PDFTron Systems announced the release of a new major version of PDFTron PDF2Image v.3, a stand-alone command-line application designed to convert PDF documents to various raster image file formats. PDF2Image can currently export to PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, and RAW, while providing a wide range of options to control the output image size and quality. The new version of PDF2Image features a brand new, completely redesigned, high-performance, rendering engine and support for Linux and Mac OSX platforms. The new release also supports documents secured with 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption and Crypt filters.

The long-running BlackBerry saga appears to be over. Research In Motion and NTP have agreed to settle the patent dispute over the BlackBerry device for $612.5 million, the companies announced in a press release on Friday. Under the agreement, RIM will receive a license to NTP’s patents going forward, they said. The agreement involves a one-time payment to NTP, said RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie in a Friday afternoon conference call. Even if the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office eventually overturns NTP’s patents, NTP will not have to repay the $612.5 million. "There is no provision for the PTO re-exam. This is a full and final settlement," he said. RIM was feeling the effects of enterprise customers that were waiting for some resolution in the case before expanding their current BlackBerry usage or upgrading to new hardware and software, said Dennis Kavelman, RIM’s chief financial officer. The agreement comes one week after the companies argued over whether Judge Spencer should impose an injunction on the sale and support of BlackBerry devices in the U.S. During that hearing, Spencer expressed his frustration that the companies hadn’t settled their dispute, and promised to rule promptly on the injunction. Patent lawyers agreed that strong words from Judge Spencer last week hinted at an injunction in RIM’s future and played a major role in the speedy resolution.

Looks like you’ll be able to use your CrackBerries into the foreseeable future. Research in Motion (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry, has apparently settled the lawsuit that was scaring the berries out of everyone for a mere $625 million. Thanks to Jason Perlow for quickly sending us the link to this breaking news. We’ll cover this development more extensively in the next few days.

Microsoft argued on Thursday that the European Commission has held back documents that the software giant needs in order to defend itself against a possible antitrust fine of up to 2 million euros ($2.4 million) daily. The argument is for new documents that came to light when the company obtained some papers in an earlier request, it said. The company said the filing supplemented a response it gave to the Commission, the executive arm of the 25-country European Union, by a deadline last month. The Commission declined to say whether the new filing would be admissible.

Microsoft updated the Web site for its secretive Origami Project on Thursday, offering a more elaborate tease, but also confirming key details about the Windows-based mini tablet. Right-clicking outside the flash animation of the main Web page and viewing the source code provides this: "Origami Project: the Mobile PC running Windows XP." Although Microsoft continues to play somewhat coy, sources have provided a pretty clear picture of the mini-tablet devices. They will carry Microsoft’s software, but be made by several other companies, sources have said. They will also be larger than a typical handheld computer, with at least some of the devices using a roughly 7-inch screen.

Harry Browne, the two-time presidential candidate who was a pioneer in using the Internet for political outreach, died on Wednesday, according to reports. He was 72. Browne was the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president in 1996 and 2000 and co-founded DownsizeDC.org, a Web-based network of activists who campaigned for a smaller government. He also served as a director of the Free-Market News Network and hosted a weekly video Webcast for the organization, and contributed to the LewRockwell.com blog.

Google has fixed a flaw in its Gmail Web based email service after the problem was disclosed by a blogger, the company said Thursday. The flaw could allow JavaScript code to run when viewing a message in Gmail, potentially allowing malicious code to be used by an attacker to compromise a Gmail account. Google fixed the flaw "very shortly after the initial blog post went up," a representative for the Mountain View, Calif., company said. Because the vulnerability was fixed quickly, it likely never was exploited in any attacks, the representative said.

Adobe Systems announced a partnership with Symantec to offer a free trial and the option of special pricing for the Norton Internet Security 2006 suite to users who are downloading the latest version of Adobe Reader. "Combining Adobe’s broad reach with Symantec’s award-winning PC security software will help make the Internet a safer place for people to access and engage with the information and services they need," said Kurt Garbe, vice president of Platform, Adobe Systems. Both Adobe and Symantec enjoy wide distribution of their software. Adobe Reader has been downloaded over 500 million times, according to the company.

Apple Computer has released a security update for Mac OS X that fixes 20 vulnerabilities, including a high-profile Web browser and Mail flaw disclosed last week. The set of patches addresses a variety of security flaws, including several that could let an attacker gain control over a computer running the operating system software. The patch arrives after two weeks of intense scrutiny for Apple Mac OS X safety, prompted by the discovery of two worms and the disclosure of two security flaws in that period.

uCertify has launched the upgrade version of its Exam Simulation Practice Test for the Microsoft Exam 70-298 for MCSE, MCSA and CCIA certifications. The upgraded Practice Test now contains a total of 7 scenario-based case studies that are useful for the student to understand the technology and develop skills for designing a security solution for a Windows 2003 network. The Practice Test provides 15 new questions based on 2 new case studies to help the candidates develop their skills and prepare better for this specialized exam. The uCertify Practice Test for exam 70-298 provides three full-length Mock tests with 105 thought provoking questions, accompanying detailed explanations for both the correct and incorrect answers. The Mock tests make a user familiar with actual test experience thereby enabling him to effectively prepare to take the test. The student can take these tests in two modes, Learn mode and Test mode.