Nero 9 debuts

(Credit: Nero)

German software publisher Nero has taken the wraps off of Nero 9, the latest iteration of its eponymous software suite. In addition to CD and DVD burning, version 9 includes a wide range of functions, including video editing and transcoding, DVD authoring, media streaming, and file backup.

Among the major improvements that Nero is highlighting:

• Improved Nero StartSmart: Once a glorified program launcher, the latest version of StartSmart is more of a central control for the entire Nero suite that's designed to be easier for newbie users.
• Enhanced format/codec support: FLAC (lossless audio), Matoska video (.mkv), and AVCHD is now supported.
• Ad Spotter: The software can automatically identify and remove commercials from recorded TV programs.
• Music Grabber: Rip the sound track from any video clip.
• Movie Wizard: Theme-based editor for home videos includes preconfigured transitions and music for events such as weddings, birthdays, and vacations.
• Nero Live: TV viewing application for use with PCs with built-in TV tuners.
• Auto Backup: Nero will allow transparent backup of selected files and folders to add-on hard drives or (for an additional fee) the company's own online storage service.

Nero 9 will be available soon for $100 (shrink-wrapped retail box) or $80 (direct download). Owners of the most recent Nero version will be eligible for a 20 to 35 percent discount from those prices.

[rdnetto]

So how bloated is it this time? Is the installation media a CD, or are we up to DVDs now?

[Ryan_R]

I had a feeling Nero 9 would be out soon (the build number seems to be higher every time you visit their download page just about). I had no idea what they could possibly add to their software to make users want to upgrade, but I might check it out once my new system is finished.

There's always Nero Express for those who don't need the extra apps. I think $80 for all that is exceptional value.

[Adam A. Wanderer]

Nero 9 is a lemon. It does far less, when it does anything, than Nero 8, and offers much, much less control over the operations. Stick with Nero 8 until Nero 10 comes out.

[HerrGarman]

Ahead, stop clowning about with Video editing, TV and all sorts of crap.
You should have included Matroska and Losless support in Nero 6, or use plugin architecture.
As much as Nero 9 aims to become Jack of all trades, it truly is master of none.
In your attempt to bloat systems and force users to upgrade the hardware, you simply fail as more and more people go over to freeware such as CDBurnerXP which does the job 10 times better.

[long-wolf]

<NOD32 3.0.669.0> 18.10.2008 21:59:43 Real-time file system protection file C:\DOCUME~1\Long Wolf\LOCALS~1\Temp\NERO1002626\unit_app_75\Toolbar.exe Win32/Toolbar.AskSBar application cleaned by deleting - quarantined NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM Event occurred on a new file created by the application: D:\TRIAL\DOWNLOAD\SOFT\Nero-9.0.9.4c_trial.exe.

:(

[drded]

For those of you that use nxape.dll and nxflac.dll forget Nero 9. Apparently they no longer support the use of plugins and have the cavalier attitude of we don't care about 3rd party plugins. To quote Nero tech support: "I am sorry to tell you that we can not change anything about these third party plug-ins.
These plug-ins are created by another publisher, who is liable for its compatibility with different other softwares." They worked in Nero 8, so keep that version.

[cca50]

NERO 9 is junk software as downloaded in the US . It may not be NERO directly but the ask.com and the "ask tool bar" that is part of the download, shows as malware and my Security Suite blocked it when downloading. I allowed it to be downloaded , not installed, and when installing NERO 9, got the blue screen of death which appears to be directly due to not installing the ask toolbar.. If I want the "ask tool bar" I will download it. This forces you to download the toolbar even if you do not choose to install it. In my opinion, NERO made a bad mistake when adding the extra, unwanted add-ons. Also, when you request support from NERO now, it is redirected to Ask.com support. Don't waste your money. On a side note, no software is worth taking 8 hours to download even using a very fast broadband connection. BEWARE of the upgrade.