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MAGIX 3D Maker is an intuitive program that creates attractive 3D and animated graphics. Even users with no graphic design knowledge can produce professional-looking logos, Web buttons, screensavers, and more.

The program's interface is fairly well organized, although a visit to the built-in Help file is recommended to get the most out of the program's features. A background in graphic design may be a slight advantage in using MAGIX 3D Maker, but with a bit of experimentation, anyone can get the hang of it. It's easy to create basic 3D text and customize the fonts, colors, and … Read more

Sliding Block Puzzle does exactly what its name implies by mimicking a favorite childhood handheld game. Its simple graphics and relatively challenging gameplay make it a perfect choice for those looking for a brief brain-teaser or a bigger challenge.

In Sliding Block Puzzle, you click and drag tiles around to move a red square from a frame. We enjoyed the design of the program's interface, which is simple but with a clean, professional look. While the commonsense directions are straightforward enough that we didn't need any additional instructions, we were nevertheless disappointed to discover that the Help file … Read more

Spot the Difference provides a challenging game for both kids and adults. This fun game demands that players pay attention and seek out differences between two pictures to beat the clock.

We like how easy the interface is to operate, though the lack of a real Help file is a letdown. We were personally never confused enough by Spot the Difference to need extra instructions, but it was still disappointing to find that the Help file is basically an advertisement for other products. The game itself functions well, and the play offers a nice challenge. We were in a race … Read more

We really wanted to like SimplePiano. It looks like it has the potential to be a great tool for users who are learning to play the piano. Unfortunately, a problem with the program's interface combined with its lack of Help file made the program practically useless.

SimplePiano's interface consists of a keyboard, which users can play using either their computer keyboard (the corresponding keys are labeled on the piano) or with an external MIDI keyboard. This part of the program worked just fine. Unfortunately, in the space above the keyboard where we expected to see the treble and … Read more

Tournament Strategy and Odds Calculator provides a helpful tool for figuring out your odds of success in a Texas Hold-em game. While the calculator is a great learning tool, the program falls flat in other departments.

The program's interface initially felt welcoming, with a few simple command options and in-depth instructions in the Help file. However, we were turned off when we couldn't join a poker game immediately. The program claimed it was "Searching for a Game," though it quickly became obvious we would need a Free License to play. However, the only way to get … Read more

Printee for IE provides a simple alternative to dumping Web site information into a Word document for printing. This program's basic tools and excellent results will be a blessing for frequent cut-and-pasters.

We were instantly at home with this program's interface, with its clearly labeled commands. It was just as intuitive to use with our familiar cut-copy-paste techniques. Printee for IE appeared in our online browser as a small command bar offering a lot of options, but we really only needed the Grab tool. This turned our cursor into a text- and image-acquiring machine. We were able to … Read more

Easy Gif Maker provides an incredibly basic set of tools for creating GIF animations. Its simple layout proves to be an asset, as this program is welcoming to experts and novices alike.

We were initially turned off by the program's generic interface, which has just a few basic buttons and no design flair at all. However, we soon warmed up to Easy Gif Maker, once we realized its utilitarian design was aimed at making the entire process of creating GIF animations easy for anyone to master. While we couldn't actually create the frames necessary for animation, we were … Read more

PDFCropper provides two sets of tools for adjusting any PDF to be viewed on a personal device. With a confusing set of instructions and poor layout, this program is on shaky ground.

PDFCropper instantly rubbed us the wrong way with its vague interface, which left us confused and in need of assistance. The program's PDF Help file was slightly enlightening, but it kept us guessing about how half of the features worked. By either cropping a PDF or "reflowing" it, we were supposed to be able to view PDFs comfortably on handheld devices. The user-friendly cropping options … Read more

Cue Online is a realistic pool game you play on your computer. It supports several different styles of pool and features detailed and colorful graphics. Create a username and password at the game manufacturer's Web site, view the detailed tutorial, and you're ready to play.

The design and interface of Cue Online is detailed and sophisticated. The backgrounds and various viewing angles are impressive. There's a Help file and an Options menu for customizing the game and your playing experience. Opening the program prompts you for a username and password. After a moment of confusion, we visited … Read more