Scott Gilbertson

Criticism Forces Adobe To Remove FedEx Kinkos Links

Following widespread criticism, Adobe has announced it will remove a menu option in its Acrobat and Reader programs which allowed users to send documents over the Internet to FedEx Kinkos for printing. The menu option was introduced in Reader 8.1 and Acrobat 8.1 and is located under the “File” menu. Adobe agreed to remove the […]

Following widespread criticism, Adobe has announced it will remove a menu option in its Acrobat and Reader programs which allowed users to send documents over the Internet to FedEx Kinkos for printing.

The menu option was introduced in Reader 8.1 and Acrobat 8.1 and is located under the “File” menu. Adobe agreed to remove the links after meeting with other print companies who saw the feature as an unfair advantage for FedEx Kinkos.

John Loiacono, Adobe's SVP of the Creative Solutions Business Unit, writes on his blog:

I know that there are a lot of folks who will be asking why we can't do it this afternoon. The answer is we can't just go back to the 8.0 release since the 8.1 release that contains the button included a lot of critical security and quality updates in addition to the new print option. We have determined the best way to move forward is with an 8.1.1 update.

Adobe says the new version of Reader will be available in about ten weeks

FedEx Kinkos will still offer a version of Adobe Reader with the printing option in the File menu, but it will be available only from the FedEx Kinkos site.

Adobe also says it will be setting up a Print Advisory Council to work with third-party printers on software integration issues.