Software

While Windows comes with its own built-in media player, it does not support the full range of media options by default. For example it fails to perform when faced with Blu-ray and 3D. A possible alternative is…

This is the latest version of the excellent voice recognition software from Nuance. Dragon were at one time a competitor and some years ago they became a Nuance purchase, now it is not only the best speech software but the easiest to use.

Prize won for the first to mention 2012 not in terms of the Olympic Games, however when people launce 2012 versions half way through 2011. Second a different approach from Viper offering whole (PC) life cover for a single fee.

While not as well known as some of its other products, Serif does have a website design package for those looking to create an online presence.

A lot of software products are now in their mature stage especially when the number gets to double figures. In the case of OmniPage it probably means it’s been around for around twenty years, so surely it should do things right?

They saw the camera never lies but some assistance a camera’s images can be edited to change the scene.

Do you defrag? If not then maybe your hard disk will not be performing at its full capability. This next product could help.

Dragon speech recognition software has been around for many years and is increasingly able to take advantage of faster processors and larger amounts of memory. The latest version Naturally Speaking 11.5 appears to have the same recognition engine as version 11, and so is also able to take advantage of today’s multiple processor cores and 64-bit systems, but has been enhanced to make it this more user-friendly.

A package that by its number you know has been around for a while. However what was first important for one job – file size reduction – is now less so now it has three other uses that make it a product still useful today.

Rather than retype text from a printed document, you might prefer using current technology to scan the original document before converting the results into editable text.

One reason I like Corel products is that they are intuitive another is they give you printed documentation. To be fair it’s a Getting Started Guide but as that is a 124 page hard back book you start to see this is not a trivial package.

Once upon a time we used a projector and slides to show off our favourite memories of family events and holidays. Now we can use our digital images to produce a slideshow that can be burned to optical media or posted in an appropriate website.

Apps stores are becoming a popular means of supplying software. Nero has entered this particular market sector with some free-to-download software.

Now part of the MAGIX family, Xara continues to produce a range of graphics offerings including a tool for producing eye-catching titles.

I think the last FREE software package I reviewed was Skype in October 2004, while this may not be as all consuming as Skype was in those days, for a manufacturer who produces paid software to release a free version…

Over the years I have been one of Norton’s fiercest critics. In fact I could not even manage to complete a review of an earlier version. Windows still warns of incompatibility but with this version I have yet to find them.

Acronis has a well-earned and long-established reputation for developing disk imaging and back-up software. Recently the company has brought out a new version of its Backup & Security title which, not surprisingly, is identified by its 2011 suffix.

One of the first names that spring to mind when considering the subject of computing security is that of Norton with its range of anti-virus and Internet security titles.

This was one of the few interesting items to emerge from this years BETT show. While it of course has its use in education in schools and colleges it could well have a use in the workplace as well as providing a fun use in the home.

While your computer is capable of providing a multitude of features, they are not always required for every task. Sometimes they can slow down the computer in certain circumstances. This next product offers to help alleviate this type of situation.

Not everybody can afford the premium price being asked by the market-leading video editing titles. Serif has a solution that might appeal.

While some software is now purely a licence to use for a period of time, most is still sold as yours for life. However more and more families have more than one computer so multi installation packs now have a bigger place.

While I rarely play my collection of LPs, I would be loathed to loose their content. Fortunately MAGIX has a solution.

While hard disk sizes have increased and Broadband allows for faster download speeds, the need to compress files is reduced. However I still feel there is a place for produces such as WinZip.

As one of the survivors of the software developers, Serif continues to produce applications that provide functionality at a price point that should not break the bank.

During a visit to the BETT educational show held each year in London, I was introduced to the latest animation software from Reallusion.

The numbers of people producing speech software are reducing and Dragon is the main player in the PC part of the market, they are now part of Nuance. So what advantages does version 11 have to make you rush out to purchase?

As more and more people take their tentative first steps into using video editing, developers, such as MAGIX, are producing software to help them in this task.

This is described as the ‘Ultimate HD Video Editing Solution’ some will purchase it just for the codec that allows you to play Blu-ray movies on your Blu-ray drive in your PC or Notebook as without something like this you cannot.

Give your fingers a rest and instead use your voice to communicate with your computer by using the latest software from Nuance.