I have found 12 different ways of opening pdf files. Most of these require you to either enter the url of the file in a given text box and 'go' or upload from local media.
The following has both options:
1)adobe access
http://access.adobe.com/
Here comes some help from the creaters of pdf. Adobe provides online conversion tool to view online or local pdf files as text or html. You just need to fill up a small form. On mobile, you might need to refresh if a 'converting' message comes . It works only for pdf.
2)SAMURAJdata.se
http://view.SAMURAJdata.se
This is one of the most recommended tool. It opens .pdf and .ps as browsable images while opens .doc files as html pages. It works great on both mobile and computer.
3)pdfescape
http://pdfescape.com
Perhaps the best on computer. This online tool gives you option of maintaining an account and retrieving files from anywhere. Doesn't works on mobile(atleast not on mine). Perhaps, uses flash viewer.
4)ZOHO viewer
http://viewer.zoho.com
It can maintain a given address for as long as you wish so that you may return to same address to view the file again or you may give the address to friends or on blogs. It can also show other file formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, .ps and even open office files.
Now, let's have a look at some of the online tools which works only upon an online pdf that is a xyz.pdf that has a url(http://......../xyz.pdf)
1)google docs
http://docs.google.com/viewer
This certainly qualifies to be the best in this category. It can show almost all file formats and is the most popular. It converts all pdf into images that gives problem for slow connections when the large image loads very slowly. (in very small ram mobile..... I was not able to use it until I found opera mini 4 beta version.)
2)Google cached
This can be of use only in case of pdf files indexed by google. Google has a snapshot of many webpages and online documents such as .pdf, .xls and .doc files. To open cached version of a document, simply type this in
the google search box-- "cache:http://......../xyz.pdf"
In case of mobile, you need to go to the classic or the desktop version of google. Mobile version doesn't supports the "cache:" operater.
3)NITROpdf
http://www.pdfdownload.org/online-pdf-viewer.aspx
It only works on pdf files and can't do anything about .doc, .ppt, .xls files. However, it has an advantage of refering the user to the google cached version of the file. Even if you type in a .doc file address, it will just refer you to google alongwith an error message. If you are using mobile, then its preferable to use a better front end at http://serola.info/test/pdfconvert.htm
The following two are only for mobile:
4)uc web
to download go to http://wap.uc.cn/en
this chinese browser comes with an online support for converting .pdf, .doc and .xls files. However, the page rendering is not satisfactory in complex .pdf files.
5)google web transcoder
To use, go to http://www.google.com/gwt/x?u=url_of_the_pdf
This is the tool which i mostly use. The pdf need not be indexed but it should be present on the net. Moreover, u can easily do your browsing only on gwt pages(if u have to only read and not enter values in text boxes). It also easily transcodes other common file formats.
Viewing pdf from local media. Here you can upload your pdf and view it.
I will recommend to try the tools mentioned in the first category instead of the following two...
1)viewdocsonline
http://www.viewdocsonline.com
It can show more file format as compared to pdfonline.com
2)pdfonline
http://www.pdfonline.com/sides/comments.htm
Something for mobile users:
3)gmail
Use gmail for viewing those pdf files that is with you on your mobile. Send an email to yourself with the pdf file attached. (The pdf might not be readable on your mobile but it still is a pdf and just need the right software for its decoding). You can use the email feature if available in your messaging menu for sending attached emails. Now, use your local browser for opening gmail on your mobile. You will be able to read the pdf as html.
