Nick Peers

It’s been a busy few days for web browsers. Last week, Microsoft Edge 88.0 rolled out several major new features, including a new sleeping tabs feature, while today sees the launch of Firefox 85.0.

Firefox 85 arrives with three new noteworthy features. The first is protection against so-called 'supercookies', trackers that are able to hide within browsers to track users online even after they’ve cleared cookies. Firefox achieves this by isolating the cookies so they can’t follow your progress between sites.

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As its name implies, AVG Ultimate 2021 is the crème-de-la-crème of AVG’s product range, providing a suite of tools to boost security, privacy and performance across all your household’s computers and mobile devices, from Windows PCs and Macs to Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Your household’s PCs and Macs are blanket covered by four applications. Core security comes in the form of AVG Internet Security 2021 -- complete protection for your family’s PCs and Macs courtesy of antivirus with anti-ransomware, shopping and banking protection via browser tools that block unsafe or compromised websites, firewall and webcam security.

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The Universal Media Server Project has released Universal Media Server 10.0.0, a major new update of its open-source, cross-platform Java-based media server for Windows, Mac and Linux computers.

The server, which works with a wide range of UPNP/DLNA-compatible devices from mobiles to smart TVs, gains significant improvements to its web and DLNA browsing interface, with the aim of providing more flexible and visually pleasing options for navigating the user’s content.

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iolo Technologies has unveiled System Mechanic 21, a landmark new version of the venerable -- but still acclaimed -- system tune-up tool for Windows PCs. It’s a noteworthy release thanks to a major user interface update, but also boasts two new scanning tools, step-by-step guides and -- in the Pro release -- improved antivirus protection.

The new redesign is immediately apparent the first time the product is run, accompanied by a streamlined install process, clean and simplified dashboard, and pop-up guides that can steer users through their first run with major parts of the program.

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In the realms of understatement, "2020 has been a hard year" rules supreme. No one needs a recap as to why, but as many of us continue to be subject to restrictions preventing us from getting out to the shops, coupled with well-publicized delays and disruption to mail services, getting Christmas sorted for our loved ones has been particularly challenging this year.

And that’s where we come in: if you’re stuck within a "stay at home" area, worried about missing the last post or looking for a last-minute gift, the Downloadcrew Software Store has you covered. You can order directly from our digital store and have the gift sent either to yourself or directly to your friend or family member -- it’ll arrive within minutes, even on Christmas Day!

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Ashampoo Technology GmbH has released Ashampoo Burning Studio 22, a major new version of its disc-burning suite for Windows users.

Burning Studio supports the creation of video, audio, and data discs, including DVDs and Blu-rays. There’s also built-in support for ripping CDs to hard drive and creating disc image files such as ISO and BIN. Version 22 adds several new features, including support for H.265-encoded video, an improved metadata search and retrieval tool, and support for customizable desktop shortcuts.

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Google has released Google Web Designer 10.0 in what appears to now be a regular quarterly update. The HTML-5 content-producing tool for Windows, Mac, and Linux is a popular choice for producing all kinds of web content thanks to its user friendliness and helper tools.

Version 10.0 offers four new features and a slew of improvements and fixes, chief of which include the ability to crop images within the image processing dialog, plus new snapping modes.

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Blender 2.91’s many sculpting updates includes support for collisions in the cloth sculpting tool.

"Fourth time's also a charm", says The Blender Foundation as it releases Blender 2.91, the fourth major release of the open-source 3D graphics tool in 2020.

The latest release promises further improvements to the user experience along with a range of new features including new Booleans, collision support for cloth sculpting and volume objects modifiers. There’s also the promise of improved animation tools.

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Mozilla has released Firefox 83.0, the latest version of its open-source, cross-platform web browser. A mere 28 days after the last major release, and version 83 makes its bow.

Despite the short time between releases, version 83 manages to pack in more performance improvements, a new optional HTTPS-only mode, support for pinch zoom on touchscreens, and compatibility with new Apple Macs running the M1 chip.

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PowerArchiver 2021 adds a brand new internal editor and viewer tool.

ConeXware has unveiled a major new version of its trialware archiving tool for Windows users with the release of PowerArchiver 2021. For the first time, PowerArchiver 2021 is also available for macOS too, although this release does not (yet) boast all the features of its Windows cousin.

Version 20.0.58 for Windows unveils tools to help view and edit files within archives without extracting them, plus promises improvements to its Pro edition-only PowerArchiver Cloud feature, and adds some welcome new tools to the Action menu.

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Productivity software specialist Zenkit is at it again. Spying a gap in the communications market for workers who need to combine the ability to chat with colleagues while setting up and managing tasks, it’s released Zenchat 0.1.1 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, along with Zenchat for iOS and Android.

The app, which can also be run in a web browser, can be used standalone or combined with other Zenkit offerings, including Zenkit To Do, which we covered earlier in the year.

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Lockdown has benefited relatively few companies, but one of those is undoubtedly Zoom, the video-conferencing service. It’s just unveiled Zoom 5.4.0 for desktop and mobile, with a host of new and improved features.

There’s the much-anticipated rollout of end-to-end encryption for secure messaging, plus additional improvements to the app’s meetings, chat and phone features.

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Paramount Software UK has unveiled Macrium Reflect Free 7.3, a major new update of its Windows drive-imaging backup tool.

Version 7.3 unveils a new integrated task scheduler to address increasing frustration with problems scheduling backups using the previous system, which tied into the Windows Task Scheduler. Paid-for editions also gain improved protection against ransomware thanks to tweaks to the Macrium Image Guardian feature.

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OCBASE has released OCCT 7.0, a major new release of its portable Windows monitoring, information, and stability checking tool.

Version 7.0’s biggest change is the introduction of a one-hour test limit. It’s also switched to the Hwinfo monitoring engine, and splits the user interface into three separate areas.

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The Evernote Corporation has unveiled Evernote 10.0, a landmark new release of its cross-platform note-creation and organization tool. The free and paid-for service allows users to create, organize, share, and view notes across all major platforms, including the web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Version 10 sees the app completely rebuilt on a new codebase, with the promise of better stability and reliability. It also promises a cleaner UI that’s consistent across all platforms, coupled with additional formatting tools to provide more control over how notes look, plus an improved -- and faster -- search tool.

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