analyzer

Fun with feng shui

MB Feng Shui Bagua is a fun, easy-to-use bit of freeware that helps you apply the Chinese system of feng shui to your own home. The simple graphic interface takes you step by step through the process of mapping your home, including all the rooms and doors. The program then breaks the area into "bagua" to give advice on everything from furniture to colors.

Although the graphics are rudimentary, most users should be able to re-create their homes fairly accurately. We had some problems with things like multiple floors or rooms that weren't symmetrical, so it would … Read more

Spreadsheet alternative

GS-Calc offers users an alternative spreadsheet maker by mimicking what the more famous versions do and adding little flourishes that many will like.

The program's interface will immediately be recognizable to those familiar with Excel. The rows, columns, and even commands feel like they are in the same place. However, if users need help with its slight difference, a Help file is available. The program functions almost exactly like the more popular spreadsheet option. Users input data into cells across various rows and columns. The data can be manipulated in multiple ways, including color-coding cells, rows and columns, sorting … Read more

Intuitive grammar and style analysis

RightWriter Grammar Analysis allows users to evaluate their writing for proper grammar and effective style. Although the trial version disables the program's main feature, the sample text provided with RightWriter makes us think that the program is a useful tool for writing improvement.

The program's interface is basic and intuitive. Users type or paste the text they want to analyze into a text box, click the Analyze button, and the analysis shows up in another text box. The program suggests alternatives when word choices are too "wordy," identifies use of the passive voice, and gives other … Read more

Simple handwriting reader

Define your personality through your handwriting style with this simple program that doesn't even require you to write a word. With extensive questioning and great flow, this program might just nail your personality.

The program's interface is fantastically simple. Users must only click on radio buttons and a few other excellently labeled buttons to take this test and learn about themselves. The program does provide an online Help file, though it is so basic user might be better off just experimenting. Learning about your handwriting style was surprisingly simple and effective. Users cycle through more than 15 questions … Read more

Bare-bones diary

MB Pagan Diary is a program that lets users keep track of their pagan practices. Although it works as described, its unattractive interface and lack of features left us unimpressed.

As is the case with all Mystic Board programs, the opening screen is a clutter of ads for Mystic Board. The program's main interface lets users choose between sections for spells, incense, recipes, and rituals. Each section looks the same, with a space that contains a list of entries, which are not dated. (Yes, a diary without dated entries. Amazing.) When users add an entry they get access to … Read more

Mediocre dream analysis

MB Dream Interpretation Software lets users keep a journal of their dreams and have the program automatically analyze keywords within the dreams. Like many products from Mystic Board, the program is better in theory than in execution.

The first screen of the software is a clutter of Mystic Board advertisements. On the next screen, users make their dream diary entries. This is simple enough to do; users type their entry into a text box and save it, and entries are arranged by date in a tree formation, making it easy to find previous entries. Users can select an entry and … Read more

Simple feng shui analysis

MB Feng Shui Lo Shu gives users an analysis of the missing elements of their life based on their birth date. Although we have no idea if the program properly uses the principles of feng shui, it does provide an analysis with suggestions for improvement.

As with all Mystic Board software, the first screen is a clutter of Mystic Board ads. On the next screen, users enter their birth date and gender. The program then provides a diagram of squares labeled with numbers and directions, but users who aren't familiar with feng shui will get no help in understanding … Read more

Befuddling lotto program

PowerPlayer for Pick 3/4 2008 helps users select lottery numbers for pick-three and pick-four lotteries based on the results of previous drawings. Or at least, that's what it's supposed to do. We found the whole thing so confusing that we're not sure what, if anything, the program actually does.

The interface is a disaster, a jumble of columns, numbers, and check boxes. It was easy enough to select our local pick-three from the list of available lotteries, but after that, we were stumped. A visit to the built-in Help file was practically worthless. Even the sections … Read more

Useless birthday analysis

Whether we believe in horoscopes, numerology, and the like, there's one thing we can probably all agree on: MB Birthday Number stinks.

Rarely do we come across a piece of software that is so abjectly useless. The program promises to "give an insight into the middle years of your life. It also tells you about the various talents you possess." The program allegedly accomplishes this by analyzing your date of birth, and it has you enter your full name and the month, date, and year you were born, we suppose to create the illusion that users are … Read more

Confusing Internet monitor

You know it's never a good sign when a program's Quick Start tutorials and wizards are just as confusing as its user interface. Definitely not for the novice user, WebSpy Analyzer Premium lets you keep a watchful eye on e-mail and Internet usage--just be prepared to spend the entire 30-day trial period getting acquainted with it.

At first glance, the user interface appears fairly straightforward. But after a closer look, it wasn't obvious what we needed to do first. A Quick Start Tutorial is displayed in the center panel, but it was vague and didn't help … Read more