Application Install Guide

Presto! DVD PowerSuite 2

The latest version of Presto! DVD PowerSuite is a comprehensive collection of content creation components that enable users to edit photos, make disc labels, burn music CDs, back up data, and play multimedia files. For the purpose of this roundup, however, we focused our attention on the suite’s video-editing component. Following a straightforward installation, we opened the video editor and began the process of creating a home movie. The interface was a bit drab, but its integrated...

Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0

With the release of version 3.0, Adobe Premiere Elements will likely retain its crown as the best-selling video editor on the market. The program boasts a quick installation, an impressive array of features, and undoubtedly the best pedigree in the business. And yet, as was the case when we reviewed its predecessor for a similar review in June 2006, this version of Premiere Elements fails to win our vote as the best consumeroriented video editor on the market. Our concern lies wi...

Ableton Live 6

It takes just a few minutes of being in the company of Ableton’s insanely powerful Live 6 music creation and performance software for Mac and Windows to realize it offers crazy potential to tweak the living daylights out of audio you record and the audio and MIDI samples and effects Ableton bundles. Conversely, you’ll quickly realize that unless you’re really passionate about composing, producing, or performing music, and I mean really passionate, Live 6 probably isn’t your ...

Safekeeper

For computer users with inquisitive children or careless roommates, parental control software can be a viable solution. Safekeeper is one such program, offering a host of features including offensive site blocking (KidSafe Blocker), chat monitoring and transcription, and time controls for up to six users on as many as three PCs. It also includes maps and email alerts for predators who move to your neighborhood. However, Safekeeper has some faults and quirks that prevent us from giving this pr...

DVD Suite Pro

At first glance, CyberLink’s DVD Suite Pro appears to be the end-all, be-all solution for multimedia fans. For under $100, you get a staggering array of tools and utilities, giving you the ability to perform a wealth of tasks with an assortment of multimedia file types. Closer inspection reveals that while DVD Suite Pro offers a considerable value for the price, it misses the mark in a few spots. With DVD Suite Pro, you’ll receive 10 tools and utilities: PowerDirector (Express ver...

BackMaster 4.01

Into the Olympic-sized pool of backup utilities dives BackMaster 4.01, a program its developers tout as “a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery utility to protect and archive important personal data files and system settings.” That’s a pretty tall order, so we put it through its paces. BackMaster is a relatively powerful and easy-to-use backup utility, although it lacks some advanced features compare with its competitors. However, it also has capabilities that set it apart. In par...

Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2007

Norton AntiVirus 2007 automatically detects and removes viruses, spyware, adware, and Internet worms, and provides frequent and timely protection updates. Other Norton AntiVirus 2007 features include: Detects and removes viruses and worms Blocks spyware automatically Prevents virus-infected emails from spreading Full System Scan performs a deep scan to remove existing viruses, spyware, and other threats Norton Protection Center provides a central place from which users can easil...