Check out four great offerings from top software companies and take our word for it when we say that whatever you need to do these guys will help. From virus protection to web design and publishing, we've got a review for you.
www.adobe.com| Price: From $1,699
Wondershare software makes quite a few useful pieces of software for media creation, transfer and editing, but two of our favorites are the DVD Ripper and the iPhone Ringtone Maker. Both programs do more than just the basics but retain their ease of use, and as of this writing there are even discounts on the DVD Ripper for buying online! If you've been looking for an easy way to rip and burn movies (that you own, of course) or can't sleep until you've got "Evacuate the Dance Floor" as your ringtone, get yourself over to www.wondershare.com and pick these up.
Click to convert and you're well on your way to copying a masterpiece or finishing one of your own! Ripping to a variety of formats is possible, naturally, and you can choose to go standard definition or high definition, to YouTube, Apple TV or your iPod or iPhone. Options abound, but they definitely don't clutter up the interface, which gets a big thumbs up from us. As of right now, they're running a 50% off discount on this software but we're sure it won't last forever, so download yours soon to save major money.
www.wondershare.com | Price: $45 (Before sale)
iPhone Ringtone Maker
www.wondershare.com | Price: $19.00
Bento for iPad | Price: $4.99
Adobe CS5
An indispensable part of photo editing, web design and video production, Adobe's latest update is closer to an overhaul. Not only did they work on creating a more intuitive workflow, they've upgraded to 64 bit and the Mercury Playback Engine that's been causing such a splash. New lifelike brush stokes with width adjustment give you complete control over your digital art, Truer Edge Selection makes masking even dreaded things like hair easier, and Flash Catalyst lets you create Flash content without writing code: in short, the new CS5 is bigger and better than ever. And one of the best parts? With the new Adobe Review feature your comments are going to help keep it that way--you can streamline inefficient operations from within the program itself. Look for an in depth review from our editorial design team in the Summer issue!
Have Fun With DVDs and Ringtones
Wondershare DVD Ripper
When it comes to ripping and burning technology we're the first to admit that the files, formats, rules and regulations can get a little confusing. So when we opened the DVD Ripper we were fully prepared for a host of menus, options and names that were unfamiliar to us to say the least...and we were pleasantly surprised. Yes, the program has a multitude of features to personalize your process, but getting things moving is simple. Key extras include a Crop feature, which allows you to remove any black borders around the video, Trim to select your favorite segments of video and Effects to really make it your own.
This may not be as complicated as its counterpart above, but the iPhone Ringtone Maker is everything you need to create trendy (or embarrassing, take your pick) ringtones for your enjoyment. Whether your tastes trend to Lady Gaga or Hall and Oates your iTunes library is at your disposal with this software. It works with both purchased and ripped songs, so no worries--no limits are placed on your creativity! The program has an optimized music library on the left and lists all your iTunes music without actually opening the program, and the interface is pretty easy to use. Fade in and out features are a welcome addition, and those of us who tend to the obsessive and perfectionist will appreciate the power of the wave editor: seeing the file makes precision placement and editing much easier. Files are automatically converted and saved as iPhone ringtone files so it's one stop shopping here--click start and the snippet of song is converted and saved in the ringtones folder in iTunes, ready for downloading. When you have everyone on the sidewalk staring at you while "Private Eyes" blares from your phone, you can tell them you used this program to make it and that they shouldn't be jealous...there's plenty to go around!
Bento for iPad
If you don't need the thousands of features the new FileMaker 11 brings to the table try Bento: the smaller scale solution can still keep you organized and on track. This version incorporates many of our favorite features from the iPhone version and definitely takes advantage of the iPad's screen: details are larger and a split screen view that was just not feasible on the iPhone allows users to view the whole records list and a complete single record at the same time. Support for the touch screen means data entry is simple as well...just tap to edit in your own template or one of the 25 pre-loaded options ranging from a diet log to expenses.
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SquareTrade Saves your iPhone
AT&T and Apple's iPhone warranties are expensive and they don't cover drops and spills. Fail, right? So SquareTrade saw the need for some good insurance, as it were, and stepped in to the void. Just in time for today's announcement, you can protect your iPhone from almost anything--except theft--for $99 up front for a two year coverage with a $50 deductible every time you ruin your iPhone. We've seen some painfully cracked screens and painfully embarrassed iPhone owners in our day, so if you even think you'll need it, we recommend picking it up! Here's the total breakdown:
Apple iPhone 3GS:
One device failure (drop, breakage etc) in two years:
AT&T - $535
SquareTrade - $149
Difference = $386
Two device failures in two years:
AT&T - $734
SquareTrade - $199
Difference = $535
We Did It!
Apple finally did it. It is now more valuable than Microsoft. To stubborn old realists this seems wrong, but to an army of Apple fans and the veteran legions of Apple believers this seems very right.
It may just be the case that the recent stock market correction, which has seen the market "fall out of bed", is the cause of this victory. Apple just hasn't fallen as far as Microsoft in the stock market rout.
Apple's Risen
However nothing takes away from the fact that, long left for dead, Apple has risen and crawled hand over hand from the edge of going out of business to becoming the second largest company listed on Wall Street.
This promotion to number two position of most valued company on Wall Street is remarkable and kind of historic. I promised myself to short Apple when this happened but I will hold off because the market will rally for a week or two and shorting anything will be a bad idea.
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