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Save 54% on CyberLink PhotoDirector 3

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 10:03pm CET par Mark Wilson

CyberLink is a company that is synonymous with software that is incredibly powerful yet also incredibly easy to use. When it comes to the arena of photo editing, there are a number of extremely high-end tools to choose from, and these have a tendency to not only be very complicated to use, but also restrictively expensive. The same cannot be said of CyberLink PhotoDirector, which includes all of the powerful tools you would expect to find in a professional image editing tool, but it is far easier to use than the likes of Adobe Photoshop.

We thought we’d let you in on a deal which will get you the latest PhotoDirector 3, which is retailing with a $149.95 MSRP for only $69.95, saving you a huge 54 percent. Read on.

The latest version of the photo program is CyberLink PhotoDirector v3; this usually sells for $149.95 and you can find out more in our review. The application’s predecessor, CyberLink PhotoDirector 2011 is still available however, and this is a very capable tool in its own right. But choosing to buy this previous version does not mean you have to miss out on the latest and greatest features -- in fact, it means that you are making a great saving. This is because when you buy CyberLink PhotoDirector 2011 for just $69.95, you will automatically receive a free upgrade to v3, effectively shaving more than half off the regular MSRP.

If you have already tried out the 2011 version of the program, you will find that v3 is a major advancement on an already very capable product. There is a strong focus on workflow, and this is something that will be welcomed by keen amateur photographers as well as professionals. The program interface is divided up in to five main sections, the first of which can be used to catalog and organize your images, while the Edit and Adjustment section can be used to tweak and enhance your shots. Slideshow and Print sections are also available for you to make the most of your edited images.

There is support for RAW image formats -- something that will appeal to the more professional end of the market -- and when it comes to organizing your image collection, you can use tags and flags to categorize images and make them easier to find and filter. As well as giving you the opportunity to manually adjust every aspect of your photos, there are also a number of presets available to help you to get results as quickly as possible. There is also a batch processing option and a number of advanced tools such as the background and object removal features.

You can find out more by paying a visit to the CyberLink PhotoDirector v3 review page and to take advantage of the special upgrade offer, pay a visit to the Downloadcrew Software Store. Hurry though, this offer is limited to the remaining 2011 serial codes remaining in stock and will end March 31.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Video Review

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 9:50pm CET par Travis Boyko

Windows 8 marks the biggest changes to the operating system's user interface in about two decades. Windows 1.0 and 2.0 retained much from MS-DOS, while v3 brought a totally redesigned graphical UI. Microsoft took the world by storm with Windows 95, further refining the look and feel and introducing the Start menu. The following years and new Windows releases didn’t see major GUI changes.

Sure, Windows XP brought the slipstreamed taskbar and Start menu. Windows Vista added a few new menus, meaningful search box and desktop gadgets. Other changes included Aero Peek, and Previews on running applications. Windows 7 replaced the taskbar with the superbar, providing users more control over and visibility into open applications. For the most part the Start menu is the same as Windows Vista with no changes whatsoever. Windows 8's new tile-like UI Metro does away with it all and where the desktop motif remains for legacy apps, the Start menu is gone. Why fix something that is not broke? After all it only took over a decade to finally get the desktop prefect.

There's no point in living in the past, and Microsoft wants to bring you the future -- with a consistent user experience across devices, from traditional PCs, to laptops, to Windows Phone, to Xbox consoles, to tablets and back to traditional PCs. That's the real significance of Metro. Microsoft's goal is to deploy this front end on all devices that run the Windows Kernel.

The Question: Will this one-UI-fits-all strategy work over the long term or will it be a Fad that fades before the next release of Windows? As well as: How will people adapt to the radical changes? I've prepared a series of videos that seek to answer these questions, and to offer tips and tricks to make the jarring changes into a smoother ride.

Giving Control Back to You

In the first video, above, I offer a basic introduction and walk through what's new (Start Screen) and what's missing (Start Menu). It can be a bit jarring experience. I show how you can pin the exact locations from your Start Menu to the new Start Screen, and a few other helpful tweaks.

In the second video, below, I’ll show how to work around the desktop without needing either Start Menu or Start Screen. Also, you can learn how to re-add a miniature Start Menu back to the TaskBar without any 3rd-party application or any Windows registry editing. I know, it's not the full Start Menu but will help you to open applications without being jarred into a full screen window, leaving your work behind.

The third video, below, looks a little in more dealing with Windows 8's dual character and configure the in-nerds (get it?). Windows 8 bring another major change to Windows. It now includes not one but two control panels -- the "classic" Control Panel and the New Metro Control Panel. Disappointing: You need to use both to fully configure Windows. I show you how to access both control panels, but set up the set up is personal preference.

The final video, below, is where Metro meets mouse. I can hear someone crying over there, and there, and even up there all saying: These demos are for touchscreens. What about mouse and keyboard users". Don’t worry I have you covered on that. I even show how to use just a mouse without using a single keyboard shortcut.

Practice Makes Perfect

The mixed motifs -- desktop and Metro -- and missing Start Menu take getting used to. Moving from desktop to Start Screen and back to desktop without a single press of a keyboard button. Navigating the Start Screen isn’t all that hard ether. The trick to the Start Screen is what you should not have pinned and what you should have pinned to there.

I think the All Programs screen is too cluttered. If you have a massive 100+ programs installed like I do on my desktop this All Programs is a giant mess.

As for normal desktop user, the lower left corner is now officially useless. It's like a phantom limb and your habit, the muscle memory, will be to go for the missing Start Menu. Just get into the habit moving the mouse to the top right corner to bring out the Charm Bar. It is the only way to bring out the Shutdown, Restart menu and other normal desktop settings. Also, it's your one stop to finding the Search function. The Bottom left corner only brings the Start Screen, which you can already get via the Charm Bar. So I say to grind it into normal desktop users: Charm Bar, Charm Bar, Charm Bar.

Travis Boyko has work with computers since he was 3 years old. While other children played with toys, he learned DOS commands. He has used every Windows version, as well as Linux, OS/2, OS X, Unix and Windows Server. His software collection goes back to the 1980s and includes original boxes of Windows 1.0, Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0, Lotus 1-2-3 and Windows 7 Signature Edition 32-bit and 64-bit full versions.
Archos G9 Android tablets (the ones with huge storage) get Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 7:31pm CET par Tim Conneally

With the domination of Apple's iPad, the Android-based tablet market has lots of mid-range competition, with different companies jockeying for differentiation.

Archos has a pretty big line of Android-powered tablet products, and today the company announced its G9 family of Android tablets will begin receiving over-the-air upgrades to Android 4.0.3 "Ice Cream Sandwich" today. This line is easily differentiated from the pack of Android tablets because they can be outfitted with a 250GB HDD, giving them vastly more storage than most Android-powered tablets, which tend to utilize flash-based storage and max out at 64GB.

In addition to the long list of features that Ice Cream Sandwich brings, Archos has added in its own special features that focus on media consumption, including full 1080p support for most video codecs, 3D video support for MKV3D files, an optimized File Manager with full drag and drop support, Ethernet USB dongle support, and the ARCHOS remote control application that allows your tablet to be controlled by other Android devices.

The range of Archos G9 tablets that are eligible for upgrade include the Archos 80 G9
Classic and Turbo models (flash or HDD storage) and the Archos 101 G9 Classic and Turbo models (flash or HDD.)
Make Windows 8 work for you

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 7:25pm CET par Nick Peers

The next version of Windows is nearly here. If you missed it, you can now download and install a fully functional pre-release in the form of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. We recommend following our recent guide to installing it in a virtual environment so your main system is left untouched, but once it’s up and running, what then?

Whether you plan to use the Consumer Preview to familiarize yourself with the next version of Windows, or decide to migrate across now, you’ll want to know how your apps are going to fare. Read on then, for our guide to picking the perfect software packages to help you with your exploration of the next generation of Windows.

Protect Your PC

Windows 8 ships with an updated version of Windows Defender that provides antivirus as well as anti-spyware protection. If you’re looking for something more comprehensive and secure, though, install the brand new 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2012, which Symantec says is compatible with the Consumer Preview.

Migrate Settings, Files and Apps

If you’re running the 64-bit version of Windows 8, and you’re looking to migrate your settings, files, etc. from a 64-bit installation of Windows 7, then check out PCmover Windows 8 Beta Assistant. It’ll simplify the process, let you choose exactly what to migrate and get you up and running quickly in Windows 8. Just a shame that it discriminates against 32-bit users.

Take Advantage of Touch

If you have a Microsoft keyboard or mouse, particularly a Touch mouse, then you should download and install Microsoft Device Center Beta 32-bit or Microsoft Device Center Beta 64-bit, depending on which version of Windows 8 you’ve installed.

Microsoft Device Center lets you configure your mouse and keyboard for Windows 8, affording you the luxury of customizing the various taps, buttons and swipes according to your personal tastes. You can even customize settings for specific apps as well as system-wide.

Media Crazy

If you’re looking for a quick-fire way to add photo and video editing, plus email to your Windows 8 installation, install Windows Live Essentials. Want a more fully functional photo-editing tool? Paint.NET and PixBuilder Studio come free.

Don’t like Windows Media Player? iTunes is listed as compatible at the Compatibility Center for Windows 8, but if you want a simple media player, than VLC Media Player 2.0 will fit the bill.

Pick Your Apps

You’ll find most apps should work with Windows 8, so long as they also work in Windows 7 or Vista. You’ll be unsurprised to learn that Office 2010 is chief among these, as is Office 2007. If you have neither, you can download a trial of Microsoft Office 2010 Professional, then extend its trial period from 30 to 180 days with Office 2010 Trial Extender, which should see you through to the final release. If you want to go down the completely free route, LibreOffice 3.5.0 works in Windows 8, but only after you install the latest version of the Java Runtime.

Fancy outputting high-quality PDFs from any application in Windows 8? Bullzip PDF Printer 8.2 will fit the bill, adding support for the Consumer Preview at the same time as dropping it for the previous Developer Preview build. Windows 8 ships with a built-in Reader app for viewing PDFs, or you can choose your own: both Adobe Reader and Nitro PDF Reader (which has its own built-in PDF creation tools, and is also available in 64-bit) are compatible with Windows 8.

Stay in Touch

You’ve installed Windows Live for email and instant messaging on the Windows Live network, and with Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Skype, it’s no surprise that the Skype client for Windows is also Windows 8 compatible.

You’ll also find the major alternative browsers -- Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Opera -- will all work in this latest version, as will the associated plug-ins like Flash Player, Silverlight and Java.

Tweak Settings and Performance

If you’re going to get down and dirty with Windows 8, you may want a collection of tweaking tools you can rely on to work with the Consumer Preview. Metro UI Tweaker is designed for those who want to customize the new Metro part of Windows 8, including disabling selected features. You’ll need the .NET Framework 3.5 installed to use this -- don’t worry, Windows 8 will offer to download it if it’s not present.

Anyone hoping that Windows 8 has updated Windows Explorer with a dual-paned view for easy navigation and file copying will be disappointed only for as long as it takes to install Q-Dir 5.0, which lets you navigate your system from a single four-paned window. A 64-bit version is also available.

TweakNow WinSecret 2012 has just been released, letting Windows 8 users tweak their systems to destruction (which is why you’ll want to take a Restore point first).

If you’re looking for a cleaning tool, then CCleaner is one of the best freebies out there, and version 3.16 promises improved Windows 8 compatibility.

And Finally…

Missing the Start button? Windows 8 does away with it altogether, but thankfully you can get it back again, complete with corresponding Start menu. You actually have two choices here: if you want the traditional-looking Windows 7 Start menu, try ViStart; if you’re happy for the Start menu to resemble the new Metro interface, give Start8 a whirl instead.

So there you have it: 28 tools and apps that should enhance your Windows 8 Consumer Preview experience. But what do you think? Have we missed out any programs that should been included? Let us know in the comments.
Steve Jobs' last big deal is Apple's biggest headache

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 6:52pm CET par Ed Oswald

Before his death in October of last year, one of Steve Jobs' last big moves was Apple's foray into electronic books. The company announced the platform in March 2010, but the method in which Apple handled its deals with publishers has caught the eye of regulators.

The Justice Department plans to sue Apple and the five biggest book publishers -- including Simon & Schuster Inc, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Macmillan, and HarperCollins -- and accuse them of colluding to raise prices of books. Apple is alleged to have struck an agreement with the publishers that allowed them to change the way they sold ebooks, and in turn allowed the publishers to take more control over pricing.

DOJ investigators consider the arrangement as a violation of the Sherman Act, and see Apple's deal as a method of price fixing. Collusion to fix prices ranks among the most egregious acts under US antitrust law.

At the onset of the ebook revolution, companies like Amazon structured its deals with publishers to get wholesale pricing for ebooks. Under this method, the retailer is then free to charge whatever it wants. Using Amazon as an example again: to quickly gain market share for the Kindle, Amazon sold these titles at a loss.

Publishers hate this strategy because it in turn cheapens the price of books and teaches the consumer to expect lower prices. That all changed as Jobs planned iBookstore. Jobs' own biography tells the story: Apple agreed to "agency pricing" for books, where the price of the book is set by the publisher and the seller gets a commission, in Apple's case 30 percent.

In order to get the rest of the industry under the same pricing model, a clause was placed in Apple's agreement forbidding the publishers to allow other retailers to sell the books at a cheaper price. In turn, this forced the entire industry to the agency pricing model, which caused end prices to consumers to go up.

BetaNews suspected price fixing in ebooks as early as December 2010, less than a year after the launch of iBooks. My colleague Joe Wilcox had also argued that Apple should play a part in stabilizing ebook prices overall, but I don't think he imagined at the time the lengths the Cupertino, Calif. company went in order to muscle its way into the market.

The Wall Street Journal reports that several of the parties involved are in settlement discussions. Terms of the settlement could change how the industry works, and possibly lead to lower ebook prices overall. One thing is certain: a court case could be damaging not only to Apple and the publishers, but the late Steve Jobs as well.

Jobs' key role in these negotiations will be hashed out in court, and the testimony will undoubtedly place him in a bad light. Apple is keen to protect the image of its late leader, so a settlement seems fairly likely. Also, in many antitrust cases the companies are more likely to settle out of court in an effort to save face. That said, the WSJ warns that negotiations have already taken several turns and may not lead to a deal.

European Union antitrust regulators are also said to be looking into the deals, and based on past history could be the first to strike. A class-action suit is also ongoing in New York federal court accusing Apple of collusion, which it already has filed motions to have dismissed saying its iBookstore provided more competition in the ebooks space.

Neither Apple nor any of the publishers involved responded to requests for comment on this story.

Photo Credit: Tischenko Irina/Shutterstock
Will you buy the new iPad?

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 6:30pm CET par Joe Wilcox

I just gotta ask. Apple launched the "new iPad" yesterday, with unexpected branding. It's not "3" or "HD", as rumored, just "new". Preorders started less than 24 hours ago, with the tablet coming to stores (or by FedEx to your home or office) on March 16th or 23rd, depending on where you live. Will you buy? Or perhaps you preordered already?

The new iPad's compelling feature is the high-resolution display, which is 2048 x 1536. That is better than 1080p HD (1900 x 1080). The models with cellular radios offer either faster HSPA+ or 4G LTE -- the latter of which won't be available from all carriers in all markets. Pricing is unchanged, as I expected. Apple typically offers more rather than sells for less. It's tradition. Prices range from $499 to $829. Is that low enough for you? Are the features compelling enough?

Please answer in comments, also explaining why or why not you will buy the new iPad. To help with the process, I've collected some specs and offer some for two other HSPA+/LTE tablets. iPad's big advantage over the Android competition is commitment. You will be asked to make one -- up to 24-months of data service. None is required with iPad. The 4G radio is there, but the user chooses to buy service rather than is compelled to.

So for example: The Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 is, except for display resolution and roaming radios, reasonably comparable to the new iPad. Verizon sells the 16GB model for $529.99 and the same capacity iPad for $629. However, Verizon requires a 24-month data contract for the Android tablet. Assuming the $30 month/2GB plan, that adds $720 to the price and makes upgrading to a newer tablet harder later (since you're locked into the contract).

Thirteen months ago, I posted: "The real reason Android tablets don't stand a chance against iPad -- onerous monthly data fees". Nothing has changed, other than carriers and competitors learning little from their mistakes.

I followed up in December with "Cellular data contracts doom Android tablets", based on stunning research conducted by NPD showing a spike in the percentage of consumers buying WiFi-only tablets. One major reason: Onerous data contracts. Another: Many buyers don't perceive the advantage of having a cellular radio. That makes Apple's way -- of offering 3G or 4G radio with optional data plan -- more sensible.

But, of course, WiFi-only Androids are available contract-free, and that's perhaps where comparisons might prove most interesting.

Three Tablets Compared

iPad: A5X dual-core processor (clockspeed not given by Apple); 9.7-inch LED display with 2048 x 1536 resolution; 1GB (unconfirmed) RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; 5-megapixel camera; 1080p video recording and playback; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; gyroscope; GPS; Bluetooth 4.0; WiFi A/N; HSPA+, 4G LTE (on some models); 11,666 mAh battery (unconfirmed); iOS 5.1. Dimensions and weight: 7.31 x 9.5 x .37 inches and 1.44 pounds (1.46 pounds with 4G radio).

Pricing: 16GB WiFi, $499; 32GB WiFi, $599; 16GB WiFi and 4G, $629; 64GB WiFi, $699; 32GB WiFi and 4G, $729; 64GB WiFi and 4G, $829.

Motorola Droid XYBOARD 10.1: 1.2GHz dual-core processor; 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GB of RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; 5-megapixel back-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras; 720p video recording; 1080p video playback; HDMI and USB 2.0 ports; stylus; accelerometer; barometer; gyroscope; GPS; WiFi A/N; Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; 4G LTE; 7,000 mAh battery; Android 3.2 (Honeycomb). Dimensions and weight: 6.8 x 9.9 x 0.34 inches and 1.3 pounds.

Pricing, with WiFi and LTE, from Verizon: 16GB, 32GB or 64GB -- $529.99, $629.99 and $729.99, respectively. Without 2-year contract commitment: $699.99, $799.99 and $899.99, respectively.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2: 1 GHz dual-core processor; 10.1-inch WXGA display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage; microSD slot (up to 32GB additional storage); 3-megapixel rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras; accelerometer; barometer; gyroscope; GPS; WiFi A/N; Bluetooth 3; WiFi and HSPA+ (on some models); 7,000 mAh battery; Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Dimensions and weight: 6.9 x 10.1 x .38 inches and 1.4 pounds.

Pricing: To be announced.

Apple's 3rd-generation tablet is in stores March 16, 2012. Will you buy the new iPad?

Readers React

Some of you already have expressed strong, negative reaction in comments (not exactly unusual from the BetaNews community). I struggled to find one positive comment about the new iPad. Ah, that can't be good.

"This new iPad is completely underwhelming", Duke2010 writes. "Apart from the high-res screen it's nothing special at all. I was expecting something exciting from Apple".

Cristian Dragos: "More powerful than a 4 year-old Mac, but pretty much useless in doing some productive work. Don't really understand why would you need such hardware power on a tablet? If it would run a full desktop OS which would be used when docking to a docking station and could be used to replace a PC, then the hardware power would mean something".

"Strange, I have no desire to upgrade my iPad", frankwick comments. "Does this make me a old? A dork? Immune to Apple hype? What's wrong with me?!?!?"

So, what about you? Will you buy the new iPad. Please answer in comments below and take our poll above.
Save big bucks on creative and security software

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 3:53pm CET par Mark Wilson

Everybody loves a bargain, and if you’re on the lookout for software at a great price, look no further than the Downloadcrew Software Store where you’ll find something to suit every taste and budget throughout the month of March.

Perhaps you need to squeeze the last ounce of performance out of your computer; there are a number of applications that can help you out, starting with Auslogics BoostSpeed 4. For just $9.95, a saving of 80 percent off the MSRP of $49.95, you can speed up your start times, clean out the clutter from your hard drive and more. When taking care of your drives, Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro 4 provides a complete defragmentation solution, and it is currently available for 67 percent off the MSRP of $29.95 at just $9.95. Other performance enhancing tools worth taking a look at include TuneUp Utilities 2012 [3-PC non-expiring lifetime licence] which can be installed on up to three computers and costs just $14.99 (70 percent off the MSRP of $49.95) and IObit Advanced SystemCare 5 PRO [3-PC], which is also discounted by 70 percent from $39.95 to $11.95.

Computers do need some care and attention from time to time, but they are also valuable tools that can be used for all manner of creative ventures. Although CyberLink PhotoDirector 3 was released earlier this month, you can still buy CyberLink PhotoDirector 2011 for only $69.95, saving 54 percent from the v3 MSRP. More importantly, you’ll also receive a free upgrade PhotoDirector 3 direct from CyberLink. Bargain.

If music is more up your street, MAGIX has a tool for you. MAGIX Music Maker MX (v18) is on offer for just $39.99 – a 33 percent saving off the MSRP of $59.99 -- and includes everything you need to create music from scratch working with loops, samples and special effects. Should you want to take things even further, MAGIX Movie Edit Pro MX (v18) features even options to help you to make the most of your home movies and you can save 34% off the usual selling price of $69.99 when you buy the software for $45.99.

Getting creative doesn’t necessarily meaning having to be musically or artistically talented. You can get creative by doing little more than making a compilation CD of your favorite music, or collecting together your favorite photos to create a slideshow. Roxio Creator 2011 Pro is a power suite of disc burning tools that can be used to create all manner of CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. For just $29.99 – a saving of 77 percent off the usual price of $129.99 – you can create your own custom movie discs, backup data, and much more.

O&O UnErase 6 Personal is a great tool for anyone who has been a little careless emptying the Recycle Bin or has fallen victim to a virus that has deleted files. The program can be used to recover files that might otherwise have been lost and you can save 76 percent off the MSRP $29.00 when you buy the program for just $6.95. If you have recently bought or you are thinking about buying a new computer Laplink PCmover Professional & SafeErase Bundle may be just what you have been looking for. You can buy the software for just to $39.95, saving 53 percent off the MSRP of $84.95, and this includes a three computer license.

The importance of having adequate security software installed cannot be overstated, so it should come as no surprise that there are a number of security tools available. Webroot Internet Security Complete 2011 [3-PC] is an antivirus tool, malware blocker, spam filter, firewall and ID theft protector. All of this comes at the bargain price of $9.95 – saving 88 percent off the usual price of $79.95 -- and you can install the software on three computers.

If you’re needs aren’t quite as high, take a look at Webroot Internet Security Essentials 2011 [3-PC]. Again, this software can be installed on three computers and include virus, malware and firewall protection all for just $4.95, representing a saving of 92 percent off the MSRP of $59.95 -- as an added bonus, there’s also a free upgrade to SecureAnywhere included, from Webroot!

Other security tools include AVG Premium Security Complete Bundle, which is made up of Quick Tune, AVG PC Tuneup 2012, AVG Family Safety 2012 and AVG Mobilation all for the incredible price of $29.95, a saving of 77 percent off the MSRP of $130. An even greater saving of 80 percent is to be found off the usual price of AVG Internet Security 2012 Plus Bundle, which can be used to protect up for four computers for just $29.95 instead of $149.00.

Another big name in the world of security is Kaspersky, and there are savings to be made here too. Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 [1-PC, 1-Year] is a comprehensive security suite that includes antivirus, web site checking, banner ad blocking, and much more for 68 percent off the MSRP $59.95 at just $18.95. if you have more than one computer to think about, look no further thanKaspersky Internet Security 2012 [5-PC, 1-Year] which includes five license and is available at 69 percent saving off the usual price of $129.95 – just $39.95!

Rounding off March’s marvellous selection of money saving offers are more tools from some of the biggest names in computer security. BullGuard Internet Security 12 [3-PC, 1-Year, 10GB backup] can be yours for just $9.99, saving you 85 percent off the usual price of $65.95. the app is a powerful security suite that includes virus protection but also boast 10GB of online storage space that you can use for backups. From the same company is BullGuard Antivirus 12 [1-PC, 1-Year], which is a straightforward antivirus tool that can be bought for 77 percent off the MSRP of $29.95 for just $6.99.

AVG is a company usually associated with security, but AVG PC Tuneup 2012 [1-PC, 1-Year] helps to keep your computer in good shape. Available at a 66 percent discount for just $11.99 the app includes a series of optimization tools that can boost the performance of your computer. If you’re looking for online storage, look no further than AVG LiveKive [25GB storage] which gives you a generous 25GB of online space for just $14.95 – this is 70% off the usual price of $49.99.

These are just some of the highlights from the Downloadcrew Software Store. There are plenty more bargains to be found, so pay a visit to the store to see what takes your fancy.

Photo Credit: iQoncept/Shutterstock
Use Adobe SWF Investigator to test, debug Flash apps

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 2:43pm CET par Mike Williams

If you need to investigate the inner workings of an SWF applet then there are plenty of great free tools around that can help (Flashbug being particularly useful). It seems these are now going to have some major and official competition, though, as Adobe Labs have just released a major inspection tool of their own in the new SWF Investigator.

Open the SWF file of your choice -- either locally, or online -- and the program will tell you much more about it. The SWF Info tab displays its tags, exported classes and header information; the Disassembler works with ActionScript 2.0 or 3.0 content to give you an idea of the original code; the Hex Viewer allows you to view and edit the raw SWF bytes, and the Strings pane displays any embedded strings within ActionScript 3.0 content.

SWF Investigator isn’t just about passively reporting on a file, though. The Viewer can be used to load and display your applet in different HTML configurations, and with custom FlashVars and allowScriptAccess settings. And the Inspector goes further still, particularly with ActionScript 3.0 code, as it works something like a debugging tool: you can retrieve data values, modify them to suit your needs and call functions as necessary.

And the Utilities menu contains even more powerful functions: a binary editor, basic ActionScript 3.0 compiler, a fuzzer to test for common XSS vulnerabilities, a mini web server and more.

The presentation of all this is a little, well, basic, but then this is still a beta. SWF Investigator already has plenty of features, though, and if you’ve even needed to know more about what a Flash applet is doing then the program should be very useful.

Photo Credit: rayuken/Shutterstock
Run Office 2010 or Quicken 2012 for Windows on your Mac

Publié: mars 8, 2012, 1:18pm CET par Nick Peers

Codeweavers has announced the launch of CrossOver XI, its commercial port of the open-source Wine application that allows Linux and Mac users to run Windows applications without having to install Windows itself.

CrossOver XI sees the two previously available separate editions of CrossOver, Games and Pro, incorporated into a single application, and includes numerous platform updates and improvements. It also promises support for a wider range of applications than before, including Microsoft Office 2010.

CrossOver XI replaces both CrossOver Pro and CrossOver Games lines by combining their functionality into a single product, meaning that all applications and games previously supported by one app or the other can now be run from within CrossOver XI.

The application itself receives a number of updates, including improved naming conventions and publishing handling of bottles, along with progress bars being displayed during bottle creation, simulated reboot and bottle initialization.

The Mac version of CrossOver now ships with quartz-wm, which should both enable most Mac users to install the software without having to install Apple’s X11 app, plus resolves bugs with running apps in full-screen mode in Lion.

The major underlying change is that CrossOver XI is now based on the latest stable release of Wine, which stands at version 1.4. This includes a new Device Independent Bitmap engine for better and faster image drawing, improved mouse handling in Linux, better C++ runtimes and audio support improvements.

CrossOver XI introduces official support for Microsoft Office 2010 and Quicken 2012 applications, while all .NET Frameworks from 1.1 to 3.5 are now supported. There is also a large number of improvements for applications already supported, including various iterations of Microsoft Office products, DirectX 9 and Steam.

A full list of changes, improvements and fixes can be found in the application’s release notes.

CrossOver XI is available as a free 14-day trial download for Macs running OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or later, and Linux. Codeweavers has also announced that CrossOver XI will be the last version to support Leopard users – future releases will required OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or later. Prices start from $39.95 depending on the length of free upgrades and support required.