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ie8 fix

5.0

BlackBerry Messenger 5.0: Get friends with bar codes

The mobile carriers have in-network calling, and BlackBerry users have BlackBerry Messenger, a BlackBerry-to-BlackBerry instant messenger that works more like e-mail than SMS to send real-time messages through RIM's servers. On Wednesday, RIM released BlackBerry Messenger 5.0, a version that pads the messenger with "avatars" (but they're more like your standard social networking mug shots), group chat, and photo sharing.

In addition to sending photos to contacts, BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 now opens the gates for transferring large files--up to 6MB in size. That's the equivalent of several photos, or one or two songs--maybe … Read more

Silly photo maker

FunPhotor offers to take users' photos and put them somewhere hilarious. Whether on the face of a dollar bill, the Mona Lisa or elsewhere, this program's simplicity ensures success nearly every time.

This program's interface is very simple, thanks to its layout. Using a five-step wizard and large, intuitive icons, users will be up and running in no time. In addition, a Help file and a video tutorial are available for anyone needing a little more assistance. Users simply input a photo into a selection of silly templates, from a gorilla's face, to a spot on Mount … Read more

Intuitive image stitcher

ArcSoft Panorama Maker Pro is a simple and elegant way for users to convert multiple images into one panoramic image. Its sleek design and ease of use place it among the best programs we've seen.

The program's interface is quite sleek and attractive. The first screen that users encounter upon opening the program contains information about how to shoot photos that make good panoramic images, including information about camera settings, tripod use, and photo overlap. Past that, to the left is a tree-structured view of the computer, allowing users to quickly locate the images that they want to … Read more

Netgear ships high-end dual-band wireless router

Since my CES blog on Netgear's WNDR3700, I have received a numerous e-mails asking about the availability of the product. Today, I can provide readers with a definitive answer.

Netgear announced Tuesday the immediate availability of what it calls "the ultimate networking machine for gamers, media enthusiasts, and small businesses," the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit router WNDR3700.

This is Netgear's highest-end draft-N router that offers true dual-band (concurrent signals in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands), as well as other features such as ReadyShare for high-speed access to a USB hard drive from any … Read more

Midi-based music instruction

MidiLogic allows beginning guitar and bass players to practice their notes and chords. Although the program's interface isn't the most intuitive we've ever seen, the program has the potential to be tremendously helpful to budding musicians.

The program's interface is obvious in some ways, but puzzling in others. The program displays either a bass or guitar neck across the top of the screen; this can be rotated or adjusted for left-handed players, which is nice. As a midi file of the selected song plays, red squares appear on the instrument to show users how to fret, … Read more

Flashy PDF converter

Solid Converter promises users one of the easiest programs for PDF conversion on the market. With its flashy design and basic flow, the designers have found a good balance with this excellent program.

The program has an interface that is a little crowded, but still manages to function well. Icons are large and cartoonish across the blue-and-white display, and are broken into four sections. The Getting Started section provides four icons for converting and modifying PDFs. There is a News box next to it. At the bottom of the screen is the Learning Center, with step-by-step tutorials for all processes. … Read more

Robust backup tool

BackupAssist provides a rich set of features for scheduling, managing, and monitoring backups. The application is overkill for the lone freelancer, but small and midsize businesses will appreciate the wide range of options and ability to create multiple jobs.

A wizard interface walks you through setting up a new job, starting with the type of backup (system, file, or application). BackupAssist does a good job of presenting its many options through visual cues and integrated Help text. We appreciated the built-in list of scheduling options, which came with recommendations on the type of company most likely to use each one … Read more

Easy logo creator

Logosmartz, a simple design program, will appeal to those trying to save money by designing their own business logos. While it lives up to its promise that anyone can create a logo, its results may not be what some amateur designers have in mind.

The interface for Logosmartz is divided into two distinct screens. The first allows users to scroll through the various logos and their accompanying example text. The second is the design screen, organized much like Microsoft's Paint, with tools to create new logos or alter the existing ones. Both are simple to navigate and your options … Read more

Complex site-monitoring tool

WebSite-Watcher ensures you never miss an update on a favorite Web site. While this software does what it promises, we found some serious hurdles that many may find troublesome.

This program stars working right after you download. The first screen you will see asks you to input which sites to watch. The rest of the program, however, is not nearly as intuitive as this first step. Once you see your Web pages listed, you are basically left to fend for yourself. While the program is fairly simple to comprehend after experimenting with different buttons, there are still several icons that … Read more