Software

Review: Screen AVI CAM lets you make videos of your screen

Screen AVI CAM takes the humble screenshot to new levels by letting you capture an interactive, on-screen video. It's a little demanding and sometimes glitchy, but users who want to do a step-by-step tutorial will like it a lot.

This program comes with a 30-day trial while the full version costs $29 to unlock. When you're using the trial, it drops a screenshot on the final video. When testing, the program had to run at a reduced resolution and at Windows' basic color scheme. When it didn't, it caused the program to leave weird, white traces along … Read more

Review: Softkey Revealer quickly locates lost or missing product codes

Softkey Revealer quickly digs out product and activation codes from any of the programs on your computer. It delivers on its promises, but doesn't have much use once you've found the codes you need. Still, if you're the type to ditch the manual the second you open the box, it will come in handy.

This slim download installs and operates quickly. During testing, it scanned a few dozen programs in about a minute. It only found one program that needed a code, and it found the correct code that came with it. Once Softkey Revealer finishes finding … Read more

Review: AOMEI Backupper provides one-stop imaging of all parts of your system

AOMEI Backupper provides the user with the ability to back up not only their disks and partitions, but their boot sectors and system files, as well. This utility is for more advanced users who are sure of what they need.

The app is ready to go as soon as it's installed. The user guidance for this program is extensive, including a full set of tutorials on the company's Web site. The program, itself, links to the tutorials, and there is a tutorial for every feature in the program. Backing up the main disk and boot partitions requires a … Read more

Review: Speakers Lock restricts other users from changing your volume

Speakers Lock grants you more control over your volume, but installs as an ad-supported application; therefore, caution is needed. It will drive your antivirus software up the wall and try to load your computer up with nasty adware. Once you get to the program, itself, it's a little too aggressive with how it takes over your volume; but it performs well.

Since this is an executable program, it might make your antivirus software suspicious. That could be because the program is loaded with nasty add-ons. It tries to change your search and your homepage, and install something called the &… Read more

Review: Wise JetSearch Portable blasts through file searches with ease

Wise JetSearch Portable finds files shockingly fast and easily outpaces the default file search on Windows. It will find dozens of files that fit your needs faster than you can even say its name. It even displays your searches in a neat, clean layout that you're going to like.

Since Wise JetSearch Portable comes in an executable file, there is no need for installation, although it might upset your antivirus software. However, the program is clean and doesn't come with any nasty add-ons. This program isn't a Web search program; instead it simply searches for files on … Read more

Review: Wise Program Uninstaller Portable solves problem program issues

Wise Program Uninstaller Portable forces annoying programs off of your computer, but it comes with its own nuisances, too. There are some weird pop-up ads to put up with and it doesn't delete programs quickly. However, it's helpful in a pinch and is nice to have since you can stick it on a USB drive to take with you.

This program downloads as an executable file, which may make your anti-virus software flag it as suspicious. During testing, the program didn't behave suspiciously, but it did bring an unnecessary pop-up ad out of nowhere. It was for … Read more

Review: F-Secure Mobile Security gets the job done

F-Secure Mobile Security is an all-encompassing service that provides antivirus scanning, parental controls, and anti-theft solutions in an attempt to provide an all-encompassing protection package.

Upon installation, the app will walk you through a series of steps that include accepting some guidelines and allowing permissions, like the ability to wipe your device without warning, check your location, and other sensitive administrative actions. It'll then guide you through an anti-theft setup process, first with Android's stock security and then with F-Secure's own security code. You'll then be asked to add an optional trusted number to send an … Read more

Review: Writer's Cafe Portable provides a powerful tool for scribes

As a nifty program full of cool tools, Writer's Cafe Portable helps you improve and organize your writing. Its layout won't win any design awards, but it's so packed full of neat and fun features that you won't really care. If you need help finishing or starting that novel you've been talking about for years, this is the program you want.

Since it operates as a portable application, you can install it to a USB drive just as easily as on your computer. Once you're inside the program, it offers tons of cool features … Read more

Review: Anvi Browser Repair Tool controls and repairs your IE browser

Anvi Browser Repair Tool helps IE users optimize, clean, and repair their browser when they believe it has been compromised. This tool performs well and offers many options that will appeal to all IE fans.

Anvi Browser Repair Tool comes as an EXE file and the installation completes very fast. By default, it will add other software to your PC, so uncheck the box during install if you don't want the extras. Once you finish the setup, the program welcomes you to a well-designed and self-explanatory interface. When it comes to options, this program offers the ability to block … Read more

Review: Anvi Startup Booster allows you to "run" your startup

As a full-fledged, detailed optimization tool, Anvi Startup Booster gives a large amount of information about programs and services that start with the computer. The program ranks each item according to its "blocking rate," a metric of how much the program or service slows down your startup rate.

Downloading Anvi Startup Booster was extremely easy and the publishers didn't try to push additional add-on software. It is a small program that immediately scans your computer when opened. The scan takes seconds at most and is very comprehensive. The program shows you a list of startup programs and … Read more