Use jAlbum 10.4 to create photo websites
Swedish web album creation tool, jAlbum 10.4, is now available, boasting a number of major new features. Version 10.4 now supports building entire websites rather than simple photo albums, promises up to 40 percent faster page processing on multi-core CPUs and adds support for transparent PNG images and the ability to scale individual images to different sizes.
jAlbum, which is free for personal use and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, makes it possible to create online photo albums quickly and easily via drag, drop and edit. Pick a template and publish -- either to jAlbum’s own online hosting service or your own website.
CyberLink PhotoDirector 3 debuts, adds 'People Beautifier' system
CyberLink has released the final version of CyberLink PhotoDirector 3, a brand new version of its high-end photo management and editing tool. The new release boasts a number of powerful new editing tools, including an object removal system, a “People Beautifier” system offering skin smoothing and wrinkle removal among other retouching features, watermark editor and lens correction tools.
The final release comes two-and-a-half months after the public beta was launched, which attracted over 50,000 users and 5,000 comments, which CyberLink says led to several improvements and new features being added to this first stable release.
The wait is over, Paragon releases Hard Disk Manager 12
Paragon Software Group has officially launched Hard Disk Manager 12 Suite and Hard Disk Manager 12 Professional, the latest versions of its renowned hard drive management tool.
As revealed in our exclusive first look, Paragon Hard Disk Manager 12 features a new partitioning engine it claims to the “fastest available” plus introduces a number of new features, including the ability to split a partition in two.
Handbrake 0.9.6 gives some, takes some encoding features
The Handbrake Project has announced an update to its open-source, cross-platform video transcoding utility. Handbrake 0.9.6 includes new and updated codecs, improved filters and demuxers, a new “Normal” preset promising faster transcoding times and improvements detecting DVD discs.
There are also a number of platform-specific changes, including various user interface tweaks spanning Windows, OS X and Linux. OS X users also lose support for DVD encryption using VLC 2.0 due to a lack of support from the latter.
Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.5.2 improves on-demand scanning speed
Panda Antivirus has announced a maintenance release for Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.5.2, promising better performance, a new search engine for its toolbar add-on and a wide number of bug fixes.
Panda Cloud Antivirus is designed to minimize its impact on system resources by tapping into cloud-based processing power to do much of the security tool’s leg work in analyzing, blocking and attempting to remove malware infections. This makes it especially suitable for deployment on low-spec and older PCs.
SUPER 2012.50 extends video codec and container support
eRightSoft has updated its freeware media-conversion utility SUPER to version 2012.50. SUPER 2012.50 adds a handful of new features, plus extends codec and container support to include a number of industry standards, including Blu-ray, Windows 7 WTV and the open-source Speex audio codec.
SUPER, which stands for Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, has developed a reputation for offering a wide range of conversion options for both audio and video. Although not as user-friendly as other tools, novices can still get started by choosing an output video container with the most common audio and video codecs automatically selected, while power users will also appreciate the large number of configurable options on offer.
Claim your free copy of Mamutu, but hurry!
If you want to keep your PC protected from all those nasties out there, you need to accept that one security tool isn’t necessarily going to be enough. The speed at which malware appears on the scene often catches security tools on the hop, particularly those that rely on signature updates to help them recognise and block the threat.
Mamutu takes a different approach: by keeping a beady eye on your system for suspicious behavior, it’s able to spot malware even without the benefit of a signature guidebook, allowing you to close that critical gap in your security armor. And better still, from midnight tonight (Central European Time), we’re giving away a full one-year, one-PC license of the latest version of Mamutu, worth $20, for free!
Put the Windows 7 Start button where you want it
There are many different ways and means of customizing the Windows 7 desktop, both using tools built into the OS itself, and third-party apps. But they all seem to make one assumption: that the default location for the Start menu’s button -- the left or top of the Taskbar depending on its position -- is the right one.
In many cases, this might feel right or natural, but what if you disagree? What if you’d like the Start button to be placed to the right of, or below, the Taskbar’s Notification area? If the idea interests you, then take a look at Start Orb Mover 1.0.
We'd like to give you IObit Advanced SystemCare PRO 5 for free
When it comes to keeping your Windows setup lean and mean, you don’t need to look much further than Advanced SystemCare PRO 5. IObit’s flagship system tuneup utility has come on leaps and bounds since its initial release, and now offers comprehensive maintenance and optimization options for keeping your PC in tip-top condition.
With new Active Boost technology maintaining your computer’s key resources in real-time, improved malware detection and extra maintenance and optimization tools, ASC PRO 5 is an essential tool for all PCs. But get this, for a limited period ending at 23:59 Central European Time on February 22, you’ll be able to pick up a free single-license copy worth $19.95, complete with all the additional features and functionality over the free version.
VLC Media Player 2.0 FINAL is different on the Mac
The non-profit VideoLAN Organization has announced the release of VLC 2.0 FINAL. VLC is a popular cross-platform, open-source video player capable of handling most media formats, and version 2.0 represents the first landmark update since its first official release in June 2009.
The most radical changes in VLC 2.0 will be found on the Mac platform, with support for Blu-ray playback being overshadowed by a radical overhaul of the user interface. This major step forward has divided the VLC community since it first emerged, with some decrying the loss of version 1’s minimalist approach to video playback.
Apple Messages Beta offers OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion' sneak peak
Can’t wait for the summer release of Mountain Lion, the next version of OS X? If so, then you might be interested to learn that while developers are getting their hands on a preview version of Mountain Lion, humble users like you and me can get a glimpse into one of its new features right now.
That’s right, if you’re a Lion user who’s nicely updated to OS X 10.7.3, you can try out a beta of Apple Messages, Mountain Lion’s successor to the iChat application.
Symantec releases Norton 360 6.0
Symantec Software has released version 6.0 of its all-in-one security, backup and system maintenance tool. Norton 360 offers the same security engine as Norton Internet Security 2012, but also includes backup and system tuneup tools as well.
Version 6.0 adds support for Windows 8, a number of features added in Norton 2012, including Identity Safe and Norton Management, plus improved navigation for backups and automatic error recovery.
LibreOffice 3.5 pushes past OpenOffice, not recommended for biz users
The Document Foundation has announced the release of LibreOffice 3.5.0 FINAL, its cross-platform, open-source office suite. Version 3.5.0 introduces a number of new features, including faster grammar checking, multi-line input bar in Calc, and a better user interface for headers and footers in Writer.
LibreOffice is a spin-off of OpenOffice, and comprises word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentations package (Impress), database (Base), graphics editor (Draw) and equations tool (Math). This is LibreOffice’s third major release since the project launched back in September 2010.
Serif PagePlus X6 review
If you’ve not taken a look at Serif’s flagship DTP application of late, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It has come leaps and bounds in recent generations, closing the gap to high-end packages like Adobe InDesign and Quark Xpress while managing to retain a sub-$100 price point and remaining beginner-friendly to boot.
The question is, can Serif PagePlus X6 continue this fine run of form? What new features does it offer to tempt existing users to upgrade, and does it manage to maintain that perfect blend of power, value and accessibility?
Google releases Chrome 18 Beta -- get it now!
Hot on the heels of the final release of Chrome 17, Google has updated Chrome Beta to version 18. Its headline new feature is improved 2D graphics performance in HTML5 and a software rasterizer to enable older machines to display content rendered using newer, unsupported technologies such as WebGL.
Chrome 18 Beta also sees improvements to the PDF plug-in, plus fixes a number of issues such as full-screen performance under Windows and startup issues in Red Hat Enterprise 6.
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