9.0

Those Mac users who don't like using Safari may want an alternative. Netscape X for Mac is a solid option that performs well with all of the features expected of a good Web browser. The problem isn't with the program or how it works, it's actually a message from the publisher.

The browser is available fully functional for free. Netscape X for Mac downloaded quickly, but acceptance of a lengthy user agreement was required to use the application. Once the program starts, it gives the user the option to import all presets and bookmarks from their primary … Read more

No one likes tax time -- not even paid tax preparers. They view tax season the way retailers view the holiday season; something to survive in order to thrive. Yet it's even worse for employers, who must not only do their own taxes but also prepare W-2s for each and every employee. Real Business Solutions has a solution for real businesses: W2 Mate 2012. Simply put, it can import, prepare, and file W-2, W-3, 1099, 1098, and related tax forms. Better yet, it saves you money by laser-printing your own government-approved substitute forms on blank paper. It prints individual … Read more

iMovie 11 is the latest incarnation of Apple's popular video authoring tool. With it, you can import video clips from external devices or from anywhere else, arrange them on a timeline, shuffle them around, and preview the results; when you're happy you can create a final video file suitable for burning to DVD or uploading to share with others.

iMovie 11 has a clean interface. You drag files (video, audio, image) to a project area, and from the file area you drag what you want onto the timeline in the bottom pane, arranging the files in the order … Read more

The bottom line: AVG Free 2012's renewed focus on performance keeps scans zippy, but struggles with slowing down your boot time and too many false positives.

Review: The never-ending mantra chanted by security suite vendors sounds a lot like "faster scans, easier to use, better performance," and AVG has released a new version that it says accomplishes all three. Certainly, the scans are faster, it does install more quickly, and some tweaks to the interface have made it easier to view. Two new core security changes will make you safer, too.

Editors' note: Portions of this review … Read more

Google AdWords can be a powerful form of advertising, placing ads for your business right next to related Google search results--if you do it right. Google AdWords Editor is a simple tool that lets AdWords users manage their campaigns on their desktop. There's no guarantee that it will improve the success of your ad campaign, but it can at least make the whole thing a little easier to deal with.

The program's interface is plain and utilitarian, with its major features arranged in tabs. We easily signed in to our AdWords account and loaded our data into the … Read more

BiblePro from BibleOcean is a free software Bible with interactive features that make it a fine study tool. You can add a raft of extras, such as Bible editions, maps, illustrations, numerous commentaries, and other resources by what was claimed to be an additional free download. However, we discovered that it requires a "donation" to download the "free CD" and other extras.

When we installed and opened BiblePro, a pop-up let us enter our e-mail address to activate the program's free registration, which entitles users to perpetual free updates. The Word-style interface opened with Genesis … Read more

Linkman Lite from Outertech is a free tool for collecting, centralizing, and managing bookmarks from 10 different browsers. It integrates with Firefox and Internet Explorer as well as the interesting Maxthon. But it's capable of much more, such as the ability to organize and sort bookmarks by keywords, comments, folders, paths, and other filters; synchronize bookmarks and links between two programs or two separate computers; automatically check and update links and delete duplicates; and import and export saved files. You can also color-code bookmarks, protect your bookmark files with a password, set hot keys, save all the links on … Read more

File encryption is the way to go to prevent prying eyes from viewing important documents, but no one wants to mess with a lengthy encryption process. Cryptainer LE Free offers users a quick and easy way to securely encrypt their private data.

The program introduces two separate windows to your desktop at startup. The larger of the two windows walks you through the setup process for creating an encrypted volume. First, you have to browse for and select the location for the volume. Next, the program asks you to enter a label for the container, the volume size (up to … Read more

The bottom line: Although AVG has flagged a little in the past few years, AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011 breathes some new life into one of the most popular security programs around with a shorter install, better usability, and faster scans.

Review: The never-ending mantra chanted by security suite vendors sounds a lot like "faster scans, easier to use, better performance," and AVG has released a new version that it says accomplishes all three. Certainly, the scans are faster, it does install more quickly, and some tweaks to the interface have made it easier to use. However, changes to … Read more