PC-Cillin Internet Security 2006 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I disagree with the argument that this is not an improvement over the 2005 version.
First of all, you have to purchase the newer edition to continue to receive updates from Trend Micro or any other InterNet Security program.
Second, I think the interface of the 2006 version is much improved over the 2005 version, which I replaced. With more options such as Anti Phishing protection, I feel the 2006 edition is easier to navigate than the 2005 edition.
Third, Trend Micro continues to be one of the best Internet Security products on the market. Before TM, I used McAfee, which crashed my old computer at the time (3 years ago). I also used Norton 2003, it was better than McAfee, but I noticed significant slow down in the performance of my computer. I am using 2.4 Gig Dell with 1 Gig RAM, it is 3 years old and Trend Micro runs smoothly in the back ground. The slow down is practically insignificant.
In short, I love the program and will continue to upgrade with it for years to come. I hope this helps.

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PC-Cillin Internet Security 2006 is one of the most comprehensive forms of protection from viruses, hackers, spyware, and phishing that you can get. Designed for home and small office use, PC-Cillin not only combines award-winning antivirus security and a personal firewall for protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and hackers, but it also detects and removes spyware and blocks spam.Also featuring Wi-Fi Intrusion Detection, an innovative security feature that alerts you when an intruder uses your Wi-Fi connection, PC-Cillin offers one of the most advanced safeguards available for your wireless network.Comprehensive Antivirus Security and Spyware Protection It is estimated that new viruses are created every five minutes. Viruses can wipe out your hard drive, destroy your files and steal sensitive data without you knowing it. To keep your computers and network safe from attacks, you need comprehensive virus protection software that automatically updates itself with the latest patches so you never have to worry. PC-Cillin does just that. It detects and removes viruses from emails, Internet downloads, removable media, and your PC. The Outbreak Warning System feature sends alerts to warn you of new threats, and security updates are automatically deployed as soon as they are available.But more than that, PC-Cillin also features leading anti-spyware technology that blocks spyware and grayware in real time. This keeps unwanted "eyes" that track your every computer move out of your PC. Once you install PC-Cillin, you can run a manual scan, or schedule a regular scan that will detect and remove any spyware that is already installed on your PC. New Exception Lists and enhanced Quarantine Management features give you the control to keep, delete or restore programs.Protecting Your Identity and Wireless NetworkPC-Cillin's unique URL filtering, anti-spam, and patent-pending technologies work together to block fraudulent Web sites, phishing emails, and pharming attacks -- scams that are designed to scrape your hard drive for financial data, user names, and passwords. The software's Anti-Fraud Wizard makes it easy to configure, and the Anti-Fraud Toolbar helps you avoid scams by displaying a credibility rating of Web sites in real time. Advanced spam-filtering technology blocks spam from flooding your inbox, and advanced integration with Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to set your preferences.PC-Cillin also includes the industry's first alert system for wireless home networks, sending rapid alerts as soon as an unauthorized user intrudes your wireless network. The personal firewall prevents intrusion from hackers, and blocks network viruses, like the well-known ZOTOB worm, which targets network vulnerabilities. A centralized management console makes it easy to configure, update, and manage all aspects of security for every PC on your home network -- wherever PC-cillin 2006 is installed.PC-Cillin makes protecting your data as easy as it can get by performing regular, scheduled scans of your PC, alerting you to operating system/browser vulnerabilities, and providing one-click access to Microsoft Windows Update. And if you're a parent, you know how important it is to protect your children from the dark sides of the Web. Parental controls allow you to manage your children's Web activity by blocking Web sites and inappropriate content.

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Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I researched movie editors for months, before buying Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack. Did I make the right choice? Yes, however this product is only usable if you have good general computer skills, and have the ability to learn through trial and error. I would not recommend this product if you expect to produce a masterpiece in one day.
What do you get in this package?
Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 - program to edit digital movie, add soundtracks, voice-overs, and fancy text, rolling credits, etc.
DVD Architect Studio - program to author DVD's, so you end up with professional quality DVD menus with all the bells and whistles
Sound Forge Audio Studio - a music editing program, with the added ability to convert all your L.P.'s and cassettes into digital format, so that you can then make CD's or load them onto your IPod.
Cinescore Studio 1.0 - free music of various genres, to add to your productions to give them a professional sound
There was one major problem with this software when I first loaded it, that I only managed to fix by pure luck. The problem was quite a major one. In the version which comes on CD-ROM, there is a bug which stops the soundtrack from MPEG2 files from loading into the editior program. This is incredible considering that almost every digital camcorder on the market uses the MPEG2 format, including Sony. However!!! Once you have loaded the program and registered, you need to go to the Sony update software web page. Here you will find a download that fixes many bugs in the program, including the MPEG2 problem.
There is another problem with the program if you are going to buying this to upload videos to You Tube. In the last couple of months You Tube has upgraded there video screen to Widescreen (16:9 ratio) format. There is no template in Vegas Movie Studio to handle this. So if you intend on uploading video to You Tube in 16:9, then you will need some advanced computer skills to create your own template. I'm sure Sony will work on this and provide an update to the program in time. At the moment, the program handles traditional 4:3 format for upload to the internet.
There are many cool features hidden within Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack. Only the basics are discussed in the instructional booklets that come with the program. If you explore all the alien like buttons and features, through trial and error, you will be more than happy with this software.
6/10 for ease of use
9.5/10 for cool features
All the best with your movie editing and DVD production.
Regards D.
UPDATE AS OF 28th JUNE 2010
GREAT NEWS!!!!
Sony Creative Software has just released a brand new version of the software featured in this review.
The NEW VERSION is called Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 Production Suite.
All the bugs that I had reported in the above review have now been FIXED! Yeah!!
This is FIVE STAR Software Package now. I give no hesitation in recommending this.
Dex :)

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Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Pro Pack takes HD video and audio production even further with tools for professional-level sound design and more video effects and transitions. Use the included Sound Forge Audio Studio software for precise audio editing and CinescoreStudio software for soundtrack creation. Upload movies to YouTube, burn to Blu-ray Disc, or author DVDs.

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Sonar 8.5 Producer Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a Cakewalk user for years, starting with their Pro Audio software and dating to when the company was known as 12-Tone Systems. Their software has only become better and better as the years have gone by. Sonar has been the best available Windows-based digital audio workstation software for a long time now - to the point where a fair number of producers and studios have migrated to Sonar from Pro Tools, not to mention a steadily increasing string of software and industry awards. (See Cakewalk's site for names, if interested.) And, of course, with Boot Camp, you can run Sonar native under Windows if you have a recent Intel-based Mac - running a Mac doesn't force you into Pro Tools for software at this level.
Be warned - if you are not heavily into audio, audio for video, MIDI, recording, sequencing, effects, looping, mastering, mixing, etc. - and possess the audio domain knowledge that all that entails, as well as a good understanding of the complexities of running full-on audio software from a technical standpoint - you can find yourself overwhelmed by this software, and you will be MUCH better off with Cakewalk's Home Studio version of Sonar. Sonar (particularly Producer) can be enormously complex, but that's not due to any design issues - quite the contrary! Rather, that's because it covers a vast array of audio activities, options, and capabilities. It is possible to use it simplistically, but I'd direct anyone with only those types of needs to simpler software suites.
On the other hand, if you do have the audio and technical knowledge, you'll find Sonar Producer is flexible, powerful, configurable, and responsive. It is also very stable and has been so for many versions now. Be aware that this type of software by its nature (high processing loads, need to control latency, timing control and issues among multiple devices and interfaces, etc.) can be compromised by PC setups optimized for multipurpose use.
The software comes with a terrific package of high-quality effects plug-ins. I've also found Cakewalk to have good customer service - one of the very, very few, in fact, where the response on customer service calls is as good as on sales calls. Cakewalk continues to improve the user interface with Sonar 8. Particularly welcome are edit changes, including multiple-clip edits, and optimizations targeted at running high track counts. Several instruments are included, and I'm particularly happy to see Dimension Pro, which includes Garritan Orchestral sounds, and TruePianos Amber. Your interests and activities will differ, of course (mini are Midi-heavy), and you should really look through the complete list of enhancements on Cakewalk's site. Enhancements for this version runs several pages long. This is a major upgrade from Sonar 7.
I do have one issue with Cakewalk, though I'm not knocking down the rating because of it as the software itself is too good. The problem is that Cakewalk hits their user base pretty hard on upgrade fees. You can pretty much count on having to spend a few hundred dollars per year to keep the software up to date if you take every version and keep your plug-ins up-to-date. I've always felt that companies should upgrade customers from the most recent versions for little or nothing if they have paid for a recent upgrade, at least for a download. There is some price tiering depending on what version you're running, but it's insufficient, in my opinion. At one point I unknowingly purchased an upgrade weeks before a new release - but Cakewalk still charged me the full upgrade price for the new version. That kind of pricing policy doesn't encourage customer loyalty. I understand that this is a minor issue for a pro or a studio, but Cakewalk also has a large installed base for Sonar Producer among non-pros.
My preference would be for Cakewalk to adjust their release approach to one of more incremental releases between major versions. It's far more disruptive to install a new version, taking on the setup and learning issues than it is to install incremental upgrades (Cakewalk does release some patches.). You do get what you pay for, however.
In addition to the software, buy a Sonar book or two, take the tutorials, hit one or two of Cakewalk's roadshows, and join a forum or two. There is a fairly steep learning curve with Sonar as with any other pro-level audio suite, the good news being there is a lot of support out there due to the market's embrace of Sonar.

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Sonar 8.5 Producer gives you what you need for recording, composing, editing, mixing, and mastering. Get innovations that matter, from exclusive features to ignite creativity and perfect tracks, to groundbreaking technologies that keep you in control, all backed by the industry's leading 64-bit audio quality. And Sonar 8.5 delivers the go to production tools you want with the best collection of virtual instruments, mixing, and mastering effects found in any DAW. With unlimited tracks, creative tools, and the most complete delivery capability between other DAWs, Sonar Producer is a cut above and your best choice in a digital audio workstation.

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Zonealarm Extreme Security - 3 PCS/1 Year Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using ZoneAlarm for years now, but each upgrade makes me more and more nervous as the company appears to be aiming at consumers with less and less technical knowledge. For years ZoneAlarm has been THE BEST firewall, but this type of "dumbing down" trend can only result in an inferior product for the long run. When your product starts using ridiculous packaging, with names like "Extreme Security", I just have to balk at this ridiculous marketing tactic. I expect this type of nonsense with firewalls from McAfee or Norton, but not ZoneAlarm! This will most likely be the last time I upgrade with ZoneAlarm, there are other equally great firewalls gaining popularity, but to be honest I'm still holding out simply because I'm used to this software, and I can be stubborn when it comes to migrating.
First, let's start off with...
The Bad---
My primary complaint is that ZoneAlarm removed the handy cache cleaner, (also known as the privacy feature). ZoneAlarm's makers, Check Point Software, claims it caused problems with the software, but I never had any issues with this feature, ZoneAlarm has always been a very stable program. It was a great feature one could use to quickly and easily remove cookies that don't typically get removed by other programs. ZoneAlarm's answer to this complaint is to use 3rd party software instead. Umm, hello? ZoneAlarm IS 3rd party software! Why would I, (or should I), install another program just for this one feature? This makes no sense on ZoneAlarm's part, and claiming it needed to be removed because of compatibility issues is really an insult to my, (and others), intelligence.
I don't see how a simple cache cleaner can cause problems, so maybe instead of removing features Check Point Software should instead remove the idiot coders that couldn't figure out how to keep such a simple and useful tool from interacting negatively with other parts of the software? If the cache cleaner really was causing problems, then logically another 3rd party software could also cause compatibility issues. This really is a lame and pathetic excuse from Check Point Software, and what is worse is that you don't realize the feature has been removed until AFTER you upgrade. The reality is this isn't an upgrade, it's a DOWNGRADE!
The real irritating issue with Check Point Software is that instead of actually having decent customer service people working on their forums for CUSTOMERS looking for help, (such as wtf happened to the privacy controls), they instead have your typical internet moderating douche bags running their forum. These IT rejects aren't the least bit helpful with getting basic questions answered, and will quickly close a topic if it's on an issue Check Point Software doesn't have a good time explaining, such as why they are removing features in so called "upgrades".
Obviously paying CUSTOMERS are annoyed by Check Point for removing this feature, but not letting us complain on their own forums just ads to the insult and disrespect they have for their paying customers. Clearly Check Point Software does not care what their most loyal customers want in their software, so this is why I will most likely not be returning the next time my subscription comes to an expiration. Why even have a web forum if you aren't going to listen to what people have to say about your product, or offer any realistic help when they need it? Check Point might as well save themselves some bandwidth and just remove the web forum completely and hire staffers from India. I might not be able to understand a thing their support says, but I'd probably still get better help than the artards moderating their web forum!Now With The Good---
So if I don't like this software, then why 2 stars and not 1? Well, for one, I'm hoping things change for the better. I'm giving them a chance to improve in future editions. Otherwise I probably should be giving them 1 star because the extra star is really just sheer optimism on my part. The other reason is that despite my complaints, this is still, in my opinion, the best software firewall on the market. I love the Identity protection, it's really nice to be able to block your e-mail from being spammed out when you don't want it! I also really like the amount of control ZoneAlarm allows for each program that can connect online. It's nice to know which programs are attempting to go online, especially when I'm not using them! And even though the packaging seems to be targeting a dumber and dumber audience with each new variation, the software has still stayed relatively the same powerful firewall that has made it such a great firewall for so many years.
What makes it so great is not just the amount of control ZoneAlarm gives you, but that it does it without being bloated like so many other Security software suites out there. The anti-virus does not slug your system down like so many other anti-virus programs do, but yet still provides adequate protection. Their anti-spam rarely catches anything, so I'm not sure how useful it is, and the same could probably be said for the anti-virus. Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware seem to be much better in the anti-spam department, but since it uses virtually no resources a little redundancy is never a bad thing, right? Then again, you are paying for this, whereas Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are both free...but I digress...
Conclusion---
As I mentioned earlier, I can be a bit stubborn. I've been using ZoneAlarm for so many years that I'm really reluctant to change, but I'm afraid I'll have to. It's only a matter of time before ZoneAlarm becomes as bloated and useless as McAfee or Norton, and with other popular suites coming around I'm sure there will be something I can feel comfortable moving towards when this subscription comes to an end. I tried AVG, not bad, but I feel it could use some improvements before I make a commitment. The point I'd like to make is that there are other great firewall/security suites out on the market right now, and considering Check Point Software's lack of respect for their own customers wants and wishes, and the dumbing down trend they appear to be on, I'd recommend trying other firewalls/security suites first.

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It's so powerful, that even new Internet threats that get by other PC security are detected and blocked - BEFORE they can cause damage to your computer, photos, music, your bank accounts, tax returns and personal identity. Can be used on up to 3 PCs for 1 year.

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Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition is the latest and best installment of the Galactic Civilizations series, packing in both currently-available expansion packs in addition to the base game. It is a turn-based strategy/conquest game, allowing play to stretch out over days or even weeks. There is a lot to this game, but once you get the hang of how to play this game it is very much worth the time and effort.
To be very clear, this is a turn-based game, not a real-time strategy game or a first-person shooter. If turn-based games do not appeal to you, look elsewhere. If you have not played a turn-based game in the past, it is a different experience from most other games on the market in that the planning and strategizing require thinking in a different way, and this style of play is not something everyone enjoys.
One of the very first things that a player will notice about this game is that the graphics are absolutely stunning. Stardock put an incredible amount of effort and care into the interface, from the menus to the cut scenes. Everything is smooth, seamless and, well, beautiful.
Although the graphics are well-done, the interface is exceptionally complex and busy. The player manages almost every conceivable aspect of the game - economy and tax rate, research direction and funding, relationships with other civilizations, planetary production, fleet composition, trade and more. It is very easy to get lost in the sheer volume of options available.
Gameplay starts with several choices, most importantly race but certainly not the only option. Victory conditions (more on that shortly), universe size, star cluster density, frequency of viable worlds, number of other civilizations, and a few other options are all specified at the start. After making all of these selections, the player gets a single planet, a colony ship, a survey ship and an asteroid miner.
Every turn consists of a number of important choices. The player decides how to allocate all of the resources available and takes steps to better their position, with the ultimate goal of meeting the victory conditions specified at the start. This may include exploration of space junk (there is frequently much benefit to doing so), colonization of a new planet, or perhaps cranking up the tax rate. Once all of the desired options have been selected, the player ends the turn and a new turn begins after all selections have been executed.
One of the most interesting aspects of the game is in designing new ships for the fleet. The player gets to pick hull type, armament, sensors and everything else a ship needs to be a successful contributor. Once a design is complete and named, any starport orbiting the player's planets can build those ships. It is important to keep in mind that some designs may not work well through the entire game but that sometimes a design should be retired in favor of new, more advanced designs.
Gameplay continues until victory conditions are met. There are several conditions that can be specified - military conquest, diplomatic victory (peace treaties with all other major civilizations), technological victory (done through research) or even a cultural invasion.
Every choice a player makes affects something else within the game. For example, higher taxes can cause a planet to mutiny and join a different civilization. More important, though, is how choices affect relations with the other civilizations. Most civilizations pay attention to ethical alignment and military might, and depending on how strong or weak a player's civilization can even incite a war. Finding a good balance is the key, and finding that balance is inherently tough.
As this version comes with both expansion packs, there are three campaigns that are available for play. I have not tried any of these so I cannot really comment on them.
This is a very engrossing game with slick graphics and many, many choices for the gamer who wants absolute control over every aspect of the game. If this style of play is appealing to you, seriously consider picking up a copy for yourself and say goodbye to your free time.

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Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition includes the best-selling and award-winning space strategy game Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords and the two AddOns Dark Avatar and Twilight Of The Arnor in one comprehensive collection! Alternative map sizes and victory tasks Players can now design new starships from the main game menu All game campaigns have been updated to be playable within Twilight of the Arnor New user manual Numerous new game setup options Updated diplomatic options New planetary governors for automating the building of planets Revamped espionage system Auto-building for starbases Balance updating Improved graphics The Story In the year 2225, mankind's thirst for domination has spread to the stars, where the battle for conquest rages on. Humans struggle for supremacy over the other Galactic powers, who have their own plans for the cosmos. In Galactic Civilizations II, you will use technology, diplomacy, colonization and war as your tools to build a far-reaching interstellar empire. Key Game Features:
All in One- Comes with Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords and both expansions, The Dark Avatar and Twilight of the Arnor
Spacecraft Customization - State of the art 3D engine enables users to create their own ships from scratch!
Additional Maps - Experience New maps, units and scenarios
New playable civilizations
Enhanced graphics and soundtrack - Experience Galactic Civilization II's new look and feel
Triumph in an Epic Interstellar WarIn Galactic Civilizations II The Ultimate Edition, you'll utilize military prowess, technological advancements, economic might and cultural expansions to triumph in an interstellar war. The all-new map system helps you stay in control of your forces, while the 3D engine delivers incredible graphics. Discover why this game has won so many rave reviews and "Game of the Year" accolades as you enter a unique strategy experience.

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Norton SystemWorks 2003 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have mixed feelings about Norton SystemWorks 2003. On one hand, I'm a longtime user of the SystemWorks family of products, and I feel no Windows computer is complete without vital Norton tools like SpeedDisk and WinDoctor. On the other hand, I've been terribly disappointed with this release of NSW. Here's why:
Primarily, NSW 2003 doesn't include any obvious updates to existing software. I upgraded from NSW 2001, and I really don't see any changes in the functionality of any existing tools. The color scheme and interface has been revised to match Windows XP's friendly pastels and rounded curves, but I really don't see any difference in the way the components actually work. So why upgrade?
Second, NSW 2003 does not play nice with older versions of Windows. In particular, it loads an executable into memory, whether you want to use any "active" tools (such as AntiVirus or Registry Tracker) or not. Under Windows 2000 and XP, this application runs as a service and doesn't cause any problems; but on my Windows 98SE platform, it causes noticeably slower startups and shutdowns, and occasionally causes the system to hang when shutting down. I realize that Windows 98 is now a bit long in the tooth, but Symantec really should have put more effort into making NSW 2003 compatible with Win98 if it is to be advertised as such on the box.
In summary: On one hand, Norton SystemWorks is a solid heir to a useful dynasty of tools for Windows. On the other hand, there is little if any advantage over recent editions of the software, and backwards compatibility is deficient. I suggest that if you have Win2k or XP and do not yet have Norton SystemWorks, pick it up. If you are running an older version of Windows or already have SystemWorks 2001 or later, pass this one by.

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Symantec's Norton SystemWorks 2003 is a smart way to solve computer problems, with full versions of award-winning Symantec products and valuable additional utilities. Norton AntiVirus removes viruses automatically, scans both incoming and outgoing e-mail, and keeps itself updated to defend against new threats without interrupting your work. Now it also detects viruses in instant-message attachments. Norton Utilities optimizes your PC's performance and solves computer problems easily. And Norton CleanSweep removes unwanted programs and files that waste disk space.
The One Button Checkup tool in Norton SystemWorks makes it easy to assess the health of your PC and is now more powerful and flexible than ever. You can customize it to run only the scans you want, schedule scans to run automatically, and undo any changes it makes. Web Tools helps prevent dropped dialup connections when you're online and safely cleans up the clutter left over after Internet sessions. And Roxio's GoBack 3 Personal Edition restores your PC to a healthy state after a serious problem.

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PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2009 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Positive points regarding Spyware Doctor.
This software removed extra spyware that CA securities, adware, and Spybot missed. It actually found a good amount of additional spyware.
The software was easy to load and operate.
The spyware detection runs through its cycle relatively fast.
Negative points
The option to use active protection causes conflicts and near crashes apparently.
At different times at least 50% of my processing power was being dedicated to running the software.
I have a modern up-to-date computer with Intel dual processors 2.5 gigs of RAM. Therefore the computer should easily be able to run this software without bogging down.
Overall I like the idea of removing extra spyware I just wish the program was fully functional and could prevent spyware form entering my system.


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PC Tools Spyware Doctor is award-winning and trusted protection against unwanted spyware, malware and other privacy threats. Protect yourself with the best. (3 User)

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Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 Review

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(More customer reviews)I got the product based on the PC Mag review which said it was great. It's quite simply an incredible product when you consider what previous versions were like and what you get for less than $100. It's not perfect but it comes close. Here's some pros and cons. On the pro side, it basically has everything you need for anything to do with music, burning, video, photo and DVD. Everything looks and works the same way (it might the nicest looking software on the PC - actually it looks like Apple made it!) All the tools work well together. The burning is really fast. There's a nice data back up feature with password protection. It has this very cool feature where you can create slide shows of pictures that move, which is an amazing effect. The whole slide show app is pretty clever. It's actually a video app (which might seem scary at first) but it's so easy to use you never realize it. You can use it for both pictures and video. The disc label app is pretty extensive(I didn't think people actually use these) it's a full featured graphic app just for disc labels and it works while you burn CDs. The photo app seems no different in features than Adobe Elements but is much easier to use (more about that below). The DVD application is very full - you can move and resize buttons and text, you can animate buttons and menus, it even has Dolby audio. You can edit DVDs. You can even create a full DVD with just one click with a digital camera. There's a tool that comes up when you plug in digital cameras to bring your photos or videos in. I've never seen such a tool (usually every digital camera has it's own software). You can record audio from LPs or tapes and the software finds the different songs automatically. The help system is pretty good - there's like 1000 pdf pages for everything and even video tutorials. On the con side, I would say the photo app is a bit too wizardy for my taste. Napster is kinda connected but not like the other applications -and there's no free trial or free downloads which would have been nice. There's no printed manual like the previous version but the online help is extensive. The launcher is kinda big - it can be made smaller but there's a big graphic of the product name they should lose.
On the whole though, I think it's a great product at an amazing price. I highly recommend it.

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Paint Shop Photo Album 5 Deluxe Review

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(More customer reviews)Jasc's Photo Paint Shop Album (PPSA) Version 5.0.1 is a nice upgrade to version 4 that puts the program on equal or slightly better footing with ACDSystem's ACDSee version 6 and Adobe's PhotoShop Album (PSA) version 2. Version 5 introduces a prettier interface; adds a calendar-based organizational view, a bunch of creative project and print templates - for coffee books, CD/DVD labels, calendars, etc.; and some basic archival features. PPSA's strength is that it bundles together the most variety of features of any consumer-grade digital media library manager, and that makes Paint Shop Photo Album the most well-rounded choice for mainstream beginner and intermediate users new to digital image management.
With the addition of creative project templates, Photo Paint Shop Album 5 becomes a better choice than Adobe PhotoShop Album 2. The latter's crippling weakness is that it is unable to automatically detect and synchronize new or deleted photographs to and from its internal catalog database. Unlike ACDSee 6 and PhotoShow Deluxe 3, PPSA's creative projects are things users may print themselves. ACDSee and PhotoShow Deluxe simply supply links to websites (Snapfish, etc.) where users order and pay for their own creations.
Consumers should understand that given Photo Paint Shop Album's low price, competitor programs may exceed the depth of any particular module(s) in PPSA. For example, ACDSee has the better file-level manager. Simple Star's PhotoShow Deluxe 3 has the better slideshow module. With these other choices however, users may find themselves purchasing additional programs to match the breadth of Photo Paint Shop Album's functionality.
If there is a weakness to Photo Paint Shop Album, it is metadata. Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but not always. Without aid, the casual viewer may not understand a picture's content or context. (E.g., When and where was this picture taken? What is this a picture of? Who are these people?) Even the photographer himself may not remember these things one or five years later. Metadata is the useful mnemonic device that stores this information.
Photo Paint Shop Album locks picture metadata (image title, description, and keyword category) inside a proprietary database instead of supporting the EXIF and IPTC metadata standards (which embed metadata inside the picture file). PPSA users therefore cannot easily share a complete memory with those who do not use Photo Paint Shop Album. Without accompanying metadata, an office party photograph (Office Holiday Party 2004: Roy and his wife Maya, Ciara and Laura. Unbeknownst to Maya, Ciara is Roy's workplace mistress.) quickly becomes just another picture. As digital photograph collections become mainstream, support for EXIF and IPTC metadata should become only more important, to provide a standard, seamless way to share, search for and organize images based on timestamp and picture caption content - among a user's chosen image manager, online photo-sharing service (such as Fotki.com), and family and friends (who may use something other than Photo Paint Shop Album). PPSA users who want to share picture metadata with other users must manually copy and paste it for each picture they want to share.
In Version 5, Paint Shop Photo Album's continued lack of EXIF and IPTC metadata support becomes a functional liability. Version 5's new Calendar View utilizes EXIF timestamp information to create its timeline-based organizational view of pictures, but ironically, the program lacks an EXIF editor. Users who want to scan and organize their shoeboxes of old photographs and film negatives, and those who order picture CD's along with their analog film developing orders cannot take full advantage of PPSA's Calendar View. PPSA sorts pictures lacking EXIF timestamps by the file system's Last Modified Date, because the program cannot timestamp the original date the photograph was taken. Fortunately, users can turn to freeware EXIF metadata editors to mitigate this issue, such as Exifer (http://www.exifer.friedemann.info).
Despite PPSA's letdown on EXIF and IPTC metadata support, most consumer-grade digital media library managers also still do poorly in metadata management, which sort of defeats the purpose of their existence. Of Paint Shop Photo Album's competitors, only ACDSee has EXIF metadata editing abilities, and therefore, a fully-functional Calendar View.
Jasc's Paint Shop Photo Album 5 is a well-rounded introduction to digital image library management. Curious users may quickly outgrow PPSA's rudimentary implementations of many features and look for more advanced software, but Paint Shop Photo Album 5 introduces people to more exciting possibilities of digital photography and digital image library management than its competitors.

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It is where your photos live - you will love it.Paint Shop Photo Album is simply the easiest way to do more with your digital photos. Now you can organize fix share and protect photos with one easy-to-use tool. Finally the digital camera software you have been waiting for is here.Includes Paint Shop Photo Album 5 Deluxe PhotoRecovery Paint Shop Xtras - Photo Album Scrapbook Templates 250 Project Photos byCorbis and Avery Digital Starter Pack.* View & OrganizeFind photos in the blink of an eye With Photo Album you can choose how you want to view your photos withthe click of a button. Then quickly organize your collection so you canfind photos fast. The freedom Photo Album gives you is unlike any otherprogram and since it is so intuitive it takes only a moment to getstarted.- Get your photos now Since Photo Album works with virtually any digital camera you canget your photos from your camera to your computer in two clickswithout the hassle of other software. - View photos the way you want With Photo Album you can choose the way you view photos easilyswitching back and forth between four useful options: FavoriteFolders Calendar Collections Keywords or All Folders. - Let Photo Album do the organizing for you With Photo Albums smart tools organizing your photo collectionis not just easy -- it is fast.* Fix & Enhance Improve photos easily Everyone loves to see their photos improve right before their eyes. WithPhoto Album you can fix photos easily plus there is a ton of tools toenhance them. From transforming photos to black and white to creating apanorama you will be surprised by how easy it is. - Improve photos in an instant With three photo-fixing options Photo Album takes the guesswork outof improving photos. - Everything you need for perfect pictures From cropping to removing red eye one click fixes or more power youcan get perfect pictures with little effort. - Have fun with your photos Whether you are adding a picture frame or ...

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Corel Paint Shop Pro X Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have used Paint Shop Pro in each incarnation from 7.04 Anniversary Edition onwards as well as Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
I must say that while the latest version is very user friendly especially to a new user, if you've got Version 8 or 9 on your computer I don't think the upgrade is worth the money. The new browser is particularly horrible if you're used to the older versions of Paint Shop Pro. You have to resort to manual tinkering to get it to look like the earlier versions if you want to which is a fairly involved procedure. Even then it doesn't behave like the earlier version but acts like a permanently docked window. In the default it displays Windows folders as little pictures of folders in a row and I find it quite difficult to use as a navigation mechanism.
The Learning Center is a useful addition especially to begin with when you're figuring out where everything is because even if you've had PSP8 and/or 9 on your computer Corel have changed round the positions of some of the tools in the toolbar and there are quite a few tweaks in the menus and photo tools. I do like the noise removal tool which functions better than it did in PSP9 and I also like the Smart Photo Fix. Overall however I felt that the new edition wasn't really worth shelling out over £40 for when I already had older versions on my computer.
In addition, the Paint Shop Photo Album (which is included for free) has refused to function correctly on my computer and I am still waiting for Corel's programmers to come back to me after working with a technician for over three weeks and not resolving the issue. A free Album Creator program is included which is for ordering photo albums online; I found that this gave me error messages until I went online and then launched it. I don't have a RAW image function on my digital camera so have not used that software which is also included on the disk.
You will need a large amount of RAM - at least 1 GB and preferably more, as well as a big hard drive and a fast computer to run this software. I would also recommend a large monitor because of the over-crowded interface - when you have the browser up and running it refuses to allow the image to overlap it as the older versions did, and behaves like the edge of the workspace.
Corel have essentially concentrated on photo editing in this version of Paint Shop Pro although the graphics tools are still there. If you have PSP 8 or 9 and do graphics rather than photo work I would stay with that software for now but if you're a new user I think you'll find this version of Paint Shop Pro is well worth the money.

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Corel Paint Shop Pro is the all-in-one solution for photo editing, organizing, sharing, and creativity. You will get tools for making your photos look just the way you want, organizing them so they are always at your fingertips, and making photo postcards, calendars, and more--advanced enough for a pro and easiest enough for a beginner. Version X is the best Paint Shop yet, with run times 50% faster than previous versions, more teaching resources (more than two hours of tutorials) for you to easily get the most out of the program, and 500 special effects.
See the Corel Paint Shop Pro X product tour
Fix brightness, color, and photo flawsNow you can have sharp photos filled with brilliant colors. You don't have to be a photo-editing whiz to get fabulous photos. Paint Shop Pro is filled with easy one-step fixes and advanced ultra-precise controls so no matter what, everyone can have the photos they always dreamed of.
Cover All the BasicsEverything you need to complete the most common photo tasks. Quickly rotate, resize, and crop photos to get the exact composition and size you need.
Fix Any PhotoSmart Photo Fix is the best way to correct color, exposure, and lighting problems. With a single click, Paint Shop Pro analyzes your photo and makes suggested corrections. With this powerful, flexible tool, you can change the corrections to suit your tastes.
Improve Photos in One Step Most digital cameras produce some sort of noise and, in photos of high-contrast, a purple fringe can appear. We know these are common problems that plague everyone, no matter how great a photographer they are. With the One Step Noise Removal and One Step Purple Fringe Removal, Paint Shop Pro quickly gets rid of these pesky problems.
Instant MakeoverLooking great has never been so easy. None of us are perfect, but with Paint Shop Pro X's Makeover Tools everyone can look like they are. With this handy set of tools you can remove blemishes, whiten teeth, brush on a suntan, and remove wrinkles. It's so fun and easy that you'll just have to try it for yourself.
Get the Red OutRed eye is probably the most common problem facing photos. With Paint Shop Pro X you get a One-click Red-Eye Remover that even works on pets, or you can use Advanced Red-Eye Removal for the most accurate corrections.
Remove DistractionsWith the Clone Tool and the Object Remover you can get rid of distractions in your photos by just clicking and dragging.
Adjust in an Instant When the photo you have doesn't look like the photo you thought you took, you can easily Adjust Perspective and Straighten crooked photos to get the look you were after.
Restore Old PhotosTears, holes, and fading are no match for Paint Shop Pro's photo restoration tools. With Scratch Remover, Fade Correction, Hand-tinting brushes, and High-pass Sharpen you can repair and restore any old or damaged photo.
Add a Creative TouchPaint Shop Pro X includes all new Picture Frames and photo Edges for when you want to give your photos a little something extra. Plus, there are NEW Picture Tubes, this popular feature is the easiest way for you to add ready-made art elements to your photo and graphics projects.
Photo albums and moreOnce you've used Paint Shop Pro to make your photos look their best, you can jump to Corel Photo Album 6 - Standard Edition included FREE, to create fun Greeting Cards and E-Cards. With the drag & drop simplicity of Photo Album you can create and send cards for every occasion.
Turn photos into elegant projectsOnce you have fabulous photos, don't let them sit there on your hard drive doing nothing. With Paint Shop Pro you have all the tools you need to create everything from fun greeting cards to breath-taking collages.
Turn Ordinary Photos into Something SpecialCreating beautiful Scrapbook Album Pages and sophisticated multi-picture Collages is a cinch. Now you can just drag your photos into professionally designed templates and have stunning photo keepsakes in moments.
Fun Projects You Can Complete in MinutesEnjoy your photos all year long by using them to create your own Calendars. Or show the people in your life how much they mean to you by featuring them on Magazine Covers or Award Certificates. Plus you can print multiple images on a single sheet of paper using Print Layouts and create your own CD Labels.
Remove BackgroundsYou can cut people out of photos and drop them onto new backgrounds easily with the Background Eraser. This handy tool makes combining multiple photos a breeze.
The Selection is Yours With so many selections to choose from you're sure to find just the tool you need in Paint Shop Pro X. Use Freehand/Smart Edge Selection to find your edge or select it yourself, the Shape Selection to square, rectangle, circle, or elliptical shaped selections, or the Magic Wand Selection to make selections based on color, hue, or more.
See What You're Working OnLayers are the building blocks of any collage and now you can see exactly what you're using in your collage. With just a glance at the All-New Layer Palette you can see all the layers in your image and what each layer contains.
You Get to PickMove and resize elements of your image on the fly. The Pick Tool is the easiest way to make adjustments to layers without having to re-select them.
Give photos a unique, exciting look Your photos can be so much more than just ordinary pictures. Using Paint Shop Pro's graphics and effects tools you can transform photos into paintings, add words, create crazy caricatures, and so much more. With so many effects to use, you can have hours of fun just experimenting.
Say What You Mean Add Vertical or horizontal text to photos or even have text follow a path. With the Text Tool, you can choose how you want your message to appear.
Turn Your Photos into PaintingsWith real-life Art Media Tools you can turn your ordinary photos into masterpieces. With an easy Trace option you can trace your photos using Oil, Chalk, Pastel, and more. Plus, you can choose from different brushes and canvas types.
Draw with PrecisionAdding arrows, talk bubbles, stars, and other interesting shapes to your photos couldn't be easier. With the Symmetric Shape Tool, Pen Tool, and Preset Shapes you can add all kinds of fun to your photos without any work at all.
Create a Classic in an InstantNo darkroom is required to transform your digital photos into black and white masterpieces. With the B&W Infrared Filter and B&W Conversion Filter you get more options than ever before.
Transform Photos in a Few ClicksAdd special lighting effects, color pencil, or emboss your photos. With over 500 Special Effects Filters there is no end to the fun you can have with your photos.
Warp & Twist PhotosGive the people and pets in your photos big bulging eyes and huge goofy smiles with the Warp Brush. Just click and drag your mouse around your photo to create these fun and easy caricatures.
It's All a BlurAdd professional-looking blur effects to your photos. You can choose between Gaussian, Motion, Radial Blur, and more.
Find photos fast & share memories Paint Shop Pro X now includes Corel Photo Album 6 - Standard Edition. With this smart and simple software you can organize and share your photos easier than ever before. And with two applications at your disposal you'll be more productive than ever.
Your Photos Were Meant to be Shared Show off your photos using over 40 Print templates, create Slide Shows you can e-mail, send photos automatically resized for E-mail and Cell Phones, or Burn a CD of your best shots in just two clicks. No additional burning software required.
Photo Album Does the Work for YouAs soon as you plug in your camera, Photo Album's Photo Downloader gets to work downloading and rotating your photos, then asking you what you'd like to do next. If you like, you can jump right to Paint Shop Pro with a couple of keystrokes. The Photo Finder automatically finds and organizes your photo collection by the date you took the picture, and Photo Trays are a virtual photo to-do list - helping you remember to e-mail or print photos.
Find What You NeedYou can organize your photos by Collection, Folder, Favorite Photo, and Keyword to ensure that you can always find your photos fast. Plus, when you use Keywords, you can Search your entire using those keywords.
What's in the box: Photo software on CD-ROM, instruction booklet.

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Corel Photo Album 6 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Corel's Photo Album 6 (formerly known as Jasc's Paint Shop Photo Album) bundles together the most variety of features of any consumer-grade digital image manager -- a file-level manager, slideshow and screensaver module, creative projects (calendars, magazine covers, etc.), backup and archive module; and a basic image editor. Version 6 of Photo Album sports a new interface, some new project templates and backup options, and most importantly, easy-to-use IPTC and EXIF metadata support. The latter feature makes the program well worth the upgrade for prior users, and the best general choice for mainstream users, such as self-appointed family photo archivists, looking to organize and manage their growing collection of digital photographs for posterity.
What makes metadata support so important? A photograph may be worth a thousand words, but not always. Without aid, the casual viewer may not understand or remember a picture's content or context. (E.g., When and where was this picture taken? What is this a picture of? Who are these people? Why did I take this picture?) Even the photographer himself may not remember these things one or five years later. In an analog photograph, one could write a description on back of the print itself. With digital photos, this sort of information is kept as metadata. Without metadata, that interesting digital photograph (Holiday Party 2005: Roy and Ciara with Mayor Mike. Unbeknownst to Mayor Mike, Roy and Ciara rose to power by wasting hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars.) is just another anonymous picture. It is metadata that imbues digital photographs with their context and meaning, and that enables digital photograph collections to be quickly organized or synthesized in a wide variety of ways - by timeline, event, location, person, etc.
Prior versions of Photo Album kept metadata locked away inside a proprietary database, usable only inside the program. Corel Photo Album 6's support of IPTC and EXIF metadata relegates product lock-in to the past, and potentially makes your photograph descriptions (complete memory = photograph + metadata) accessible seamlessly across:
- online-photo sharing sites that support IPTC and EXIF metadata, such as Fotki and Flickr;
- friends, family, or other users who don't use Corel Photo Album 6;
- yourself, on other computers, if or when you outgrow Photo Album 6, or the product line is discontinued.
That's potentially, because Corel doesn't quite implement IPTC support the way everyone else does. Corel Photo Album 6 is able to view metadata of digital photographs created in Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, but the opposite is not necessarily true. Also, Photo Album 6 does not support Unicode, so foreign language support (for recording foreign toponyms and friends in your photographs without the need for Romanize them) is limited. However, PA6 is still better than its competitors, who either do not support IPTC or EXIF metadata (leaving you locked into their products), or make it cumbersome to use.
Corel Photo Album 6 is worthy of consideration even if you've already purchased a digital photo-editor / image library manager bundle, such as Microsoft's Digital Image Suite 2006 or Adobe's Photoshop Elements 4. Microsoft's Digital Image Library 11 (part of Microsoft's Digital Image Suite 2006) locks metadata inside its own proprietary database and the Windows XP NTFS file system, usable only on the single computer where the program is installed. DIS2006 users who want to share picture metadata with other users must manually copy and paste it for each picture they want to share. Further, the proprietary nature of DIS2006's database renders it susceptible to breakage - if you change the filename of an image outside the program, the image and its DIS2006 database entry are disassociated. Although Photoshop Elements 4 supports IPTC and EXIF metadata, the program continues to be disjointed - you fill in different pieces of metadata in the photo editor and photo organizer sections of the program.
Unfortunately, Corel's Photo Album 6 is just as disjointed. PA6 tracks picture title, description, and keyword information. Corel's photo editor, Paint Shop Pro 10 (equivalent to Microsoft's Digital Image Suite 2006's or Adobe's Photoshop Elements 4's photo editor; and a separate purchase) is needed to track picture location (city, state, country, etc.) information, among other things. However, Corel Photo Album 6's advantage over Photoshop Elements 4 is that PE4's photo organizer is very unwieldy when managing more than a few hundred photographs. It would be nice to see future versions of Corel Photo Album and Paint Shop Pro share the same metadata management features. Experienced users may look to PixVue, a free Windows Explorer extension, for a full IPTC/XMP metadata editor in the interim.
Consumers should understand that given PA6's low price, competitor programs may exceed the depth of any particular module(s) in PA6. For example, ACD System's ACDSee 8 is a better file-level manager. Simple Star's PhotoShow Deluxe 4 has the better slideshow module. With these other choices however, users may find themselves purchasing additional programs to match the breadth of Corel Photo Album 6's functionality. For example, ACDSee 8 Standard lacks a creative projects module, which ACD Systems offers for separate purchase, as FotoSlate 4.
Corel has done a very good job with Photo Album 6. It is the best general-purpose choice for both beginning and intermediate mainstream users.

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Corel Photo Album 6 offers aneasy way to organize, enhance, protect, and share your photos. Photo Album automatically downloads photos from your camera as soon as you plug it in, then rotates and organizes them for you. Then you can fix photos in a snap with one-click quick fixes. When you're done you can share photos in minutes with 1000s of creative projects including greeting cards, calendars, scrapbooks and more. Plus, you can back-up your photos on CD, protecting them in just two-clicks. Packed with everything you need, Photo Album is the complete, easy-to-use software for your digital camera.
See the product tour

Capture, View, and Organize
Quick Fix and Adjust With just one click users can auto-correct the color, contrast, and brightness of their photos. The Adjust command provides simple sliders to give you complete control over a variety of settings for correcting photos. With the Add Flash tool, users can even brighten just the shadowy areas of an image.
More quick fixes and effects You can remove red-eye with one click or use the Advanced Red-Eye tool for more precision and control. The Thinify command lets you give the subjects in your photos a thinner appearance with just a few clicks. The Panorama command lets you stitch together several photos. This is particularly useful for capturing large landscapes.
Black & White and Sepia tools Corel Photo Album 6 lets you transform your color photos into black and white, and sepia tones with just one click. These quick commands are useful for giving new photos a vintage look.
E-mail and Quick E-mail The Quick E-mail and E-mail commands make it easy to send photos to friends and family. Quick E-mail automatically attaches the selected image to a new message in your e-mail program. All you have to do is add the recipient address and fill in the subject line. With E-mail, you can adjust settings to optimize the photos for quick recipient downloading.
Photo projects Corel Photo Album 6 provides creative templates to inspire you to do more with your photos. With drag-and-drop simplicity, you can create award certificates, album pages, greeting cards, calendars, CD labels, e-cards, magazine covers, and more. You can even move, rotate, and zoom in and out of photos within a template to get the exact look that you want.
New! CollagesThe new Collage project templates let you display a collection of photos in stylish and sophisticated collages. You just select a collage layout template and drag and drop photos from your folders into the collage.
Slide Shows With Corel Photo Album 6, you can easily create musical slide shows to distribute to friends and family using e-mail, or simply to display on your computer. You can also burn slide shows to Video CDs, which can be viewed on a TV using a DVD player. Now, it's quick and easy to share photos from a recent vacation, family event, or party.
Web Sharing Web Galleries let you create your own customized Web page using Corel Photo Album, or quickly upload to your favorite photo-sharing Web site.
New! Photo Finder Corel Photo Album 6 automatically finds all the photos on your computer and organizes them by the date that they were taken. This feature saves time by continuously keeping photo collection up-to-date.
New! All Photos View To provide you with the utmost flexibility in photo management, the new All Photos View lets you browse your entire photo collection at once. When the All Photos View is selected, Corel Photo Album 6 gathers every photo from every folder on your computer.
Print LayoutWith more than 40 print layout templates, Corel Photo Album 6 helps you make the most of that expensive photo paper. You can choose to print standard photo sizes, such as 8x10, 5x7, wallet-sized, and more. Print layouts also let you combine multiple photos on one page.
Five viewing options The convenient Find panel lets you choose from five viewing options, including Favorite Folders, All Folders, Calendar, Keywords, and Collections. And you can easily adjust the size of thumbnail previews. With the handy zoom slider, users can quickly zoom out to see the entire contents of a folder, or zoom in for a closer look at just one photo.
New! Favorite Photos Corel Photo Album 6 lets you designate your favorite photos with a gold star so that personal favorites can be quickly and easily identified for use in special projects, for e-mailing, or for printing.
New! Titles and Descriptions You can add titles and descriptions so that photos stand out. Corel Photo Album now saves your captions to the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) metadata so that the captions can be viewed and searched from within any program that supports IPTC.
Batch Rename With Corel Photo Album 6, you can quickly change those cryptic, numeric filenames that digital cameras assign to photos. Using the Batch Rename feature, you can easily change the name of an individual image, several selected images, or an entire folder of images.
PhotoSafe Backup SystemThe PhotoSafe Backup System helps you backup all of their photos onto CD or DVD. Archiving prevents the loss of valuable photos from hardware memory failure, or other computer mishaps, such as viruses. And PhotoSafe makes it simple by remembering which photos have already been backed-up on CD, and which photos are new.
PhotoRecovery PhotoRecovery is a straightforward application that recovers images, movies, and sound files from all types of digital media. Whether it's Memory Sticks, SmartMedia, CompactFlash, MicroDrives, Secure Digital Cards, Multimedia Chips, or floppy disks and most other forms of digital film, you simply insert your digital film into the reader, and run PhotoRecovery. Pictures are instantly saved to your computer.
What's in the box: Software on CD, Getting Started Guide, User Guide.

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Need For Speed: Most Wanted Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Many reviews focus on the copy protection, if you have concerns about that be sure to read them. I want to focus more on what this game brings to the table for newcomers and from the point of view of someone that has played a previous version of NFS and wants to know if this game has enough new features to merit a purchase.
If you have never played any version of Need for Speed and you are looking for a racing game for the PC then you have come to the right place. This is a very good racing game that allows you to customize your vehicle to help break up the monotony of only completing one race right after the other. This is definitely the best racing game to buy if you want to get a good start in the NFS series. If you are still unsure and want to break into the series on a cheaper title then NFS Underground 2 will give you a good look on the cheap.
If you are a veteran and are wondering what the new features are I'll try to outline them here. Need For Speed Underground 2 is the only other NFS title I have played. All of the comparisons I am making are based on the differences between NFSU2 and this title.
1) Graphics. The graphics have improved considerably over NFSU2. The car models look much better and the game ran much more smoothly for me despite the better quality in graphics. In NFSU2 I would get moments where the game would stutter, I have had no such experience in Most Wanted.
I have heard some people have problems with ATI cards; mainly that ATI is a bit behind with optimizing their drivers for this game. I believe these problems are mainly resolved as I have no problems with my Radeon 9800. You will however need a higher end graphics card to run the game. You do not have to have the latest and greatest card because the game does a decent job of offering options where you can play with lower detail.
2) Races. I will say that it seems like the races were more varied in NFSU2 than they are in Most Wanted. In NFSU2 you had several different race types that added to the variety of the game namely drag, drift, street, and a few different forms of circuit (URL and circuit) and sprint (races to photo ops and sprint). In Most Wanted all the races are variations of either circuit or sprint. There is a new circuit racing mode called knock out where the person that comes in last on each lap is dropped from the race.
Police chases have been added for variety and as a replacement to the drift and street modes of NFS2U. This is welcome. I often wondered where all the police were while you were racing on the street in NFSU2.
In this version you compete against people on the black list (a list of the most infamous racers around). You have to qualify to compete against the blacklist racers by winning races and building a wanted level with the police. After you beat someone on the blacklist you are given the opportunity to pick 2 of 5 rewards. The rewards are cash, performance parts, visual parts, and one of the rewards is the title (pink slip) to the car you just beat. You do not know what the reward will be before you pick it. If you get lucky you'll walk away with your opponents vehicle.
Another welcome change over NFSU2 is the ability to instantly jump to race locations. In the old version you had to spend hours (cummatively) driving from one race location to the next. Gone are the days of driving from the Airport to the top of that mountain (Beacon Hill?) to complete one race just to find out that the next grouping of races that appears are at the bottom of the map.
One last improvement that I'll mention is that it seems as though focus has shifted away from visual customization. In NFSU2 you had certain goals where you had to build a car that had a certain level of visual appeal. Often all that meant was that you had to make your car tacky and disgusting by taking it much further than you would have just so you can get that 9 star rating. More did not equal better in my book. I would have been happier if they let me keep the car the way I wanted instead of forcing me to add roof scoops just so I could progress in the game.
The con:
I wanted to mention why I docked the game by one star. The game uses what is refered to as "rubberband" AI. That pretty much means that the AI will make sure all the races are close. Imagine you and an opponent are connected by a rubberband. If the opponent gets too far behind the rubberband is pulled tightly and the opponent will be sprung forward as a result. In other words the farther away the computer is the faster they will drive, irreguardless of what the top speeds of the cars you and the computer are driving are supposed to be.
This can become very frustrating. For example, once I pinned an opponent between an 18 wheeler and the road. It resulted in a quick 8 second lead. Making no mistakes on my part, the computer was able to pass me like I was standing still about 10 or 15 seconds after I had built that 8 second lead... as if I was stopped at a standstill. There really is no excuse for this kind of AI, and it was not present in NFSU2. If you outsmarted/drove the competition you outsmarted/drove the competition. Not so in Most Wanted. Every race will come down to the wire no matter how far you get in front of the opponent. I'll be looking for a patch that fixes or balances this issue.

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Wake up to the smell of burnt asphalt as the thrill of illicit street racing permeates the air. From the makers of the hit Need for Speed: Underground series, Need for Speed: Most Wanted Black Edition challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer.

This collector's edition features exclusive cars, races and specially-tuned rides, as well as a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes footage of model/actress, Josie Maran, concept art, exclusive videos and much more.

Combining illicit street racing and tuner customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuit that surpasses any Hollywood-style chase scene, Need for Speed: Most Wanted Black Edition is on every gamer's "must-have" list. Out-race rivals, evade cops and exploit hundreds of miles of open road as gamers make their way up the Blacklist.

To become the most wanted racer, players must build up their street cred and Rap Sheet with gripping, white knuckle, head-to-head races with the top drivers on the streets, as well as pull daring, evasive moves to out-run and out-fox the cops that patrol the open road. Players can manage their heat or utilize a number of strategic tactics to keep the cops off their tails as they leave their rivals behind to suck their exhaust fumes.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Black Edition also features a variety of the hottest cars that range from tuners to super cars. You can customize your ride to race against any class of vehicles. Combining the thrill of open-world street racing and customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuits, Need for Speed: Most Wanted Black Edition is the next release in the hit racing series that challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer.

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Corel Paint Shop Pro 9 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To be honest Adobe Photoshop is the top pro paint/photo package to use because of the amount of extras and plugins that it can use but I find myself turning to Paint Shop Pro very often. Let me list the reasons why.
1. It is quicker than Adobe Photoshop.
2. It has enough functions to do most of the things I need.
3. It is easy to use.
4. The learning curve is not steep.
5. The package is smaller in hard drive size than Photoshop.
6. It can do the vast majority of things that Photoshop can do.
PS has a very steep learning curve but is the only true Pro package out there, however how much of PS you think you will use depends on the type of work you are doing. I would recommend PSP just on the basis that you can get it working right out the box by just learning the basic interface.
I use this package an awful lot. I even do complex composites with it. In short - simple.

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Gun Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I found this to be quite the opposite experience that the reviewer before me had. While i can agree that some of the textures could have been polished more, i think that ,for the most part, the game is beautiful graphically. Nice fire and smoke particle effects. Nice ragdoll effects on the bad guys.EX. Their bodies 'sway' away from a bullet hitting. You hit them in the right shoulder, then their right shoulder twists back and forces the opponent to stagger. However, the clipping/collision is unusually bad. Some things you can just walk right through. That's a strange weakness for games these days. I thought that issue was cleared up 5 years ago.
Now, onto the plot. It's a bit like an Indiana Jones Movie, except here you DON'T know what the item is your looking for.
At least, not for most of the game. Thick storyline with massive amounts of cutscenes. No troubles installing. No kick-backs to desktop while playing the game. A couple of issues with some of the manual. Not enough explanation in a few areas.
This comes on 3 CD-ROMS and takes up around 2 gig.
Very good vocal acting, and incredible horse-riding effects. You really feel the speed of the horse!
Once you get past the training levels and start seeing the 'actual' game, you'll see the true quality of gameplay.
I think it's very strong, myself, and, Well written!

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Gun is the story of a man's quest for revenge. When life robs Colton White of all that matters, the only thing left he can trust is his gun. Follow along with him as he exacts vengeful justice on those who have wronged him. Seek retribution as you face corrupt lawmen, warring tribes, cold-blooded outlaws, and ruthless renegades.

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Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Although Generals added a new standard of graphics and several new and interesting departures from the original C&C game design, it was something less than revolutionary. Zero Hour goes a long way toward addressing this issue, and really turns Generals into a completely new game.
The expansion adds a new campaign for each side, with about 5 missions each. The campaign is interesting, and adds a few new elements, but is actually not the best part of the expansion. There are full motion video cutscenes (reporters talking about what's going on) to add some depth to the story, which is pretty straightforward stuff that could happen sometime in the near future (though we hope not). The missions add unique buildings and locations, all well done, as well as objectives that are pretty fun to carry out. Some of them are quite difficult, and there are a few stealth commando missions that Generals sadly lacked. There's also some campaign-only powers, such as the ability to call in battleship artillery and carrier strikes in one of the USA missions.
The real meat of the expansion starts with the new units and upgrades. Each side has new things, some of which go a long way toward filling holes in the armies' capabilities. China, for example, gets some much-needed surveillance by way of the Internet Center, and a worthwhile stealth detector in the Listening Post. Frenzy, a new general power, increases the firepower and armor of units for a brief time. China also gets added airborne firepower with the Helix and the ability to carpet bomb. The GLA gets several low-tech solutions, most of which are still geared toward outmaneuvering rather than outgunning the opposition. The Battle Bus, however, can pack quite a punch in a frontline role. Fake structures, a sometimes-useful throwback from Red Alert, can also be purchased. More interestingly, they can be upgraded into real ones, which is a nice way to play with an opponent's mind. The USA gets a powerful base defense with the Fire Base, which is garrisonable, effective against infantry, and doesn't need power to shoot. They also get a mobile anti-air unit in the Avenger, making it unnecessary for you to bring weak Missile Defender-packed Humvees along in future battles. Three new tech structures are also added- the Repair Bay (repairs all your ground units), Artillery Platform (shoots at enemies with a howitzer), and Reinforcement Pad (produces a tank on a countdown).
The upgrades and units are standard expansion fare, but Zero Hour adds something else- new generals, each with their own combat styles, units and powers, and personalities. There are three for each side- Air Force, Lasers, and Superweapons for the USA; Toxins, Camouflage, and Demolitions for the GLA; and Nukes, Tanks, and Infantry for China. Each of these has a doctrine that you must adhere to if you wish to use them effectively, and have weaknesses that hold you to it. For example, the US Air Force general cannot make tanks, but has aircraft cost reduced, unique and better air units, and a point defense laser on all airplanes that along with the standard countermeasures upgrade makes them practically immune to missile fire. China's tank general can build the Emperor Overlord, which is the newest and baddest vehicle on the ground. The GLA camouflage general can make literally everything invisible to the unaided eye, and turns the GLA into a real guerilla army (his Scud Storms are especially scary). All of these generals can be used in skirmish or multiplay, and there is a special 'generals challenge' campaign in which you pick one and play against all others. Your opponent is always on territory that favors their doctrine, and it can get pretty tough. This is a great way to accustom yourself to the various generals and pick your favorite, and is also quite fun since your opponents continuously taunt you during the games.
It's worth mentioning that several nice tweaks have been added to the engine. For example, fighters on an airbase will automatically attack nearby enemies, and both superweapons and scouting powers (e.g. radar van scans) appear as a sidebar icon with a number indicating how many are ready, if it's more than one. This makes it no longer necessary to separately hotkey practically every unit you have. Multiplayer options have been added, such as how much cash to start with, and no superweapons. The already excellent graphics have been improved, with even more fantastic fireballs, flotsam and jetsam, and better water effects. The result is undoubtedly the most graphically appealing RTS out there, though you might need a new video card if you want to run at max detail.
In summary, Zero Hour is for all intents and purposes a completely new game. Some have argued that it is what Generals should have been from the start, but I'm glad EA took the time to do a good job on this rather than rushing it for release. I honestly have no complaints about the expansion- it's one of the best ones I've seen for any game. It's a definite must for any Generals fan, and even if you weren't overly impressed with Generals, Zero Hour might just change your opinion.

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Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour challenges you to face off against other military leaders using the most advanced arsenal in history!

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FS Repaint V2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this product after trying the free demo. The software is easy to learn, and fun to use. The learning curve is about five minutes. FS Repaint V2 is well worth the money.
I would recommend this product to anyone who owns FSX.
Technical support, (if you need it), is excellent!
The program does everything it promises, and more.
The results are truly amazing! You are limited only by your imagination.
My favorite feature is being able to add my own logos and pictures to my aircraft. If you are looking for a way to enhance your Flight Simulator experience, this is the best thing I've seen in a long , long time. Abacus puts out some great products, and this one ranks among the finest. Great Job, Abacus!
SwordfishSix, Alert Five, on Cat one, ready for launch! Happy Landings!

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FS Repaint is the absolute simplest way to change the look your Flight Simulator aircraft.This clever software package was originally developed several year ago by the team of Jorge Santoro and Marco Paulo. Now they've revamped this popular utility to support the aircraft of Flight Simulator X.FS Repaint is the ready for you to make small changes or paint a whole fleet of aircraft. System Requirements:FSX or FS2004; Video card supporting Direct X (128MB video RAM recommended)Format: WIN 98MENT2000XPVISTA Genre:ENTERTAINMENT UPC:090869557081 Manufacturer No:S708

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The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the game since the day it came out. Where to start? First, the basics. The box says there are over 125 new items. There are new floors, windows, wallpapers, doors, trees, lights, tables and counters. There's even a lighted ceiling fan.
When Sims are ready to go downtown, they simply call a cab. They can invite other Sims with them or just look for their friends once downtown.
The Sims really seem to enjoy the new fish pond. They can buy fish food to feed the fish or rent sailboats to play with in the water. There's a rental shack where you get these items and it also has a picnic basket you can get.
When your Sims get a picnic basket, they spread out a blanket and then lay on it, eating and talking. If the date's going well, he might just go for a romantic kiss and then again, his date might completely reject him!
Each one of your neighborhoods has its own downtown area. When you go to the beach, you actually hear waves crashing! They can't swim in the water but, of course, you can always put a swimming pool on the beach. There are even changing rooms where your Sims can change into their swimsuits.
Another great feature of Hot Date is the "Townies." When you're downtown, you see all sorts of Sims, not only the ones from your neighborhood. You can talk to them and make friends. If all goes well, you can ask them to "Hang Out" with you and they'll follow you around doing what you do.
Let's talk food. There are all sorts of places your Sims can eat. There's an ice cream counter, hot dog stand, a place to get hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza, a diner and also a really fancy restaurant. You can create the restaurants yourself too or you can use the downtown buildings that come with the game.
There's a new grill for the park areas so your Sims can cookout. There's a new stove and when you place it downtown, you automatically hire a chef for your restaurant. When you put a dishwasher in the restaurant, you automatically get busboys that clean off the tables.
You can also put cash registers in the stores and restaurants. This automatically hires store clerks, hostesses and waiters/waitresses.
Another great thing about this game is that the people change. For example, you can go to a diner once and you'll have a male waiter taking orders. You can go again and it will be a woman. It's as if they have shift changes just like in the real world.
It's fun to watch the hostess seat your Sims and hand them menus. Your Sims will read the menus and talk about what they want to order. Then the waiter will come, take their order and take the menus.
They can also go to the bar and order drinks. You can have your Sim sit at a table and call the "barmaid" over.
Sims can shop for clothes, jewelry, candy, flowers and magazines. When they shop for clothes, they can buy outfits for themselves or for the Sims their with. One of my Sims bought a new pair of pajamas and now that's what she wears when she goes to sleep instead of the default pajamas. Everyone else in the house is still wearing default pj's because they haven't been shopping yet. Nice feature!
Also, you can put changing rooms in the clothing boutiques so they can try on outfits, swimsuits and pajamas. They'll go in the changing room and come out with the other clothes on. Then they'll prance up to the mirror and check themself out.
Sims now have an "inventory" that allows you to buy things like teddy bears, The Sims game, lollipops, chocolates, a yellow rose, a bouquet of red roses and even jewelry. One of my Sims bought his date a bouquet of red roses. The date was going well so when he gave the roses to her, she threw them on the ground and stomped on them!
In Hot Date, they also have new personality traits. Your Sims can now talk movies, parties, fitness, fashion and more with each other.
If there's a topic they don't know too much about, they can buy a magazine at the magazine stand. They'll take it home and read about it there. There are about six different types of magazines, I believe. The magazines have funny titles like MAXSIMUM and WhooNoo.
You can place speakers anywhere downtown and your Sims can listen to jazz-like music while they shop. And most everything you do downtown costs money. For instance, playing pool costs money. Turning on the jukebox costs money. Even the bubble blowing machine costs money.
Sims can also interact with over 40 new actions. They can cuddle, play footsie, kiss, make out, embrace, insult each other by shaking their fists, gossip, admire, entertain with puppets, nag about the house or their friends.
One of my favorites is the hug feature. Sims can now hug friendly, romantic, intimate or even leap into each other's arms. And they're all so funny to watch.
They can even kiss suave, peck on the cheek, fiery and more. And if your Sim is feeling frisky, he/she can "check out" another Sim or "growl" at them.
Another funny interaction is "Brag." Sims can flex their muscles. They can also primp. One of my female Sims primped by pulling out a compact and checking herself out in the mirror.
When your Sims are back at home, they now have four new beds (all singles). Really nice. And there's also the Niagara Love Tub that allows two Sims in at once. They can wash each other, play and embrace. It's really funny to hear them "playing" under the water.
I've gone into a lot of detail here but it's still not enough. There's just way too much to discover. Happy Simming!

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The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack represents an entirely new experience for your Sims--dating! With exciting new characters, interests, romance objects, and an all-new downtown area filled with restaurants, shops, and parks, Hot Date will get your Sims off the couch and into the singles scene. Play matchmaker for your Sims and watch them become Casanovas or Casa-nevers.
Players can have their Sims ask each other out on a date, or they can try their luck with an in-game dating service. Arrange to meet another Sim downtown at exciting and romantic locations that the player can create. Everything from a candlelit dinner, a drink at the bar, or a rendezvous in the park is possible as your Sim attempts to orchestrate an evening to remember.
Once your Sim is out with that special someone, additional interests and new interactions keep the conversation flowing and chemistry clicking. Sims can now flirt, play footsie, engage in a little tonsil hockey, or converse in Simlish about new and diverse interests. Being a fun and fascinating date gets your Sim one step closer to a goodnight kiss, or more!
Players can watch sparks fly or fizzle as their Sims meet and date a host of new characters. Sims can spurn the advances of the Jock, welcome the overtures of the Femme Fatale, find true lust with Mr. Medallion, or strike out with the Blonde Bombshell. More than 100 new objects, including the Picnic Basket, Cuddle Couch, and Love Tub, allow players to set the mood for their Sims. Find your Sim a soul mate... or just have fun looking with The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack.

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