2005, 10:19 AM

"Longhorn may have taken center stage at WinHEC 2005 in Seattle this week, but perhaps the most important news coming from Microsoft is a new document spec known as "Metro." Metro encompasses a family of technologies covering document creation, viewing and printing, which could serve to replace Adobe's PDF platform.

At the core of Metro lies a specification for an XML-based "electronic paper" file format called "Metro Reach" that boasts portability for use with any application on any platform. Metro Reach uses XML to describe the layout of documents and how they should be rendered.

Many of Metro's features closely mirror those found in PDF. Metro will include a "viewer" to manage and print files, a print-to-file converter for creating Metro documents from any Windows application, and an optimized driver to speed up print jobs.

Microsoft is also working with printer manufacturers to include native support for Metro documents, similar to Adobe PostScript.

Unlike Adobe PDF, however, Metro will be tightly integrated into Windows when Longhorn arrives in late 2006. Metro directly leverages Longhorn technologies including the WinFX programming model and Avalon graphics subsystem. Because Metro support is built into the system, Windows can display Metro documents using Avalon without launching an external application.

For users running Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Microsoft will make available a Metro viewer akin to Adobe Reader. Despite the similarities, Microsoft says that, "Fixed document formats are just one small aspect of what both Metro and PDF provide."
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Read More/Source: BetaNews

RIV@NVX · Apr 27, 2005, 02:29 PM

Typical for Microsoft, ain't it?

studbagel9 · Apr 27, 2005, 05:38 PM

gah. Please Microsoft, gain a monopoly over every software techonology ever created.

Apr 27, 2005, 10:19 AM	#1
digerati Everyones life has worth Join Date: May 2003 Location: My Yellow Bug Posts: 3,779 Rep Power: 61	Microsoft Goes After PDF with 'Metro' "Longhorn may have taken center stage at WinHEC 2005 in Seattle this week, but perhaps the most important news coming from Microsoft is a new document spec known as "Metro." Metro encompasses a family of technologies covering document creation, viewing and printing, which could serve to replace Adobe's PDF platform. At the core of Metro lies a specification for an XML-based "electronic paper" file format called "Metro Reach" that boasts portability for use with any application on any platform. Metro Reach uses XML to describe the layout of documents and how they should be rendered. Many of Metro's features closely mirror those found in PDF. Metro will include a "viewer" to manage and print files, a print-to-file converter for creating Metro documents from any Windows application, and an optimized driver to speed up print jobs. Microsoft is also working with printer manufacturers to include native support for Metro documents, similar to Adobe PostScript. Unlike Adobe PDF, however, Metro will be tightly integrated into Windows when Longhorn arrives in late 2006. Metro directly leverages Longhorn technologies including the WinFX programming model and Avalon graphics subsystem. Because Metro support is built into the system, Windows can display Metro documents using Avalon without launching an external application. For users running Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Microsoft will make available a Metro viewer akin to Adobe Reader. Despite the similarities, Microsoft says that, "Fixed document formats are just one small aspect of what both Metro and PDF provide." _____________________________ Read More/Source: BetaNews

Apr 27, 2005, 02:29 PM	#2
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 67 System Specs	Typical for Microsoft, ain't it? __________________ -- Vedran

Apr 27, 2005, 05:38 PM	#3
studbagel9 Rolling the Hard Six Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 767 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	gah. Please Microsoft, gain a monopoly over every software techonology ever created. __________________