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wma

Friendly file converter

Axara Audio Converter provides a very user-friendly way to convert audio files. By showcasing a simple set of commands and performing its task quickly, it's a great program for audio novices.

The program's interface is laid out in a very intuitive fashion, complete with large command icons that more or less walk you through the conversion process. The program functions much like dozens of other audio converters, but its simple and efficient layout sets it apart from the crowd. You can creating an MP3, MP4, WAV, WMA, AMR, OGG, AIFF, or AAC file by simply clicking its logo. … Read more

Basic file converter

Bluefox WMA MP3Converter is an easy-to-use program that allows users to convert a variety of different file formats into MP3 and WMA files. We have seen many similar programs and there's not much about Bluefox that really sets it apart, but it does work well, and we like it for its simplicity.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive, with large graphic buttons that represent its major features. Users simply add a file or files (the program does support batch processing) and choose which format they want to use for the output. The only two options are WMA … Read more

Cut and convert

Power Audio Cutter is a simple program that allows users to cut audio tracks and convert them to other file formats. It's not the most intuitive program we've ever used, but once we figured it out, we found it to be pretty straightforward.

The program's interface is plain, with all its features organized on a single screen. Although each component makes sense alone--we could select a file to work with, choose a destination location for the output, and so-on--it was not entirely clear how we were to go about cutting the file. A visit to the built-in … Read more

What's new for audio in Windows 7?

Update at 5:10 p.m. PDT: Changes were made based on a draft version of the Windows 7 Reviewers' Guide.

Microsoft took the wraps off the next version of Windows Tuesday at its Professional Developers Conference, and the Web's abuzz with first impressions and previews--most of which are positive.

It looks like Microsoft is making the right moves to counter some of the problems with Vista: application and hardware compatibility are top priorities, and most of the UI tweaks I've seen so far seem helpful rather than arbitrary, as many of the changes in Vista seemed … Read more

Prepare for the lossless revolution

With the increased capacity of today's computer hard drives and MP3 players, ripping your CDs to a large, lossless audio format such as FLAC or Apple Lossless isn't such a crazy idea. In fact, some folks are convinced that lossless audio is the wave of the future.

While I personally have a handful of my favorite albums ripped to lossless files on my computer, I'm a little skeptical of the idea of a lossless revolution taking root. For better or worse, the MP3's popularity will likely remain unshaken for many years to come, for a variety of reasons. … Read more