Software

It would be appropriate if I could begin this review by relating the dream I had last night. Unfortunately, try as I might, I have no recollection of the dream or even if I dreamt at all.

The Internet can be a vast treasure chest of information and resources but it also has the capability of being a mine field for the unwary. It is best to be well protected when on surfing sessions.

Mix fantasy, role-playing, turn-based strategy, warfare with the opportunity for marriage and divorce within a single game and the result is King’s Bounty: The Legend.

It was just over a year ago when I last took a look at Corel’s VideoStudio product. That was version 11 Plus which introduced a number of new features. Since then the product has been further enhanced.

I have been told that a sea voyage can be good for your health. But presumably the type of voyage that is involved in Sea Journey does not fall into this category.

This is a powerful product and also needs a beefy machine to run it. However for those who need the ability to manipulate to the nenth degree there is not really a serious alternative. Apart from maybe the more expensive Extended edition.

Not to be confused with a 50-year old hit of Sir Cliff Richard, Move It is a new product from Nero, better known for its disk burning technology and software.

From its early beginnings with flip-books, animation has developed into a skilled art form that can take full advantage of a computer’s processing power.

You could almost sat that this is another example of “dig for victory” following last week’s look at farm management for the casual gamer.

Small is better when it comes to storing data or sending it via email. Compression software can help.

While we are often encouraged, and sometimes make the effort, to be energy efficient with regards to our home and car environment, the home computer is generally an area that is neglected in this respect.

For those who cannot afford or need the complexity of Adobe Photoshop, then Adobe Photoshop Elements has long been one of the major alternatives. Here I look at both the latest ‘Elements’, Photoshop and Premier.

Recently I have been talking to my computer. This should not be regarded as a sign of any mental disturbance but more to do with testing the latest speech recognition software from Nuance.

In the past I have played numerous games dealing with the management of various types of businesses and involved the building and running of hotels, theme parks, airports and even a prison or two. Now I have the opportunity to try by hand at farming with Ranch Rush, a game developed by Fresh Games and published by MumboJumbo.

For those who have not already encountered him, let me introduce you to Mortimer Beckett. Following his first appearance in the episode of the Spooky Manor, our intrepid adventurer is once again called upon by his uncle to help resolve a problem of chronological significance.

Where do toys go when left to their own devices? It is a question that has confounded some of the world’s greatest thinkers but not those who are young at heart.

Now at the ripe old age of 17 years, Adobe Acrobat and its PDF (Portable Document Format) technology is the established lingua franca of the world of electronic documents.

An opera singer, chatty bat, numerous rats and gargoyles all feature in an adventure that harks back to the style introduced by LucasArts

Alright I plead guilty. As regards to fashion I am a walking disaster but at least I feel comfortable in my own appearance

Adding to its portfolio of game titles, MumboJumbo now offers an adventure style hidden object game entitled Samantha Swift: The Hidden Roses of Athena.

With this new game from MumboJumbo, your puzzle solving skills will be put to the test as you attempt to rebuild some historic buildings in various parts of the world.

It was like a trip down memory lane when I received a copy of Etch A Sketch. No, this was not the drawing toy of old with vertical and horizontal controls encased in a red box. Instead it was a computerised version.

While Windows Recycle Bin does a reasonable job of providing a failsafe when a file is accidentally deleted, sometimes a more powerful tool is required.

Have you thought about the visual quality of your favourite music tracks? Audiosurf has!

Now up to version 12, Pinnacle’s video editing Studio software is available in three flavours. These are the basic Studio, Studio Plus and Studio Ultimate.

In the beginning Bejeweled was a Match-3 puzzle game that build up an impressive reputation. A follow-up version, Bejeweled 2, help add to the franchise’s reputation for addictive game play. Now Popcap has added a new twist to the game.

An Egyptian Queen, a dead Pharaoh, renegade priests and scarabs aplenty are just some of the elements that make up the latest episode of the number one selling action-puzzle franchise.

Stepping back the best part of a hundred years in time, you can test your military and strategy acumen in Ascaron’s latest historical strategy game.

With an ample supply of different coloured pegs and a collection of balls, the game of Peggle returns with more challenges.

Missing servants, a bloodthirsty religious sect and a visit to Victorian London to meet a famous detective can only mean it is another Sherlock Holmes adventure.