Easy Family Tree Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for a friend as far as they have told me its what they were looking for and worked great.

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Easy Family Tree allows you to easily enter family information, calculate relationships, and electronically preserve photos and documents. It makes researching your family tree and recording your findings simple and affordable.

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Rosetta Stone V2: Tagalog, Level 1 & 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So far I am very happy with this program. I have been using this program for a short time and can tell what I'm learning is sticking. One thing I like about this program is that unlike books and some other programs it doesnt get bogged down in explaining endings and cases, it teaches by using them in context. The one weakness is that like many language programs/books it doesn't always convey they way "it's really done". For example after learning the basic colors my wife (who is a native speaker) explained to me they use the english words for most colors. I think that anyone who sticks with this program will get a good grasp on the language. I would recommend once you have a good grasp watching some tagalog movies to hear what you've learned in a "realistic" setting.

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Why is Rosetta Stone the world's No. 1 language-learning software? Because it works.
Escape the endless tedium of translation, memorization, and grammar drills. Get the language you want, the skills you need, and the success you deserve by learning a newlanguage naturally--the same way you learned your first language.

You learned your first language without translation. You learned your first language easily and naturally by connecting words to objects and events around you. With Rosetta Stone, learn a new language the same way: using native speakers and thousands of real-life images to help you think in the new language from the very beginning. Studies show that learning exclusively in the new language, without translation as a crutch, is crucial.
Rosetta Stone's exclusive Dynamic Immersion method reinforces your natural language-learning skills with award-winning instructional technology.
The timeless immersion method, along with research-based techniques and new technologies, make Rosetta Stone the clear solution to your language-learning needs.
What will you be able to do?
Understand everyday language.Through Rosetta Stone's proficiency-based listening and reading activities, you'll soon be able to understand everyday language.
Pronounce words correctly.After practicing with Rosetta Stone’s proprietary speech comparison tool, the correct pronunciation of words will come easily.
Find the words you need when you need them.Connecting new language directly to real-life images means the words spring to mind when you're in everyday contexts.
Spell and write accurately.Language-specific keyboards and drag-and-drop tiles perfect your writing skills.
Learn to communicate.You'll quicklycombine words and phrases into complete sentences and dialogues.
Retain what you learn.Regular reinforcement of new words and phrases in new contexts ensures the language sticks with you in the real world.

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Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate 2008 Review

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(More customer reviews)The Encyclopedia Britannica 2008 (established in 1768), both Ultimate and Deluxe, builds on the success of its completely revamped previous editions in 2006 and 2007. The rate of innovation in the last two versions was impressive and welcome. It continues apace in this rendition with Britannica Biographies (Great Minds), Classical Music (500 audio files arranged by composer), and a great Workspace for Project Management (a kind of friendly digital den). Generous 6-12 months of free access to the myriad riches of the Britannica Online complete the package.
The Britannica comes bundled with an atlas (between 1600 and 2530 maps and 287 World Data Profiles of individual countries and territories), the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus, classic articles from previous editions, ten yearbooks, an Interactive Timeline with 4000+ indexed timeline entries, a Research Organizer, and a Knowledge Navigator (a Brain Stormer). All told, it offers a directory of more than 166,000 reviewed and vetted links to online content.
In its new form, the Britannica is as user-friendly as the Encarta. With monthly updates and the aforementioned 6-12 months of free access to its impressive powerhouse online Web site, it is bound to give the former close competition.
The Britannica's newest interface is even more intuitive and uncluttered than previously and is great fun to use. For instance, it generates a date-based daily selection of relevant information and highly edifying interactive tours of articles and attendant media.
When you enter even the first few letters of a term in the search box, it offers various options and is persistent: no need to click on the toolbar's "search" button every time you want to find something in this vast storehouse of knowledge. Moreover, the user can save search results onto handy "Virtual Notecards". Whole articles can be copied onto the seemingly inexhaustible Workspace.
The new Britannica's display is tab-based, avoiding the erstwhile confusing proliferation of windows with every move. Most importantly, articles appear in full, not in sections. This major improvement facilitates the finding of relevant keywords in and the printing of entire texts. These are only a few of the numerous alterations and enhancements.
Perhaps the most refreshing change is the Britannica's Update Center. Dozens of monthly updates and new, timely articles are made available online (subject to free registration). A special button alerts the user when an entry in the base product has been updated.
Regrettably, unlike in the Encarta, the updates cannot be downloaded to the user's computer or otherwise incorporated into the vast encyclopedia. Moreover, the product does not alert its user to the existence of completely new articles (e.g., the Kyoto Protocol). Only a manual scan of the monthly lists reveals newly added content.
Speaking of updates, one must not forget to dwell on the Britannica's unequalled yearbooks. Each annual volume contains the year in events, scientific developments, and everything you wanted to know about the latest in any and every conceivable field of human endeavor or nature. Close to 10,000 articles culled from the last 10 editions buttress and update the Encyclopedia's anyhow impressive offerings.
The Britannica provides considerably more text than any other extant encyclopedia, print or digital. But it has noticeably enhanced it non-textual content over the years (the 1994-7 editions had nothing or very little but words, words, and more words): it now boasts in excess of 21,000 images and illustrations and 900 video and audio clips.
The Britannica fully supports serious research. It is a sober assemblage of first-rate essays, up to date bibliographies, and relevant multimedia. It is a desktop university library: thorough, well-researched, comprehensive, trustworthy.
The Britannica's 80-100,000 articles (depending on the version) are long and thorough, supported by impressive bibliographies, and written by the best scholars in their respective fields. The company's Editorial Board of Advisors reads like the who's who of the global intellectual and scientific community.
The Britannica is an embarrassment of riches. Users often find the wealth and breadth of information daunting and data mining is fast becoming an art form. This is why the Britannica incorporated the Brain Stormer to cope with this predicament. But an informal poll I conducted online shows that few know how to deploy it effectively.
The Britannica also sports Student and Elementary versions of its venerable flagship product, replete with a Homework Helpdesk - but it is far better geared to tackle the information needs of adults and, even more so, professionals. It provides unequalled coverage of its topics. Ironically, this is precisely why the market positioning of the Britannica's Elementary and Student Encyclopedias is problematic.
The current edition is fully integrated with the Internet. Apart from the updates, it offers additional and timely content and revisions on a dedicated Web site. The digital product includes a staggering number of links (165,808!) to third party content and articles on the Web. The GeoAnalyzer, which compares national statistical data and generates charts and graphs, is now Web-based and greatly enhanced.
The Britannica would do well to offer a browser add-on search bar and to integrate with desktop search tools from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and others. Currently it offers search results through Google but this requires the user to install add-ons or plug-ins and to go through a convoluted rite of passage. A seamless experience is in the cards. Users must and will be able to ferret content from all over - their desktop, their encyclopedias, and the Web - using a single, intuitive interface.
Some minor gripes:
The atlas, dictionary, and thesaurus incorporated in the Britannica are still surprisingly outdated. Why not use a more current - and dynamically updated - offering? What about dictionaries for specialty terms (medical or computer glossaries, for instance)?
Despite considerable improvement over the previous edition, the Britannica still consumes (not to say hogs) computer resource far in excess of the official specifications. This makes it less suitable for installation on older PCs and on many laptops. If you own a machine with anything earlier than Pentium 3 and less than 4 Gb of really free space - forget it!
The Britannica uses a new graphic and text renderer. On some systems, the user needs to modify his or her desktop settings to get rid of jagged fonts and blurry photos. The software also seriously conflicts with security applications (especially anti-virus and firewall products). It is not compatible with the latest QuickTime, though it offers a patch to remedy the situation.
But that's it. Don't think twice. Run to the closest retail outlet (or surf to the Britannica's Web site) and purchase the 2008 edition now. It offers excellent value for money (less than $50) and significantly enhances you access to knowledge and wisdom accumulated over centuries all over the world. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self-love - Narcissism Revisited".

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Looking for facts or ideas? Turn to Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate DVD. Written by Nobel laureates historians curators professors and other notable experts it is your trusted resource for research. Whether you are an entry level advanced or student researcher you will easily find what you need in Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate.Format: WIN 2000XP/MAC 10.4 OR LATER Genre:EDUCATION UPC:018059080263 Manufacturer No:8026

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Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)While Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006 marked Microsoft's commitment to the Web - Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007 marks its commitments to its own technology. The new Encarta relies on Microsoft's powerful, flexible, scalable, and adaptable .Net Framework 2.0. There a price to pay, of course: the time it takes to install the product is much longer and the user is henceforth prompted to constantly download security updates from Microsoft. It is also recommended to turn off your firewall and anti-virus products during installation.
More than ever, the Encarta is a breathtaking resource. With 68,000 articles (compared to 64,000 last year), it is much expanded (though about 1000 photos and illustrations and 500 music and sound clips were removed from this edition). Certain, resource-hogging features disappeared from last year (for example: the Read Aloud and Live News functions).
The Encarta caters effectively (and, at $30-50, affordably) to the educational needs of everyone in the family, from children as young as 7 or 8 years old to adults who seek concise answers to their queries. It is fun-filled, interactive, and colorful. Kids have their own encyclopedia-within-encyclopedia, dubbed Encarta Kids with age-appropriate, appetizingly presented content and games to boot!
The 2007 Encarta's User Interface is far less cluttered than in previous editions. Content is arranged by topics and then by relevancy and medium. Add to this the Encarta's Visual Browser and you get only relevant data in response to your queries. The Encarta Search Bar, which was integrated into the product two years ago, and is resident in the Task Pane even when Encarta is closed, enables users to search any part of the Encarta application (encyclopedia, dictionary, thesaurus, etc).
The Encarta's newish Web Companion obtains search results from all the major search engines without launching any additional applications (like a browser). Content from both the Encarta and the Web is presented side by side. This augmentation explicitly adopts the Internet and incorporates it as an important source of reference.
I am not sure how Microsoft solved the weighty and interesting issues of intellectual property that the Web Companion raises, though. Copyright-holders of Web content may feel that they have the right to be compensated by Microsoft for the use it makes of their wares in its commercial products.
Encarta would do well to also integrate with new desktop search tools from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and others. Users should be able to seamlessly access content from all over - their desktop, their encyclopedias, and the Web - using a single, intuitive interface.
The Encarta Premium includes a dictionary, thesaurus, chart maker, searchable index of quotations, games, Discovery Channel videos, 25,000 photos and illustrations, 2500 sound and audio clips, hundreds of maps and tables (with a staggering 1.8 million map locations), and 300 videos and animations. It incorporates numerous third-party texts and visuals (including hundreds of newspaper articles and a plethora of Scientific American features).
The Encarta is augmented by weekly or bi-weekly updates and the feature-rich online MSN Encarta Premium with its Homework Help offerings. Unfortunately, the Encarta still conditions some of its functions - notably its research tools and updates - on registration with its Plus Club. Moreover, last year Encarta released only 26 updates, compared to its annual average of 50-60.
The Encarta is the most comprehensive, PC-orientated reference experience there is. No wonder it has an all-pervasive hold on and ubiquitous penetration of the child-to-young adult markets. Particularly enchanting is the aforementioned Encarta Kids interface - an area replete with interactive quizzes, pictures, large icons, hundreds of articles, and links to the full version of the Encarta. A veritable and colorful sandbox. Those kids are going to get addicted to the Encarta, that's for sure!
Encarta actively encourages fun-filled browsing. It is a riot of colors, sidebars, videos, audio clips, photos, embedded links, literature, Web resources, and quizzes. It is a product of the age of mass communication, a desktop extension of television and the Internet.
Inevitably, in such a mammoth undertaking, not everything is peachy. A few gripes:
As I said, installation is not as easy as before. The Encarta 2007 makes use of Microsoft's .Net technology. As most home computers lack it, the installer insists on adding it to the anyhow bloated Windows Operating System. There is worse to come: the .Net version installed by Encarta 2007 is plagued with security holes and vulnerabilities. Users have to download service packs and patches from Windows Update if they do not wish to run the risk of having their computers compromised by hackers.
Fully installed on the hard disk, the Encarta Premium 2007 gobbles up less than its predecessors but still a whopping 3 Gb. That's a lot - even in an age of ever cheaper storage. Most homesteads still sport PCs with 20-40 Gb hard disks. This makes the Encarta less suitable for installation on older PCs and on many laptops.
The Encarta DVD 3-D tours have improved but they still hog computer resources and are essentially non-interactive. Is it worth the investment and the risk to the stability and performance of the user's computer?
The Encarta tries to cater to the needs of challenged users, such as the visually-impaired - but it is far from doing a good or full job of it.
The dictionary has been greatly improved in this edition. Actually, the Encarta 2007 comes equipped with five foreign language dictionaries and verb conjugating applications. Still, the atlas, English language dictionary, and thesaurus incorporated in the Encarta are somewhat outdated. Why not use a more current - and dynamically updated - offering? What about dictionaries for specialty terms (medical or computer glossaries, for instance)? The Encarta's New English Dictionary dropped a glossary of computer terms it used to include back in 2001. All's the pity.
But that's it. Encarta is a must-buy (especially if you have children). The Encarta is the best value for money around and significantly enhances you access to knowledge and wisdom accumulated over centuries all over the world. The amount and quality of content squeezed into a $50 package (before rebate) defies belief. I am a 45 years old adult but when I received my Encarta Premium 2007, I was once more a child in a land of wonders. How much is such an experience worth to you? Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".

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Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007, the #1 best-selling encyclopedia brand, provides more up-to-date content and more engaging multimedia than ever before. Whether you're searching online or offline, it's the trusted way for everyone in the family to easily find relevant and reliable information on just about any subject.

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Music Creator 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have to agree 100 percent with the reviews below: This software was written without any consideration to the end user. Just getting the thing to make a sound--any sound at all--is a major undertaking. Instead of just programming the junk to use your soundcard, it is made so that it will remain mute until you search out the soundcard manually and inform the software to use it. Each and every @!?%$#@*&!!!! time you copy or create a track, you have to tell the software AGAIN to use the soundcard. I'd love to get an explanation from the manufacturer as to why this is--were they under the impression that some users would want to program music and then NEVER LISTEN TO IT?!?!?
There are 4 or 5 possible 'views' of each tune on this software, but the layout, and the archane instructions that come with the software, could lead you to believe that that is really an astronomical figure. The guide book is written in an amazingly, astonishingly complex manner, making it virtually unuseable.
I've had the software 3 weeks and have yet to get a second's enjoyment out of it. I've played music all my life and have done some composing on my computer before, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt I will never--NEVER--get any use out of this overly complex piece of junk. Everything about this appears to have been overdone by software engineers looking to impress other software engineers, with no thought of any kind given to the end user or how the software would be used.
A complete and total waste of money. I'll never buy anything from Cakewalk again. Never.

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Discover the musician inside youFrom the leaders in music and sound software comes Cakewalk Music CreatorVersion 2. It's the fastest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to createmusic and sound on a PC. Get started quickly with an onlinetutorial. Then plug into your PC and start recording with any musicalinstrument or your voice. You can record and play back unlimited tracks ofaudio and MIDI. Use included ACID -format audio loops by leading producersor import MP3s to get your creative juices flowing, and layers to your songs, orcreate entire tracks with no experience necessary.MusicCreator is ideal for:
Musicians
Music enthusiasts
Singer/songwriters
Bands
Choir groups
Music teachers and students
PC hobbyists
The entire family

Play back your MIDI tracks with hundreds of high quality instrument soundsusing the included Virtual Sound Canvas DXI soft synth. Edit and arrangewith the click of a mouse, and mix with professional audio effects. Whenyou're finished, print beautiful sheet music. Even save it as an MP3 fileand put it on the Internet, or export audio for burning CDs!

Unlimited Maximum number of audio and MIDI tracks
Unlimited Maximum number of virtual instruments
Click and Drag loop tools with ACID loop support
Virtua

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Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1-3 Set Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've tried out a variety of language software, and frankly, for the money, Rosetta Stone sucks.
In terms of teaching approach and ease of use, it's pretty comparable to the software available from Transparent Language... but it costs about 4-5 times as much.
Aside from expense, my biggest beef against the Rosetta Stone software is: it's BORING. It presents sets of four words or phrases at a time (occasionally more) - and then quizzes you on them before presenting the next set. But then it continues to repeat the previous words, at various intervals, without any variation in the teaching style.
Not only that; the pictures are the same across a lot of different language groups, so they're not culturally relevant. While this isn't an absolute must, I think it's easier to internalize the word for "girl" if the matching picture includes some aspect of the culture. For example: When I'm studying French and see a photo of a Chinese girl, it's not helpful, really... if anything, it's a distraction.
I highly recommend the Pimsleur audio courses in all languages. They're expensive to buy, but if you live in a city, they're probably available at your local library. I'd also say the Transparent Language software is a viable (and more fun) alternative and it's a lot cheaper. Eurotalk also offers video courses, some of which are fairly challenging. And if your computer is tolerant of older software, you might try Learn to Speak Spanish by the Learning Company (re-released by eLearning - I think). The Rocket language courses online aren't bad, either. But I think the myth should be dispelled that Rosetta Stone is some magical approach to learning languages, because it's not even as good as some courses which are significantly cheaper as well.
Buena suerte!

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With Spanish (Latin America) Level 1-2-3 you connect with the world around you.Build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure.Quickly gain the confidence to enjoy social interactions such as greetings and introductions, travel

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Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The previous versions of Encarta included a host of homework tools. Last year, these have been made into a separate product called Microsoft Student. It has now been gainfully repackaged and very much enhanced. Among the new or revamped features: free online access to MSN Encarta Premium, Step-by-Step Math Solutions calculator, Step-by-Step Math Textbook Solutions, Triangle Solver, Equations Library, tutorials, and foreign language help. MS Student comes replete with the entire Encarta Premium encyclopedia!
Homework assignments are the bane of most students I know (not to mention their hard-pressed and nescient parents). This is mainly because of the tedious and mind-numbing chores of data mining and composition. Additionally, as knowledge multiplies every 5-10 years, few parents and teachers are able to keep up.
Enter Microsoft Student 2007 - a productivity suite which, as we mentioned, includes the Encarta Encyclopedia, English and foreign language dictionaries, thesaurus, quotations library, assignment templates, tutorials, graphing calculator software and a Web Companion.
Similar to the Encarta, MS Student's Web Companion obtains search results from all the major search engines without launching any additional applications (like a browser). Content from both the Encyclopedia and the Web is presented side by side. This augmentation explicitly adopts the Internet and incorporates it as an important source of reference - as 80% of students have already done.
I am not sure how Microsoft solved the weighty and interesting issues of intellectual property that the Web Companion raises, though. Copyright-holders of Web content may feel that they have the right to be compensated by Microsoft for the use it makes of their wares in its commercial products.
MS Student would do well to also integrate with new desktop search tools from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and others. Students will benefit from seamless access to content from all over - their desktop, their encyclopedias, and the Web - using a single, intuitive interface.
MS Student's templates are actually clever adaptations of the popular Office suite of products - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They help the student produce homework plans and schedules, projects, book reports, presentations, research reports, charts, and analyses of problems in math, physics, and chemistry. Detailed step-by-step tutorials, Quick Starters, and pop-up toolbars (menus) guide the student along the way in a friendly, non-intrusive manner.
The graphing calculator is a wonder. It has both 2-D and 3-D capabilities and makes use of the full screen. Aided by an extensive Equations Library, it does everything except cook: trigonometry, calculus, math, charting, geometry, physics, and chemistry. And everything in full color!
For the student keen on the liberal arts and the humanities, Student 2007 provides detailed Book Summaries of almost 1000 classic works. Besides plot synopses, the student gets acquainted with the author's life, themes and characters in the tomes, and ideas for book reports.
MS Student 2007 is a great contribution to learning. Inevitably, it has a few flaws and glitches.
Start with the price. As productivity suites go, it is reasonably priced had its target population been adult professional users. But, at $70-100, it is beyond the reach of most poor students and parents - its most immediate market niches.
MS Student 2007 makes use of Microsoft's .Net technology. As most home computers lack it, the installer insists on adding it to the anyhow bloated Windows Operating System. There is worse to come: the .Net version installed by MS Student 2007 is plagued with security holes and vulnerabilities. Users have to download service packs and patches from Windows Update if they do not wish to run the risk of having their computers compromised by hackers.
Fully installed on the hard disk, MS Student 2007 gobbles up less than its predecessors but still a whopping 4 Gb. That's a lot - even in an age of ever cheaper storage. Most homesteads still sport PCs with 20-40 Gb hard disks. This makes MS Student less suitable for installation on older PCs and on many laptops.
Finally, there is the question of personal creativity and originality. Luckily, MS Student does not spoon-feed its users. It does not substitute for thinking or for study. On the contrary, by providing structured stimuli, it encourages the student to express his or her ideas. It does not do the homework assignments for the student - it merely helps rid them of time-consuming and machine-like functions. And it opens up to both student and family the wonderful twin universes of knowledge: the Encarta and the Web. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".

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Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 provides students with integrated homeworktools and content, such as online math homework help, a graphing calculator, Microsoft Office templates and tutorials designed specifically for students, foreign language help, and a Web search companion with trusted Encarta content to help them achieve academic confidence and success.

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Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006 CD/DVD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Encarta is a great product. If you have never owned it before and are thinking about buying it, do so. It is worth your money. However, if you already own the 2003, 2004, or 2005 version and are thinking of upgrading, forget about it. You will not be impressed.
I judge how easy software is to explore by how many clicks it takes to get somewhere or by how fast I can scroll through a list to get to relevant information. Encarta 2006 is harder and slower to navigate. For example, there used to be a button for the atlas on the header bar over every page. That is now gone and you have to click Tools -> World Atlas to access it. There used to be a scrollable list to change map views (comprehensive, political, physical features, etc.). That has been replaced with large icons that are displayed three at a time. To get to the bottom of the list takes 17 clicks. You can't even hold the mouse button down to get there.
Obviously, the changes were made in an attempt to simplify and refine the layout of the program. I find that they complicate matters instead. Search results are displayed in larger boxes, revealing less information at a time and making it more difficult to scan through them quicly. The only available buttons on the header bar are back, forward, and home. I miss the one-click access to the atlas and the dictionary.
The program runs slower than previous versions and takes up an extraordinarily greater amount of disk space without having added measurably to the content. (It still has 64,000 articles.)
With all that said, I still love Encarta and find it indispensably useful (it just used to be nicer). I first got Encarta when I was starting college, and I used it constantly for almost every course I took. I found the articles to be well-written, interesting, and appropriately in-depth without being too technical or abstract. It fit my needs just perfectly. I remember studying for Humanities and getting completely absorbed in Encarta, clicking link after link as one article would lead to another. It was the same with U.S. History. I would just type in the names of all those people and events I was supposed to know, Encarta would bring them up, and gradually, everything started fitting together.
I felt like I could always count on the subject being included. There was almost never a time when I needed to know about a subject, typed it into Encarta, and came up with no results. I could trust it. Occasionally I felt it showed too much of a liberal political bias, but I forgive it, because Encarta stimulated my interest in learning in a big way.
The pictures and interactivities are numerous and engaging. The atlas is FUN to explore. You spin the world around, zoom in to a surprisingly detailed level (I saw my street), drag to a different spot on the map, and repeat the process. The geography quiz is excellent. My knowledge of geography jumped about 500% just from mere exploration of the map, and then it jumped further when I started using the quiz.
I use the dictionary and thesaurus just about every day. It is much faster and more convenient than visiting a dictionary web site. I have learned the meaning of a bunch of new words, too.
To sum up, Encarta is a useful, powerful tool. I just wish they didn't weaken it this year.

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MicrosoftEncarta Premium 2006 Win32 English North America CD/DVD Mini BoxNot to CHI/HK/IND/MOR/PAK/TUR/TUN

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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 12 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a long time Mavis fan - from version 5 on. I am a fairly fast and accurate typist, and much of the credit should go to the authors of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. However, it could be better.
Pro:
If you are an inexperienced typist, you will learn where to place your hands on the keyboard, which fingers do what, and how they work together. You will learn all of the symbols, numbers, and accessory keys. The diagnostic capabilities of the software will target lessons to your specific deficiencies.
The lessons are geared to either children, teens, or adults. Different users have different needs, and Mavis is at least sensitive to differences.
Con:
Little has changed for many versions, and some of the changes that have been made have not been for the better. For example, in earlier versions, you could see very detailed diagnostic info about your typing. Now, this info is watered down a bit.
The on screen font is ambiguous. "i" looks like "l" and "1" - a problem that is annoying when your typing accuracy is being evaluated.
The interface isn't clear for navigation. Menu options that should always be accessible require you to be in the correct mode.
When the software is installed, it does not give you the chance for a custom or advanced installation. You will find that Mavis is running in the background, and that a shortcut for AOL is on your desktop.
Although there are custom options in the program, they sometimes affect the lessons themselves. For example, if you do not want Mavis to read the instructions out loud, you can turn off the sound. However, when a dictation lesson is offered, you hear nothing.
No Dvorak training is available. This would be neat.
So, should you get this software if you are a "hunter/pecker?" Absolutely. Will you always be satisfied? Possibly not. Is there anything better? I don't think so.

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Boost your keyboarding skills with the #1 best selling typing software! Customized lessons become more challenging as your skills improve. Measures your progress with speed tests!

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Acronis True Image Backup 9.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Cons: Truly bad support, documentation of error codes is completely non-existent, etc. They won't help you and you won't be able to help yourself.
This product has been absolutely dreadful for us even though we're using the newest build released just yesterday (5/22/2006).
The backups of files we select seems straightforward and the process tells us the backup was successful, but then when we go to restore from it we get one error message after another (both when trying to back up to DVDs, and then to the hard drive itself [just in case the DVDs was the issue]). Either way, we still have all kinds of error messages and unreliable backup of data using this product.
Oh, and if you need technical support what you get is you send an e-mail and in A FEW DAYS OR SO IF YOU'RE LUCKY someone responds with a canned answer that's useless and has little to do with the problem you've had to describe to them since no one will talk to you on the phone. (If you want to talk to a human you have to pay $29.99, and that's right after you just paid them for the product that never worked once.)
This is truly the worst PC product I've ever had the misfortune of ATTEMPTING to use in over 20 years of doing this, and the company has an attitude problem -- they want your money but they don't want to hear from you (or help you) after they've got it.
For some people the product seems to work, but for those for whom it doesn't, you will find as I do that this company will be little to no help to you at all.
UPDATE:
My problem with this software turned out to be the length limitation on file paths, and since all the backup files are in a tree branch structure of files, some folders plus subfolders plus file names plus the stuff the program adds makes the name too long for the program to handle. I had to figure this out for myself over two full days (add that to the price of the product!) because Acronis doesn't tell you that (perhaps by including a box of tips in the backup section) and doesn't provide a list of error codes and what they might indicate as the problem. Tech support is non-existent unless you want to pay $29.99 per call, and all of this that I went through was completely avoidable. In fact, I got a hunch the file name length might be the issue from using someone else's product which just plain SAID SO. If Acronis isn't going to help the user the should provide the means for the user to help himself, but they don't, and even when they add features like the DVD burning feature they don't update the downloadable or web site information about it -- it just shows up as a bullet point on a list of features at the time of this writing. You may have no problems with this, but if you do you are on your own. Personally I would look somewhere else for your backup needs just in case something goes wrong and you need answers. Good luck!

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Complete file and system disk imaging backup and restore software for home and home office users that can protect your entire system and family pictures, videos, music, and important documents stored on your PC.

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Starry Night Pro Plus 6.2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Works great on my Macbook AND my Vista machine (which is used less and less as I revel in the joy that is "Mac OS X"). The amount of information available is staggering. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the AllSky survey, but when I consider it only adds 60 to cost (compared to Pro) and other enhancements are included as well, the "Plus" is well worth it. be prepared for a total install of almost 12Gb if you copy the AllSky to the local drive (recommended).
I can certainly understand passing up Pro Plus for just Pro, but if you have the extra, I think it's well worth the money spent...***Vista issues seem to have been addressed in the current version. You may need to DL patches from the site for older ones...***

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Travel where you've never been before! For the advanced amateur astronomer, the full-color AllSky CCD mosaic, sophisticated telescope controls and comprehensive observational tools included in Starry Night Pro Plus version 6 will engage you in the hobby like no other software. The biggest single addition to Starry Night software since its inception, the full-color AllSky CCD image mosaic of the entire night sky visible from Earth weighs in at 6.44 billion pixels in size. Named AllSky for its uniform coverage from pole to pole, it's a single picture of the whole sky that has been precisely mapped to Starry Night's computer generated stars and databases. View on your computer screen an image better than the best-trained human eye can capture in real-time viewing through a telescope on a "good seeing" night. See the entire Milky Way in exquisite detail and then zoom in to explore dust lanes and nebulae. Instead of dots and circles, you will see an actual photo of a star or a deep sky object. Smoothly and swiftly navigate this full color photograph of the entire night sky, to a limiting magnitude of 14-15. Five years in development, the AllSky CCD mosaic is comprised of about 20,000 individual images, originally imaged at a resolution of 12 arcseconds per pixel with a scientific grade, custom built AP9E CCD camera. In all, Starry Night Pro Plus version 6 has over 25 new features that bring more power and control to your observing and imaging. Starry Night Pro Plus will change how you look at the night sky.Hover over Earth and see details within 1 km (0.6 miles) resolutionCreate your own astrophotography using imaging plug-in to integrate Starry Night and MaxIm DL* imaging software (sold separately, Windows only) 1000+ craters, valleys and more instantly with surface feature outlines for the MoonControls most popular brands of robotic telescopes

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Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Standard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Good product, but I'm getting tired of the incompatibility issues between versions. It is such a pain to hire a new employee, get them the latest copy of Adobe CS and then not be able to have other employees open their files with a version from a few months previous. It's getting ridiculous.
Also, Adobe has the worst follow-through on customer service of any company I have dealt with. I spent 6 months trying to get my money back for a license they had previously deactivated. I called each month religiously and spent 45-90 minutes trying to bring the agents up to speed with the conversations that should have been in their computer. Nightmare.

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Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Standard is tightly integrated professional software for delivering distinctive print design in marketing collateral, magazines, books, packaging, and more. Achieve exceptional quality even under the tightest deadlines with best-in-class drawing, image editing, page layout, and print production tools.

Create outstanding print design, even under the tightest deadlines
Comprehensive toolset for print design and production Express your most innovative creative visions in print, using tightly integrated software for moving fluidly and confidently from inspiration to output. Accelerate creative reviews with new Adobe CS Live online services that integrate with your Creative Suite software. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Breakthrough image editing Create compelling digital images with Adobe Photoshop CS5, the industry standard in digital imaging. Use versatile brush tools to paint with realistic strokes, precise selection tools to make exacting refinements, and a wide range of workflow and performance enhancements to accelerate everyday tasks.
Sophisticated vector graphics Craft compelling graphics with Adobe Illustrator CS5, the vector-drawing environment used by design professionals worldwide. Experiment freely and quickly to achieve the look you want for illustrations, creative effects, typography, and color.
Professional page layout Lay out stunning pages faster and more efficiently in Adobe InDesign CS5 with an intuitive design environment, precise typographic controls, built-in creative tools and effects, robust preflight capabilities, and a host of productivity features.
Adobe PDF creation, editing, and delivery Prepare files for high-end print production with confidence using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro. End-to-end PDF workflows share common technology to generate, preview, and print PDF files, enabling consistent high-quality output.
Adobe CS Live online services Bring creative reviews directly into your design workflow using new CS Live online services that integrate with your Creative Suite software. Initiate a quick online review from within Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign. Reviewers comment in their browser using simple annotation tools, and you view comments in the context of your work--making it much easier to match each comment to the right design element.
Comprehensive preflight and production Use robust preflight features to check files for high-end print publishing. Catch production glitches as you lay out pages, avoid color output surprises in graphics, and apply output presets to reliably meet exacting production standards and minimize costly errors.
Sophisticated typography Easily compose beautiful type for page layouts, images, and illustrations using robust styles in InDesign CS5 and Illustrator CS5, along with a host of advanced typographic controls for creativity and precision.
Built-in creative tools and effects Explore artistic possibilities with built-in Photoshop effects, nondestructive effects, and finer transparency controls in InDesign CS5. Create or modify images with brush tools and paint settings in Photoshop CS5. Sketch naturally and draw in accurate perspective in Illustrator CS5.
Faster performance in Photoshop Perform day-to-day imaging tasks faster, and process very large images at least 10 times faster. (Requires a 64-bit-capable computer with a 64-bit version of Mac OS, Microsoft Windows 7, or Windows Vista. Actual performance increase varies depending on the installed drivers, the features that you're using, and other factors.)
Adobe Photoshop CS5Create powerful images with the professional standard Adobe Photoshop CS5 delivers breakthrough capabilities to help you create images with impact. Refine your images with reengineered photography tools for removing noise, adding grain, and creating high dynamic range (HDR) images. Get precise results when making complex selections. Remove any image element and see the space fill in almost magically. Paint with naturally textured brushstrokes and realistic color blends. Also work fast with cross-platform 64-bit support and dozens of other time-savers.

Refine with powerful photography tools Create and refine images using state-of-the-art photography tools that deliver superior results with unprecedented ease and in fewer steps than ever before.
Maximize creative impact Explore new creative possibilities with breakthrough tools that enable you to select, adjust, paint, and recompose images with tremendous precision and freedom.
Boost productivity Accelerate your workflow with fast performance on 64-bit hardware systems, smoother interactions thanks to GPU acceleration, and dozens of time-savers throughout the application.
Adobe Illustrator CS5--Explore new paths with the essential vector tool Create distinctive designs for any project. Used by creative professionals worldwide, Adobe Illustrator CS5 software provides precision and power. Paint expressively with vectors, draw in perspective, and explore designing for interactivity. Move easily between Illustrator, other Adobe products, and Adobe CS Live online services. Get the job done efficiently but beautifully, moving quickly from multiple ideas to multiple outputs with complete control and delivering exactly what you had in mind.

Design with powerful creative tools Take advantage of exceptional precision and power to create distinctive vector artwork. Combine highly controllable drawing tools with expressive natural brushes and dramatic effects to make unique, striking designs.
Work smoothly and efficiently Speed up your workflow with innovations that encourage efficiency. Get the job done with purpose and agility using shortcuts and time-savers to take multiple ideas to multiple outputs.
Deliver virtually anywhere Incorporate vector artwork into essentially any project and deliver resolution-independent graphics across media. Enjoy tighter-than-ever integration with other Adobe products and go anywhere your creativity takes you.
Adobe InDesign CS5--Design professional layouts for print and digital publishing Adobe InDesign CS5 software provides precise control over typography and built-in creative tools for designing, preflighting, and publishing documents for print, online, or to mobile devices. Bring documents and presentations to life with interactivity, animation, sound, and video. Leading industry tools, and productivity enhancements make page layout simpler and faster. Access Adobe CS Live online services* from within InDesign to streamline critical review processes.

Streamline review processes Build powerful documents as a team. New integrated tools and the availability of efficient online services make review processes more efficient, whether your clients and colleagues are across the hall or around the world.
Do more in less time Create, edit, and publish documents faster. A wealth of new productivity features help make page layout simpler, easier, and speedier.
Create powerful, innovative digital documents Engage, inform, and attract readers with documents that include interactivity, animation, video, and sound. Develop stronger, more compelling communications with rich interactive documents.
Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro--Protect documents and accelerate information exchange with PDF Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro software builds on the foundational feature set of Acrobat 9 Standard to provide business and creative professionals with additional capabilities, including enhanced security features, high-end print production support, and easy-to-manage electronic document reviews.
Deliver polished, professional documents Quickly integrate content, insert company logos, define navigation, and add polish to your PDF Portfolio using one of many customizable templates.
Create dynamic electronic forms Use included Adobe LiveCycle Designer software--a professional form design tool--to create, customize, and automate dynamic forms.
Collaborate and share with virtually anyone, anywhere Gain the input you need--in real time--through interactive, shared document reviews that help participants see and build on each other's comments.
Adobe Creative Suite 5 With powerful new creative tools, enhanced performance and workflows, and the ability to integrate with timesaving new Adobe CS Live online services, Adobe Creative Suite 5 software provides the edge you need to create rich content for virtually any media--print, web, interactive, video, audio, and mobile. Whether you need to produce printed pages efficiently or design and distribute engaging content online, on film, on air, and on device, you'll find the right combination of Adobe tools to increase your productivity and keep pace with your creative vision.

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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe 17 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm 36 and never learned how to type. I figured I'd try and since the Mavis Beacon series seem to be the most popular, I got this one, despite some reviews describing installation problems.
Sure enough, when I installed it, it wouldn't run. You basically need to set it up to run in Win98 or Win2000 compatibility mode, at 640x480 resolution. Reboot, and Voila!
So it's been 3 days, and even though my speed dropped quite a bit with learning the proper fingers, I'm typing properly. And the speed is coming back fast.
The classes are very well designed, it's actually pretty amazing how efficient it is, and fun on top of it.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the compatibility issues. How hard can it be for their engineers to update their engine?!


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The leader in typing tutorial software for 11 years running, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing v.17 is the ONLY typing software delivering the customized training you need in a motivating, engaging format. Work at your own pace with lesson content that keeps you interested. This flexible program is an ideal choice for any would-be fluent typist, including students, email enthusiasts and office professionals. If you use the keyboard, you'll benefit from Mavis Beacon!

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Corel Painter 11 Education Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Corel Painter is in a category all its own. While photo manipulation software comes in all sorts and layout programs abound for every skill set, Painter is a unique program that allows real art to be made directly in a digital format.
This could easily be quite a cheesy goal and a sub-par result meant more for play than serious work. Could be, but Painter does the task so well it is really astounding.
I could have said the exact same words, and have, about Painter IX, a program I have owned since it was released.
I've found that program unsurpassed in all kinds of creative goals for both web and print use, for both serious work and for creative exploration.
I was familiar with Painter IX, and yet I'm still a bit blown away by Painter 11.
It's an easy transition. Everything looks the same and so there's no major transition from the older to the newer. The main difference is in feel. Painter 11 just feels more natural. It has better response, better control, better overall simulation of the various media. Even on the Intuos3, I could always feel a strong bit of distance, and artificiality, on Painter IX. In Painter 11 I just feel so much more connected to the canvas on the screen.
Some have noted some issues with their graphics pad. I've not seen any problems at all. Perfect and easy use, even better than Painter IX in every respect.
Often, new programs try to add so much they become slower, or more complicated, or otherwise a step down in performance for the steps up in function. Painter 11 adds a whole list of new brushes and capabilities, all functioning perfect as I try them out. It does this while speeding up all the various interactions. Everything just seem so smooth. So not only are the brushes and pens feeling so much more natural, the whole experience is sharpened and quick.
The integration with the Adobe products is likewise quite good. One thing I've appreciated about the various Corel products is their ability to 'play well with others'. Instead of trying to mark out its territory by ignoring the major players, Corel enables functions that takes seriously the probable software use of real designers and artists.
Painter has always been a program in its own class, and that sometimes means a company doesn't continue to innovate with it. Corel keeps pushing the edge, making a five star product much better, by making better what it already did great and adding quite useful capabilities on top of this.
Extremely pleased with Painter 11. Well worth the cost, and if you have an older version it is indeed worth an upgrade.
Some reviewers have noted this version seems slower. I just can't see what they mean. Indeed, not only does this program feel quite a bit faster it also seems to work well on a variety of systems. My main computer is a XPS710 with a quad core processor, a nice video card. Of course Painter flies on that one. But, surprisingly, it also works quite smoothly on my laptop, a Dell e1405, that has no separate video processor, is one of earliest dual-core, and only has 1gb of memory. If I do particularly processor intensive tasks it does lag a bit, but significantly less than my Adobe programs. It works better than Painter IX did on the same computer.
As far as operating systems, I've run this on Vista premium (my main computer), XP media edition (my laptop), and Vista home (my wife's laptop). Runs great on each.
As far as the difference between academic and regular editions. There isn't any. Just the price. Like with a lot of software, Corel offers a discount for those who can verify they are in school or work at an academic institution. One great education benefit of this software is a great, and cheap way, to learn art skills. All the paint and art supplies are free! Not exactly the same as physically doing art, but a really, really great way to learn the basics and explore techniques.
If you're worried about how well it works, Corel has a full-featured 30 day demo you can download.
So no worries. Try it then buy it. It's an amazing product!

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Please note: Proof of eligibility required to purchase Corel Painter 11 Education Edition--only accredited schools, faculties, full- or part-time matriculated students, and academic supervisory organizations are eligible to purchase Corel Education software. Expand your creativity with Painter 11, the most inventive digital painting software on the market. By adding Painter to your workflow, you gain a full art studio that gives you the tools to create unprecedented artwork. Digital art tools let you experiment with color theory, composition and brush strokes, without the toxins, mess and expenses associated with traditional art. Support for the entire Wacom product line, including industry-leading Cintiq interactive pen displays and Intuos drawing tablets, gives you the most responsive digital painting experience so your hand and brush work fluidly as one. Customizable paper textures give your art added artistic undertones, plus a level of texture and detail that no other digital painting or photo-painting tools can produce. Painter is changing what's possible in art. Now it's your turn.

The World's Most Powerful Natural-Media Software
Enhance the Creative Process
Enhanced Artistic Media reproduce the texture of their real-life counterparts and intensify color with each stroke
Pen and drawing tablet (recommended), combined with Painter's RealBristle brushes, recreate the natural interaction between hand and canvas
New Hard Media Controls let you create your own hard media variants, or choose from new hard media variants in the Brush Library

Go Beyond the Digital Darkroom
Improved color recognition for files imported from Adobe Photoshop, and individual color profiles per document, make your colors more precise
Photo-painting tools with SmartStroke technology let you creatively transform reality
Customizable surface texturing gives your art a level of fantasy and detail that other photo and painting software can't deliver

Learn from Unlimited Experimentation
Digital art tools let you experiment with color theory, composition and brush strokes without the toxins, mess and expenses associated with traditional art
New Hard Media controls give you the flexibility to play around to find the exact look you desire
Smart composition tools, such as Divine Proportion and the Rule of Thirds and Fifths, help you visually arrange your canvas to create perfect compositions

Features
What's Included
Content Libraries of unique textures, gradients, nozzles, patterns, stock photos and brushes, including the new RealBristle dry media brush category
Documentation
Getting Started Guide
HTML User Guide and Getting Started Guide
HTML Help files

Training
Online tutorials and testimonials

Enhance the Creative Process
New--Hard Media Controls Create your own hard media variants, or choose from new hard media variants in the Brush Library, so you have more creative control over your media. Customizable profiles, dab sizes, transitions and stroke width previews let you play around to create the exact look you want.
New--RealBristle Dry Media Marker, pen, pencil and chalk media reproduce the look and feel of their real-life counterparts in a way that no other software can!
Marker--intensify color with each new marker stroke so you can color in one continuous shade or create a buildup of color
Pen--choose to create fine pen strokes, or thick strokes and ink deposits, by changing the velocity of your stroke. The faster you go, the thinner the line; the slower you go, the thicker the line
Pencil & Chalk--control shading by changing the angle of your stylus on the drawing tablet. Choose whether to draw with the tip or shade with the side of the nib-just like in real life

Enhanced--Selection Tools A new Polygonal mode for the Lasso tool, plus overall improvements to marquee tools and the Magic Wand, let you make more nimble selections the first time around.
Enhanced--Wacom Support Support for the entire Wacom product line, including Cintiq interactive pen displays and Intuos pen tablets, gives you most responsive digital painting software and the best digital art experience.
RealBristle Painting System Replicate the sensation and interaction between traditional paint and canvas with your pen and tablet. This represents a major milestone for digital painting by making brushes totally responsive to your hand and canvas, creating the most realistic painting experience.
Customizable Brushes Create your own brushes in the type, size or pattern of your choice, so you can make custom brush strokes and create artwork that is truly unique.
Go Beyond the Digital Darkroom
New--Color Management Create better color matches with new individual color profiles for every document and improved color recognition for files imported from Adobe Photoshop. This enhances your workflow because you save time by having fewer color corrections to make.
Enhanced--Adobe Photoshop Support Maintain colors and layers when transferring files between Photoshop and Painter. This saves time when importing and exporting artwork between the two programs, because corrections are less necessary.
Photo-painting Tools Transform photos into paintings by hand, or let SmartStroke brush technology in the Auto-Painting Palette paint a photo for you. It follows the lines and contours in the picture just like a real artist would. This lets you take the best of both worlds--photography and painting--to create new forms of art.
Customizable Surface Texturing Give your art added artistic undertones, plus a level of texture and detail that no other digital painting software and photo-painting tools can produce. You can choose paper textures for your canvas, or create and customize your own textures to produce really unique artwork.
Learn from Unlimited Experimentation
Enhanced--Mixer Palette & Swatches Extra mixer swatches appear when you enlarge the newly resizable Mixer Palette. Increase the size of the Palette to put more colors at your disposal and have a clearer view of your chosen color. Reduce the size when you no longer need to mix colors so the Palette takes up less space on screen.
Smart Composition Tools Divine Proportion and the Rule of Thirds and Fifths help you visually arrange your canvas before sketching or painting to create perfect compositions.
Flexible Digital Art Tools Experiment with color theory, composition and brush strokes to your heart's content, and produce exciting results-without the toxins, mess and expenses associated with traditional art.
Universal Mixer Palette For multicolor selection, this palette gives you better control over color blending between the Mixer palette and the canvas, so your colors are more precise.
Underpainting Palette This palette includes color schemes based on various artistic styles, such as Impressionist, Classical, Modern, Watercolor, Sketchbook and Chalk Drawing, so you can create art like your favorite muses. You can also match your Underpainting Palette to that of any open image for consistency.
Match Palette Effect Match the color and intensity between 2 images. Just open an image that features your desired color scheme and use the Match Palette effect to bring that color to the image you want to change.
Increase Speed & Stability
Enhanced--Performance Painter 11 is optimized to provide artists with the fastest version of Painter ever. Depending on system hardware, brushes perform up to 30% faster, creating a more true-to-life painting speed.
New--Transformation Capabilities Switch between different Transform modes from one centralized tool, and choose whether to transform the complete contents of a layer, or selected content, for greater speed, flexibility and precision.
New--Resizable Color Palette Adjust colors manually with sliders on the Color Palette. Enlarge the Color Palette up to 800 pixels for a clearer view of your selected color. You can now also fine-tune the color wheel with your arrow keys so it takes less time to find the perfect color.
New--Color Management Interface The fresh and simplified interface makes it easier to control color profiles when creating new files, or when opening Painter and other file types.
Windows Vista Support Painter 11 supports the latest operating system from Microsoft.
Mac OS Support Painter 11 supports the latest operating system 10.5 from Apple.
Multiple Platform Support Painter 11 includes both Mac OS and Windows versions on the same CD.

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Spelling Accelerator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this product! It works especially well since I home educate. You just type in your list words for the week and the program designs the games and tests around the words YOU choose. My 2nd grader loves it and thinks spelling is much more fun now. I would definitely recommend this product.

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Fun Games to Make Spelling as Easy as ABCProduct InformationTedious repetition can be discouraging to kids and often slows down thelearning process. Now your child can enjoy studying with Spelling Acceleratorthe interactive software designed to make memorization fun! No two schools havethe exact same spelling lessons and Spelling Accelerator is the first programto take that variety into account. Each grade level from first to fifth has over1000 words ensuring the words your child needs to learn are included. Studentsselect the words they need to learn from a dropdown list for easy quickcustomization. With six entertaining animated games and a weekly spelling testlearning how to spell has never been easier or more fun.Activities IncludeZap! A multiple choice game where students choose the correctword to match the given definition.Flash Cards - Students flip over traditional-style flash cards toselect the correctly spelled words.Spelling Connectables - Students connect letters to form correctspellings of words.Match It! an interactive worksheet where students match theword to the definition.Spelling Spill - Letters fall from the top of the screen andstudents are challenged to click the letters in the correct order to spellthe target word.Spelling Test - The classic game helps ease memorization ofcommon spelling words.Capture - A multiple choice game where students are asked to pickthe word that matches.Product FeaturesQuickly create funcustom games fromyour student's weekly spelling listOver 1000 spelling words per gradeMakes learning to spell fun6 engaging animated gamesWeekly spelling testWindows RequirementsWindows XP Vista Pentuim3 or higher processor512 MB of available RAM minimum1024 x 768 screen resolution or higherQuickTime 6.5 or higher2X CD-ROM driveSound CardSpeakers or headsetInternet connection optionalMacintosh RequirementsMac OS 10.3.9 an

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Adobe Flash Builder 4 Premium Upgrade from Flex Builder 2/3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I mostly bought this because it was the same money as buying ColdFusion Builder on its own. ColdFusion builder has saved me lots of time. I haven't really used the Flex 4 part much yet. It is very different from Flex 2 and 3.


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Adobe Flash Builder 4 (formerly Adobe Flex Builder) software can help you accelerate development, build higher performing applications, and more easily integrate new projects with your existing infrastructure. This feature-packed release improves workflows for developers and designers through integration with the new Adobe Flash Catalyst interaction design tool.


Upgrade From Flex Builder 2/3 to Adobe Flash Builder 4 Premium Edition Customers who have a license for Flex Builder 2 & 3 Standard are eligible for upgrade pricing.
Top reasons to upgrade to Adobe Flash Builder 4
Data-centric development Introspect Java, PHP, ColdFusion, REST, and SOAP services to display methods and properties in the new Data/Service Explorer. Bind methods to user interface components using a simple drag-and-drop approach.
Tight integration with Adobe Flash Catalyst Import Flex projects (FXP files) created using Flash Catalyst, saving time and improving the quality of the user experience. FXP files contain a functional user interface, including MXML, ActionScript, component skins, and graphical assets, enabling developers to focus on core application logic.
Network Monitor (Premium Edition only) Generate a detailed audit trail of all data passed between the local Flex application and the back end, assisting with debugging and performance tuning.
Command-line build and integration with Flex unit testing (Premium Edition only) Take advantage of the new command-line build capability, and use integration with Flex unit testing to help support agile development processes.
Automatic generation of common code Automatically generate code for accessor functions (getter and setters) and event handlers to speed up the development of commonly used functions.
Code refactoring Quickly navigate through code or restructure it by renaming all references to a class, method, or variable. Flash Builder 4 adds move refactoring.
Debugger improvements Set conditional breakpoints, evaluate expressions, and set watchpoints on variables to halt execution on value change. Use the Expressions view to watch variables selected in the Variables view and to add/evaluate watch expressions. Break out of a loop during a debugging session using run to line.
Custom templates Customize default information contained in new MXML, ActionScript, and CSS files, such as author and date, introductory comments, copyright information, opening and closing tags and attributes, ActionScript declarations, namespace prefixes, and more.
Flex Theme Browser Easily browse and import Flex themes and apply them to your project.
ASDoc support Display comments in MXML and ActionScript editors using ASDoc.
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional workflow Import and update custom Flex components using the new workflow between Flash CS4 Professional and Flash Builder 4.
Adobe Flash Builder 4 Premium Edition Adobe Flash Builder 4 comes in two editions: Standard Edition and Premium Edition. The Premium Edition adds professional testing tools, including profilers, network monitoring, an automated testing framework, integration with Flex unit testing, and command-line build support, plus it includes Adobe ColdFusion Builder software.

Develop cross-platform rich Internet applications Flash Builder 4:
Enables intelligent coding, interactive step-through debugging, and visual design of user interface layout, appearance, and behavior of RIAs
Provides productivity tools for working with databases, web services, REST APIs, and other data sources
Includes powerful testing tools, such as memory and performance profilers, network monitoring, and integrated support for automated functional and unit testing, that speed up development and lead to higher performing applications

Improve productivityAccelerate development and testing of expressive web applications using powerful developer tooling.
Powerful coding toolsTake advantage of a powerful Eclipse based IDE that includes editors for MXML, the Adobe ActionScript language, and CSS, as well as syntax coloring, statement completion, code collapse, interactive step-through debugging, and automatic generation of common code.
Code refactoringQuickly navigate through code or restructure it by renaming all references to a class, method, or variable. Flash Builder 4 adds move refactoring.
Native support for Adobe AIRCreate applications for the Adobe AIR runtime with Flash Builder 4, including all the tools required to build, debug, package, and sign AIR applications. Adobe AIR lets you quickly develop RIAs for the desktop using the same skills and codebase you use to build RIAs for the browser.
Powerful testing tools [Premium Edition only]Accelerate application performance using memory and performance profilers that monitor and analyze memory consumption and CPU cycles. Support for automated functional testing tools such as HP QuickTest Professional (formerly Mercury QuickTest Professional) is also available.
Network Monitor [Premium Edition only]Generate a detailed audit trail of all data passed between the local Flex application and the back end, assisting with debugging and performance tuning.
Debugger improvements Set conditional breakpoints, evaluate expressions, and set watchpoints on variables to halt execution on value change. Use the Expressions view to watch variables selected in the Variables view and to add/evaluate watch expressions. Break out of a loop during a debugging session using run to line.
Custom templates Customize default information contained in new MXML, ActionScript, and CSS files, such as author and date, introductory comments, copyright information, opening and closing tags and attributes, ActionScript declarations, namespace prefixes, and more.
ASDoc support Display comments in MXML and ActionScript editors using ASDoc.
Adobe Flash Professional workflow Import and update custom Flex components using the new workflow between Adobe Flash Professional software and Flash Builder 4.
Integrate with existing infrastructure

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Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection Student & Teacher Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This student/teacher edition is identical to the commercial package - Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection, so if you're looking for an evaluation of its functionality, you might as well look there.
What *is* different, however, is the buying process for the education version.
You will not be able to use this software past its trial period if you don't have a valid serial number to activate it. Getting a serial number used to be a trivial process - Adobe and Macromedia packages had the serial number printed on a sticker included in the box (or, for some releases, written on the disk itself). You simply typed that number in during the install process, and a valid number could be used on multiple installs. Adobe has gotten wise, however.
To get a valid serial number for this package, I had to go to the Adobe website to request one (using a URL given in a small booklet included in the software box, not by clicking through links from the website's top level). I entered my unique "product code" (that's what is now on the included sticker) at that URL, and was then forwarded to a third-party verification site. I found my school on a pull-down list (no option to enter a name if it wasn't listed), entered some further information about the school and myself, and then uploaded a scan of my picture ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) and "proof of enrollment" (namely, a current student ID, tuition receipt, or grade report). You can also fax or email them your proof, though the web page includes a warning that this will slow down the process.
I approached this purchase with extreme trepidation, since, as a part-time student, I wasn't sure my academic enrollment would be sufficient. A search on ebay for an alternative only increased my fears - the first listing I found was from someone who had bought the package on Amazon, been rejected when trying to activate and register it, and was now reselling it at a loss because Amazon won't accept opened software as a return, even if it hasn't been registered. (There is absolutely no way to request the serial number without opening the package).
I'm pleased to say that my registration did go through, and I received my serial number two days later. However, I strongly recommend that potential buyers read through Adobe's requirements for eligibility before ordering the education version from Amazon.

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Tell your story using Adobe's full range of creative tools with Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection software. Move projects easily among applications for print, web, and interactive design. Take them to video production and create stunning motion graphics and effects. And benefit from integration with new Adobe CS Live online services, which can further enhance your productivity. From start to finish, design amazing work, collaborate effectively, and deliver virtually anywhere.


Design and deliver across media
The ultimate creative toolset in one comprehensive offering Design and deliver to print, web, interactive, video, audio, and mobile media using the full range of Adobe's creative tools. Your comprehensive creative environment combines all the components of Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium, Web Premium, and Production Premium software and integrates with new Adobe CS Live online services for greater productivity. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Industry-standard image editing with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended Make an impact with your images using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended, the professional digital imaging standard. Take advantage of intuitive image adjustment and masking tools, and experiment freely thanks to nondestructive editing. Enhance your photos with realistic paint strokes and artistic filters, or create gorgeously surreal 32-bit HDR images.
Vector graphics for any media with Adobe Illustrator CS5 Create compelling graphics for any type of project using Adobe Illustrator CS5, the vector-drawing environment preferred by design professionals worldwide. Experiment freely and design efficiently with powerful tools for drawing, color, creative effects, and typography. Move easily between Illustrator and other Adobe products, and deliver beautifully across media.
Professional page layout for print, web, and mobile devices with Adobe InDesign CS5 Design, preflight, and publish documents in print, online, and to mobile devices using Adobe InDesign CS5. With precise control over typography, built-in creative tools, and an intuitive design environment, you can create stunning page layouts, long documents, and rich presentations for any audience.
The complete set of tools for creating rich media content and applications Create immersive experiences using Adobe Flash Professional CS5, the industry-leading authoring tool for creating content across the desktop, browser, and mobile devices. Use new Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5 for rapid interactive design without writing code. Complement the workflow with Adobe Flash Builder 4 for developing cross-platform rich Internet applications (RIAs) using the Flex framework.
Industry-leading web authoring with Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications using Adobe Dreamweaver CS5. Work visually or in your code, taking advantage of visual CSS inspection and reliable testing through integration with Adobe BrowserLab, a new CS Live online service. With support for technologies such as HTML/HTMLX, Ajax, and FLV, you can design, develop, and deliver with confidence. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/ go/cslive for details.
Industry-standard compositing and animation with Adobe After Effects CS5 Create extraordinary motion graphics and visual effects using Adobe After Effects CS5, which provides everything you need to create opening titles, animated graphics, and visual effects. You can even create and move images and video in 3D space, delivering reliably for broadcast and film, or online and to mobile devices.
Nonlinear video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Craft your story beautifully and efficiently with the nonlinear editing tools in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5. Intuitive, real-time editing tools for HD, 2K, and beyond are complemented by fast 64-bit performance and GPU-accelerated effects so you can load up your timeline and continue to work without rendering. Edit virtually anything and deliver reliably.
Pristine audio creation and editing with Adobe Soundbooth CS5 Quickly accomplish everyday audio tasks using Adobe Soundbooth CS5 without sacrificing high-quality results or creative control. Visually repair damaged audio, enhance recordings with digital effects, and quickly create musical compositions with royalty-free Soundbooth Scores.
Integration with Adobe CS Live online services Accelerate time-consuming activities and collaborate widely thanks to integration with new Adobe CS Live online services that include Adobe CS Review for design feedback, Adobe BrowserLab to accurately test websites, Adobe Story for script development, and Acrobat.com to enhance communication around the globe. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended--Create powerful images with the professional standard Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended software helps you create the ultimate images for print, the web, and video. Enjoy all the state-of-the-art editing, compositing, and painting capabilities in industry-standard Photoshop CS5, and experience fast performance thanks to cross-platform 64-bit support. Also create 3D extrusions for logos, artwork, and motion graphics; edit 3D objects with advanced tools; and create and enhance motion-based content.

Innovate in 3D Go beyond traditional image editing by bringing 3D elements to your 2D artwork directly within your favorite digital imaging application, which now offers an easy on-ramp to 3D image creation.
Maximize creative impact Explore new creative possibilities with breakthrough tools that enable you to select, adjust, paint, and recompose images with tremendous precision and freedom.
Boost productivity Accelerate your workflow with fast performance on 64-bit hardware systems, smoother interactions thanks to GPU acceleration, and dozens of time-savers throughout the application.
Adobe Illustrator CS5--Explore new paths with the essential vector tool Create distinctive designs for any project. Used by creative professionals worldwide, Adobe Illustrator CS5 software provides precision and power. Paint expressively with vectors, draw in perspective, and explore designing for interactivity. Move easily between Illustrator, other Adobe products, and Adobe CS Live online services. Get the job done efficiently but beautifully, moving quickly from multiple ideas to multiple outputs with complete control and delivering exactly what you had in mind.

Design with powerful creative tools Take advantage of exceptional precision and power to create distinctive vector artwork. Combine highly controllable drawing tools with expressive natural brushes and dramatic effects to make unique, striking designs.
Work smoothly and efficiently Speed up your workflow with innovations that encourage efficiency. Get the job done with purpose and agility using shortcuts and time-savers to take multiple ideas to multiple outputs.
Deliver virtually anywhere Incorporate vector artwork into essentially any project and deliver resolution-independent graphics across media. Enjoy tighter-than-ever integration with other Adobe products and go anywhere your creativity takes you.
Adobe InDesign CS5--Design professional layouts for print and digital publishing Adobe InDesign CS5 software provides precise control over typography and built-in creative tools for designing, preflighting, and publishing documents for print, online, or to mobile devices. Bring documents and presentations to life with interactivity, animation, sound, and video. Leading industry tools, and productivity enhancements make page layout simpler and faster. Access Adobe CS Live online services* from within InDesign to streamline critical review processes.

Streamline review processes Build powerful documents as a team. New integrated tools and the availability of efficient online services make review processes more efficient, whether your clients and colleagues are across the hall or around the world.
Do more in less time Create, edit, and publish documents faster. A wealth of new productivity features help make page layout simpler, easier, and speedier.
Create powerful, innovative digital documents Engage, inform, and attract readers with documents that include interactivity, animation, video, and sound. Develop stronger, more compelling communications with rich interactive documents.
Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro--Protect documents and accelerate information exchange with PDF Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro software builds on the foundational feature set of Acrobat 9 Standard to provide business and creative professionals with additional capabilities, including enhanced security features, high-end print production support, and easy-to-manage electronic document reviews.
Deliver polished, professional documents Quickly integrate content, insert company logos, define navigation, and add polish to your PDF Portfolio using one of many customizable templates.
Create dynamic electronic forms Use included Adobe LiveCycle Designer software--a professional form design tool--to create, customize, and automate dynamic forms.
Collaborate and share with virtually anyone, anywhere Gain the input you need--in real time--through interactive, shared document reviews that help participants see and build on each other's comments.
Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5--Create expressive interfaces and interactive content without writing code Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5 software is an approachable new interaction design tool. Use it to transform Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks artwork into expressive interfaces and fully interactive content without writing code, and publish as SWF or Adobe AIR files. Collaborate with developers who can open your project files with Adobe Flash Builder software to extend functionality, and leverage the reach and consistency of the Adobe Flash Platform.

Leverage the power of the Adobe Flash Platform to create interactive projects Rapidly create expressive interfaces and interactive content to your exacting design standards. Deliver your creative vision with the reach and consistency of the Adobe Flash Platform.
Approach interaction design without writing code Transform static designs from Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Fireworks software into fully interactive projects without requiring development or coding skills. Define behaviors and control sophisticated interactions with simple yet powerful menu-based commands.
Adobe Flash Professional CS5--Create and deliver rich interactive content Adobe Flash Professional CS5 software is the industry-leading environment for interactive authoring and delivery of immersive experiences that are presented consistently across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution. Design expressive content with professional typography and pixel-precise drawing tools, write code precisely and efficiently with code completion and customizable code snippets, and deliver superior-quality video to audiences practically everywhere.

Design with expression Communicate your creative vision without sacrifice and set the bar for interactive design with typographic precision, layout fidelity, and expressive motion-editing capabilities.
Write code quickly and easily Quickly and efficiently write code with powerful authoring tools and integration with Adobe Flash Builder software. Easily add interactivity directly in the ActionScript language by injecting extensible code snippets.
Deliver in fewer steps and in more places Save time and reduce the number of required steps when moving content from design, to development, and ultimately to delivery. Distribute consistently across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution.
Adobe Flash Builder 4--Develop cross-platform rich Internet applications Adobe Flash Builder 4 (formerly Adobe Flex Builder) software is a professional-grade development tool designed to help developers rapidly build cross-platform rich Internet applications (RIAs) and content using the open source Flex framework.
Improve productivity Accelerate development and testing of expressive web applications using powerful developer tooling.
Integrate with existing infrastructure Integrate with servers and services in existing infrastructure, including those based on Java, PHP, Adobe ColdFusion software, REST, and SOAP.
Deliver more expressive applications Create intuitive, engaging applications that deliver more compelling experiences.

Adobe Dreamweaver CS5--Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 software empowers designers and developers to build standards-based websites with confidence. Work visually or directly in code, develop with your existing content management system like WordPress, Joomla!, or Drupal, and design productively with CSS inspection tools. Simplify advanced website development with integrated support for Subversion software and custom PHP code hinting. Get fast and accurate browser-compatibility testing and test dynamic content thanks to integration with Adobe BrowserLab, a new Adobe CS Live online service.

Develop with content management systems Build dynamic standards-based websites and applications quickly and easily. Leverage powerful content management systems with integrated authoring and testing support for your existing frameworks like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal.
Design websites more productively Inspect, track, and preview web designs with powerful CSS diagnostics and functions. Improve your layouts and designs, and reduce the need for manual tweaking in the CSS code.
Extend Dreamweaver through integration with CS Live online services Some of the new CS Live online services integrate with Dreamweaver, such as fast and accurate browser-compatibility testing with Adobe BrowserLab. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Adobe Fireworks CS5--Rapidly prototype and design for the web Create expressive screen graphics for virtually any device rapidly with Adobe Fireworks CS5 software. Design websites, user interfaces, or rich media applications using both vector and bitmap tools. Import assets from Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator software and export to HTML and CSS, Adobe Flash Catalyst software, or the Adobe AIR runtime. Optimize final imagery with the industry's leading screen graphics software.

Combine the power of vector and bitmap tools Design with vector and bitmap tools together to achieve optimal imagery quickly. Enjoy pixel precision that maps to your resolution requirements, using graphics tools designed for screen-based output.
Produce better screen graphics, faster Create rich, interactive screen graphics with fewer steps. Create and name slices efficiently, and then deliver superior-quality graphics optimized for the web and a wide range of devices.
Design once for multiple deliverables Quickly optimize designs for websites, rich media applications, and mobile devices. Edit assets from other graphics programs for wider deployment with Fireworks. Integrate client review into the design process.
Adobe Contribute CS5--Simplify website management Adobe Contribute CS5 software enables users to quickly create and edit web pages collaboratively in an easy-to-use WYSIWYG HTML editor, without writing code. New features include in-browser editing of text, hotspot images, and CSS for content authors, as well as drag-and-drop input of FLV, SWF, and PDF files. Managers can encourage creative web development while easily controlling workflow, review, and version processes to produce static or dynamic websites with one-click publishing.
Update sites efficiently Make website updates easy. Familiar WYSIWYG tools help content authors create and edit web media--no HTML required. Maintain control of site integrity and expedite review and approval cycles.
Increase contributor productivity Let content authors collaborate fully using simple in-browser creation and editing of text, images, rich media, and advanced interactive layout elements--without writing code. Contribute maintains design integrity for you.
Accelerate publishing cycles Quickly add pages and migrate existing content without repeating design tasks. Keep previous versions ready for redeployment. Manage reviews and approvals efficiently, and then publish with a single click.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5--Accelerate production with the new Adobe Mercury Playback Engine Craft your story efficiently with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 software, the high-performance video production solution that enables you to work dramatically faster thanks to the native 64-bit, GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine. Edit natively with the video formats you want. Save time by batch encoding source content to a wide variety of video formats for web, disc, broadcast, film, device, and mobile delivery. Easily exchange projects with Final Cut Pro and Avid software, and enjoy efficient, collaborative workflows that accelerate production from scriptwriting to editing, encoding, and final delivery.

Improve your production workflow Focus on telling your story with powerful, flexible editing tools. With the native 64-bit Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, the industry's best native tapeless workflow, and unparalleled Adobe integration, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 sets a new standard in editing efficiency.
Collaborate openly and effectively Work in an open, extensible post-production environment. Write scripts collaboratively. Efficiently gather feedback from clients and teammates. Easily exchange projects with other Adobe software, Final Cut Pro, and Avid software.
Deliver engaging video practically anywhere Create video optimized for online viewing as well as for broadcast, disc, film, device, and mobile distribution. From capture to final delivery, use metadata to make assets easier to find in production, create engaging interactive experiences, and help audiences discover your videos online.
Adobe After Effects CS5--Create motion graphics and visual effects with the industry standard Adobe After Effects CS5 delivers the visual richness required to get noticed in today's media culture. Use open-ended creative tools. Work efficiently on high-resolution projects thanks to native 64-bit support. And benefit from tight integration with Adobe's other leading software. Whether you're working in film, broadcast, online, or mobile media, Adobe After Effects enables you to create groundbreaking motion graphics and blockbuster visual effects.

Get 64-bit performance Work more quickly with groundbreaking 64-bit performance that dramatically improves the experience of creating HD and higher resolution content. Streamlined tools and tight Adobe integration also accelerate your workflow.
Innovate visually Express your visual ideas with freedom. Adobe After Effects CS5 revolutionizes motion design with an open-ended environment that fosters creative experimentation.
Composite efficiently Realize your vision quickly and efficiently by drawing on a broad and deep set of tools designed to help you solve any creative challenge.
Deliver everywhere Master modern media: Deliver your completed projects to the widest range of formats, from large format feature films and high-definition television to websites and mobile devices.
Adobe Soundbooth CS5--Create and edit audio with ease Adobe Soundbooth CS5 software is a professional audio editor that makes it easy to create, edit, and clean up audio for all your productions. Intuitive, task-based features and tight integration with other Adobe applications save time and help you achieve professional results. Mix royalty-free, customizable soundtracks and sound effects with dialogue in the improved multitrack environment for complete creative control.

Simplify audio workflows Make short work of everyday audio with a smooth, intuitive workflow that features task-based tools and tight integration with other Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium components.
Fix audio problems fast Automatically detect and fix common flaws in audio such as hisses, hums, phase problems, crackling, and pops. Add reverb to match on-location room ambience. Match the volume of different dialogue clips.
Create soundtracks easily Drag and drop Soundbooth Scores to create soundtracks. Make the music fit your visuals with easy adjustments to timing, and suit your project's mood with easy adjustments to intensity, atmosphere, and instrumentation.
Get professional-sounding mixes Combine music, dialogue, and sound effects on multiple tracks. Easily control EQ, volume, pan, and effects on each track using automation. Add mastering effects for final polish.
Locate dialogue quickly Convert spoken dialogue into searchable text, and use custom dictionaries to increase the accuracy of asset search. Export transcripts to create searchable video.
Searchable web DVDs and other enhancements in Adobe Encore CS5 Adobe Encore CS5 software is a versatile, interactive authoring tool for video distribution that allows you to deliver your projects beyond DVD and Blu-ray Disc. In a single operation, you can easily turn your DVD and Blu-ray Disc projects into web DVDs that now include a search interface. The new interface gives viewers a more engaging experience by enabling them to search within a web DVD using keywords. During authoring, Encore automatically creates a search database using metadata from speech-analysis text, subtitles in timelines and slideshows, and menu and button names.
Efficient production and tapeless camera support in Adobe OnLocation CS5 Adobe OnLocation CS5 provides an impressive array of production tools to help you shoot better and faster while saving time and money, both on set and off. New support for tapeless cameras extend the ways you can use OnLocation in your production workflows.
Spot problems in imported tapeless footage. Thanks to new tapeless camera support, you can use the comprehensive software waveform monitor and vectorscope as well as the audio spectrum analyzer in OnLocation to identify image and audio problems in imported files by quickly scanning your footage for audio pops, clipping, and video overbrights.
Logging with tapeless cameras. Get all the benefits of real-time, on-set logging when working with tapeless cameras. Simply tell OnLocation which shot is currently recording and then enter notes, comments, and additional metadata into placeholder clips. Using timecode as a reference, OnLocation automatically matches the information to the recorded clips when they are imported from the tapeless media, regardless of whether the camera is tethered to OnLocation on-set or whether the clips are imported during post-production.
Faster logging with Turbo Comments. While recording, the new Turbo Comments feature lets you add frequently used words--cast names, sports highlights, and so on--with a single keystroke to log live action accurately, consistently, and efficiently. OnLocation lets you store up to nine comments with unique shortcuts, for immediate, timecode-accurate logging.
Adobe Creative Suite 5 With powerful new creative tools, enhanced performance and workflows, and the ability to integrate with timesaving new Adobe CS Live online services, Adobe Creative Suite 5 software provides the edge you need to create rich content for virtually any media--print, web, interactive, video, audio, and mobile. Whether you need to produce printed pages efficiently or design and distribute engaging content online, on film, on air, and on device, you'll find the right combination of Adobe tools to increase your productivity and keep pace with your creative vision.

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