Ever since Apple began to utilizing certain PC-type hardware components, Mac users have been desperately trying to configure their systems to use Windows programs alongside their Mac programs. Numerous companies have entered the market in bid to be top windows emulator for mac. IEmulator, Parallels, VMware Fusion, and Codeweaver’s CrossOver have dominated the industry with innovative and reasonably-priced emulators that Mac users have come to love. The newest versions of these products have hit the market and the verdicts are in.

#4 IEmulator

Salient Features

• Free lifetime upgrades
• Excellent customer service
• Supports multiple operating systems
• $23.95 price tag

Where It Excels

IEmulator is one of the few emulator software packages to date that still offers a wide-range of support for older operating systems. The $23.95 sale price is not only cheaper than most of its competitors, but it also includes a free lifetime upgrade code that allows users to download and install the latest version. IEmulator’s support team is one of the best in the industry.

Their email and ticket support is extraordinarily fast and is operated by a very knowledgeable and friendly customer service staff. One of the most popular features that it has in its arsenal is the ability to run various setups on four different computers. So, users are capable of installing it on up to four different computers and configuration each computer to run on different memory partitions and sizes.

Where It Lacks

One of the biggest drawbacks is the difficult installation and setup. Particularly with older versions of Windows, it spits out errors that prevent installation. To make matters even worse, iEmulator has very poor network support. So, data connectivity can prove to be very frustrating. On top of the hard install, any CD programs that users plan on using will need to be converted to DMG format before they will run under iEmulator. Once the setup is finally complete, users will be faced with a limited screen resolution that can be a setback for later operating systems.

#3 Codeweaver’s Crossover

Salient Features

• Special Applications
• Doesn’t require a full version of Windows
• Over 700 add-on applications on it
• $59.95 price tag

Where It Excels

Codeweaver’s CrossOver is a popular emulator that has gained notoriety with its ability to run Windows programs without the need of Windows being installed on the computer itself. This is extremely useful considering the hefty price tag that comes with a Windows serial number. Alongside an extensive library of over 700 applications, CrossOver comes with Linux’s Wine and all the perks and features that accompany it.

Where It Lacks

Besides the nifty features CrossOver has, it also holds a rather large list of obvious flaws. For instance, Codeweaver’s CrossOver has a poorly built installer. The user-interface is complicated and cluttered; making it take twice as long as it should to install the software. Since it does not require a full Windows OS to be actively installed on the computer, it relies on pre-built features that have been copied over to the emulator. Unfortunately, these copied features run very poorly and often crash or lock up.

#2 Parallels Desktop

Salient Features

• Supports both Mountain Lion and Windows 8
• Automatic file-format recognition
• Cross-browser support
• Smooth and seamless transition between operating systems
• Coherence Mode
• Snapshot protection mode
• Accelerated 2D and 3D rendering software
• $79.99 price tag

Where It Excels

Parallels has many positive aspects that give it a competitive edge in the emulator market. To start with, It has a very smooth transition between iOS and Windows. In fact, both the operating systems run simultaneously and can handle both Mac files and programs while other Windows files and program are running. It has solved a common issue where users are forced to completely reboot their computer in order to switch operating systems.

The new version also includes some well-designed features that make cross-compatibility much easier. A very helpful feature allows users to connect via Bluetooth across Macs or PCs using either operating system. Even more important is the old security favorite; Snapshot. Snapshot allows users to make images or recovery files for their computer that can easily restore their system to an earlier state in the event they get infected with a virus or other malicious program.

Where It lacks

Parallels can take some getting used to for users that are unfamiliar with simultaneously running operating systems. It may take some time to grasp the concept of using Windows and iOS at the same time. Aside from the short assimilation period, users can expect to drop a pretty penny for this advanced emulator software. Its full version is priced at $79.99.

#1 Vmware Fusion

Salient Features

• Ability to switch operating systems without having to reboot system
• Excellent drag-and-drop abilities
• Over 200 supported guest operating systems
• Improved 2D and 3D rendering software
• $49.99 price tag

Where It Excel

VMware Fusion has included a community favorite; smooth alternation between operating systems. So, users will no longer have to reboot their computer in order to swap out a new OS or run various programs and files. It is assumed that VMware’s extensive history in the field has yielded a very competitive streak within the company, and it shows with the new features they have implemented.

Competing with other big-name emulator software programs, VMware Fusion 5 has included a special drag-and-drop feature that allows users to easily transfer Windows files over to the original Mac OS, or vice versa. This feature can become very handy when used alongside the extensive guest OS support. VMware has a very large database of drivers and updates for over 200 operating systems. This gives users the ability to use a very wide-range of systems and transfer information, seamlessly, between all of them. Included is a complete overhaul of the 3D rendering mechanisms that gives off a very high resolution; if needed.

Where It Lacks

The $49.99 price tag can be…well, pricey. Especially, considering VMware Fusion is still trying to fix a few mechanical errors prevents users from copying files across multiple operating systems at the same time. This is a minor bug, but noticeable if you ever try to copy a file over to Windows 7 and 8. Furthermore, the huge library VMware Fusion has for guest operating systems is a mixed bag.

Some operating systems are readily supported with a few driver installs, while others have to be completely upgraded to work with the VMware Fusion software itself. Again, this typically won’t serve much of a problem, but can prove to be frustrating for someone with limited knowledge that is trying to use an OS that needs upgrading.

Being a maverick Mac owner you must be proud of yourself that you made the right choice by buying it and not opting for virus prone windows. But I bet over time, your MAC must have slowed down and become clumsy. It is time to rev it up. Outdated caches and logs, application remainders, unspoken languages localization files and files to support Mac architectures are some of the commonly found files which you don’t generally use. On top of it, cumulative effect of downloaded files that can take up disk spaces and consumes resources adds to performance woos big time.

But….MAC OS X has built in algo for cleanup

True, it is slick OS. It can defrag files automatically and run plain maintenance scripts to remove temp & system log files daily, weekly or monthly. It even has the ability to evade file permission conflicts through its disk utility OS permission.

What does CleanMyMac do?

It is a comprehensive system utility with over 50 features accessible via click of button. You can read detailed CleanMyMac review here. It takes care of cache, removes log & unwanted binary files, other application specific trash leftovers and provides a intuitive drag n drop uninstaller which annihilates all application related files when you uninstall any software or application. It does not let you bother to remember to clear your trash regularly as its trash monitor alerts you when trash size reaches a set level. All in all it takes all your pain concerning cleaning & speeding up your mac.

Is It safe…I mean will it not corrupt my Mac?

I bet you can. We are techies but not to a level to know what is happening at OS level. If you goof up with one system file, it can halt your system for sure. Then how come CleanMyMac does not goof it up? The answer is simple….they invest time & money in making this software work as per user’s preference.

Each Mac user is different which means he configures his Mac in his own way, install different apps & use them differently too. Now, these unique actions would led to unique system cache files and binaries for your own Mac which if deleted would cause serious problem.

CleanMyMac solves this problem by maintaining database of blacklist & greylist files. Blacklist means these files are critical and should not be deleted. They update this list regularly and propagate these changes to all installed software via regular updates. Greylist contains files which can be deleted without impact. The software will mark them & will let you decide what to do with it.

It also gives user an option to maintain their own ignore list which basically means that if you do not want any app to be scanned by CleanMyMac then just mention it inside this list and it wouldn’t bother that app. All in all it provides adequate safety and has a good reputation in cleaning up unwanted files.

But I can do this via FREE tips….Why bother CleanMyMac?

Often when you are using free tips, you have to do things manually. This takes up a lot of time. You can sometimes go wrong and sometimes even after trying you might not be entirely successful. Thus if you have an interface which monitors & does this job via few clicks, do not waste time.

This software is a far more reliable and better method of cleaning your Mac. Even though the minimum requirements are known, not all Mac users go by it, resulting in a clustered and slow Mac. Instead of buying a bootable USB drive or DVD, it would be more sensible to purchase CleanMyMac which will not only clean install but clean your Mac in totality. Repairing disk permissions has been a point of debate for a long time now and people are not very clear on how it would clean Mac.

In case an incompatible application or process is found, a Mac user can be rest assured that CleanMyMac will take care of it completely. Disabling auto resume and browser extension, free Mac off that extra burden but doesn’t clean it completely. It is not possible for a professional or a busy user to stay organized or work with less windows, space and apps all the time. Also some users have quite a number of login items, all of them being necessary, resulting in a slow Mac.

Free tips on how to clean up a Mac

•  Remove log files: Go to application console and you’ll see many system log files. Mac keeps them here for “just in case” times. But you can delete them without reviewing. Use Onyx free utility for this purpose. It provides a nice gui to weed out these kind of files. All you need to do is to launch it, go to Cleaning tab and then choose inner tab such as system or logs, check appropriate boxes and execute it.

• Delete application backups: Many apps stash duplicate files which you can do without. Find out these folders and get rid of them.

• Back up your data through an external drive and then clean up your hard drive! Use TimeMachine for this purpose. Your Mac is as good as new then.

• Repairing disk permissions has been found to cure a host of issues and performance problems.

• Staying organized and doing away with useless applications, windows and files is the best way to clean your Mac.

• Find duplicate files in ITunes & remove them: It might happen that you have same file in multiple albums. Itunes lets you find dupe entries via choosing the file and clicking display duplicates. It shows those files which has same name & same artist. You can then select each file & open “display exact duplicates” to get desired result.

• Clean your Browser

Free tips on how to speed up Mac

• Increasing the RAM is the most common way of enhancing the speed. Make sure to update your OS with latest patches too.

• Lean Startup: Go to System -> Preferences -> Accounts -> Login tab & browse through all the apps that start automatically when you login your Mac. Your goal is to keep it to bare minimum.

• One should check the running applications and processes to ensure that they are optimized for Mac only and are also compatible.

• Auto resume is a feature which helps the application to save their current state by itself and applies to all applications and thus it should be disabled.

• Browser extensions should be disabled, as they slow down the Lion considerably. Also clearing the cache and closing unused tabs help.

• Login items which open automatically when you log in should be minimized as they can affect boot up at times.

• System performances drop, when the hard disk space gets close to becoming full. Thus, one should reclaim it.

In today’s technology age, more and more people are turning to finance software to help them in the management of their personal finances or the finances of their small business. Two of the most popular software programs are QuickBooks and Quicken. Both are made by the same mother company, Intuit.

Many people confuse QuickBooks and Quicken finance software. Despite the huge difference between features, functionality, price, and performance, both programs are very powerful and well-adapted to help multiple parties with financial management for their personal accounting or their small business. We feel that the confusion between these two software programs has reached a peak and it is time to showcase some of their individual features.

Who Are they meant for?

QuickBooks and Quicken have many different features and settings. To start out with, Quicken was originally designed as a personal finance program. So, it was meant to be used by individuals for their individual finance management. In contrast, QuickBooks was designed specifically for small businesses and their extensive financial records.

In fact, QuickBooks even has premium versions of the software that will allow users to extend the program’s functionality to more complicated business management tasks. However, many accountants and business owners have concluded that Quicken is a great software program to use when a business is first starting out and getting itself off the ground. Once the company grows and enters a larger market, it is advised that the managers move to using QuickBooks.

Although Quicken and QuickBooks may appear to offer similar functions and tools, they are two completely different software programs. Yes, they were created by the same parent company and are often confused for the same software. However, the two offer very different features and are better suited for different types of people or businesses.

Quicken is fast, cheap, and easy-to-learn for basic accounting and financing. Meanwhile, QuickBooks provides exceptional management tools that can assist users with some of the more advanced tasks. With the various licensing and premium versions, users should take the time to research each program before purchasing and use the vast amount of information available to decide which one is right for them.

Quicken Features & their competitors

Features

• Single-entry data accounting
• Short learning curve
• Excellent small-finance management tools
• Lots of reporting capabilities and functions
• Supports Classes and other association codes
• Tracks stocks and investments

Limitations

• Limited amount of space for detailing transactions
• No inventory or supply management system
• No payroll or employee management system
• Poor support for invoicing

Quicken’s main competitors are online management systems like Mint and special software called You Need a Budget. The main advantage Quicken holds of You Need a Budget is the wider range of tools and features that it provides. You Need a Budget is very effective in personal finance management, but lacks many valuable tools that users rely on for fast money management.

Softwares that try to compete with Quicken’s simplicity and fast performance offer cheap alternatives, but often lack some of the basic features that many users would deem necessary. The most unfortunate aspect of Quicken’s competitors is the lack of online community support. Since Quicken has built such a large following and customer-base, the Internet is filled with helpful tutorials and add-ons that help make Quicken’s basic functionality fairly advanced.

Quickbooks Features & their competitors

Feature Set

• Supports both single- and double-entry data accounting
• Large spacing for detailing transactions
• Lots of reporting capabilities and functions
• Supports multi-level Classes
• No inventory or product tracking system
• Excellent inventory system and supply management system
• Simple and fully-functional payroll and employee management system
• Advanced invoicing and receivables

QuickBooks has secured a very comfortable and influential position in the accounting software industry. Nevertheless, QuickBooks has found a reasonable competitor in Peachtree accounting software. Peachtree offers support for areas that QuickBooks has neglected.

Unfortunately, Peachtree has also supplied poor alternatives to the basic accounting functions that traditional QuickBooks users have come to rely on. Another shortcoming of QuickBooks’s competitors is the extensive learning curve. QuickBooks is, already, not the easiest program to learn compared to cheaper software programs. But, QuickBooks’s competitors prove to be even more complicated and can take almost twice as long to learn.

Conclusion

Regardless of which software users choose small business owners will probably use QuickBooks and Quicken in the exact same manner. Even though the two programs have very different features, most businesses will only use the basic programs and will often use them for regular tasks. Even more important is the learning curve and necessary functions that individuals or businesses can spare.

Since Quicken is cheaper and much easier to learn, it would be wise for individuals or freshly built businesses to use the program over other alternatives. Once the business grows larger and requires more flexibility and features, the accountants and managers would be wise to switch over to more powerful software like QuickBooks.

Macs come with some very powerful hardware mechanics that makes it an ideal system for advanced editing functions. Many professional video, sound, and graphics editors use Macs because of the extensive set of features that come pre-built with each unit.

Unfortunately, most of the free editors do not meet the standards that people look for. Apple iMovie, Avidemux, Blender, and ZS4 Video Editor are all free and very powerful editing software programs. There are many software options on the market today, but these four programs are the best in their class.

#4 ZS4 Video Editor

Feature Set

• Ability to combine different types of media
• Huge set of tools and filters
• Free on Mac, Windows, and Linux
• Cluttered interface and poor navigation
• Relies heavily on hotkeys

ZS4 Video Editor gives users the ability to combine different media files into a single output file. It can also be used in the opposite by splitting a single file into multiple media files. This is extremely useful for users that will be combining clips from different projects and importing files from other software programs. It also provides a lot of tools and special effects options that can help build a very detailed video.

The interface is very cluttered and loud. Random colors are spread across the timeline and buttons are strangely placed. It will take some time for new users to figure out where everything is located and how to use the timeline. ZS4 Video Editor also relies on hotkeys and keyboard shortcuts for some very basic edits. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem but can become frustrating if users are in a hurry to finish a fast video edit.

Books from Kindle are not supported on Kobo. Recommendations and top sellers slow down the pace of the app.

#3 Blender

Feature Set

• Great for 3D graphics, animations, and molding
• Large variety of effects and features
• Includes embedding editors
• Free on all major operating systems
• Best-suited for advanced media creations

It is a great video editor, but can also be used to make animated movies, video games, and 3D applications. It comes with a vast number of advanced tools and sculpting effects that allow users to create very realistic video files. Blender can be used for free on Mac OSX, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD.

It is really only good for advanced users that want to create dynamic content. The software is not designed to work well for very minor editing tasks and often lacks support for such basic functions. It is best to do minor edits in another video editor and then use Blender to add filtering and special effects for a very powerful video experience.

#2 Avidemux

Feature Set

• Available on multiple operating systems
• Supports many video formats
• Designed for simple editing and formatting tasks
• Free download
• Does not require a lot of CPU resources to run smoothly
• Limited filtering and rendering options

It is a ideal for very simple editing tasks. It can be downloaded for free across multiple operating systems and comes with great compatibility for all major video formats. The software has tons of one-click filtering and rendering options that make editing fast and easy. Importing and exporting in Avidemux is very fast and very simple. It is also very easy on the system and does not require as much power to run as many other video editors in its class.

For users looking to create very advanced and dynamic videos, Avidemux is probably not going to live up to the demand. It is best suited for minor edits and filters. The interface is easy-to-use but feels very clunky as the buttons are oddly placed. Each function is fairly limited as to what it can do. Almost all the filters have a single and repetitive output that makes it hard to build rich and independent media files.

#1 Apple IMovie

Feature Set

• Free with purchase of any Mac computer
• Preinstalled on all Macs
• Advanced video editing features
• Easy export to mobile devices
• Limited movie formats
• Requires a short adjustment period

Apple iMovie is free with the purchase of every new Mac computer and comes preinstalled. Users can easily export their final products to their iPhone, iPod, or iPad. It also supports easy sharing to websites like YouTube.IMovie comes with a huge set of exclusive features and rendering abilities that make it one of the most popular programs to date. Users can easily edit their clips into a movie trailer, adjust audio settings, and add powerful effects with a single click of the mouse. There are tons of tutorials all across internet to assist new users with creating new media projects.

IMovie comes with a short adjustment period. There are many new tools and special effects. So, inexperienced users will have to take some extra time to learn the ins and outs of the software. Another obstacle users will face is the limited number of supported file formats. Apple iMovie only supports MP4, MOV, and M4V formats. If users want to import or export different formats, they will have to use a Mac file-converter. Apple iMovie is only free for users that buy a new Mac computer.

Who would have thought that there would be a day when one could read a book on a tablet? Ranging in size from 5 inches to 10 inches and each weighing only a couple of grams, tablets seem to be even taking over computers now days!. So, while a lot of people use tablets for surfing the internet, playing games and even sending out e-mails, it is used to a large extent to read books on.

So, while a lot of people use tablets for surfing the internet, playing games and even sending out e-mails, it is used to a large extent to read books on. Android play store is no short of ebook reader apps, so here are top 4 most popular ones.

6) KOBO

It is easy, fun and surprisingly affordable as compared to other apps. It takes the cake in terms of collection with over 1.8 million free eBooks available in it. You can also read books from other platforms as long as they support ePUB and PDF and books from library, email or Dropbox account can be transferred your Kobo app.

Positives:

You can use the Kobo app on your Smartphone, desktop or tablet, as you can bookmark a page that will remain the same wherever you use the app. You can even share your favourite passage or quote from a book to any social media site and have your friends comment on it. Screen brightness can be adjusted and the volume key can be used to change pages.

Negative:

Books from Kindle are not supported on Kobo. Recommendations and top sellers slow down the pace of the app.

Get Kobo App from Google play store.

5) FB READER

The FB Reader supports platforms such as Linux, Windows, Siemens, Motorola, Pocketbook, PepperPad, SmartQ and many more. There is screen rotation to view your text in any direction and the Reader builds library automatically and generates a contents table. Moreover, books can be manually downloaded and put in the device using SD cards.

Positives:

You have access to a Network Library that contains a wide range of free books as well as paid books. The Library also has segments such as ‘By Title’, ‘By Author’, ‘Recent’, ‘Favourites’ and more for easy use.

Negatives:

It does not support PDF or .chm which they can consider changing in the future.

Get FB Reader App from Google play store.

4) Moon Reader

The Moon reader is available on all phones with Android and you can control the Brightness to suit your need. There are 10+ themes to choose from and save for later and the Reader supports various formats such as txt, html, mobi, fb2, epub, chm, cbr, , umd, cbz, rar, zip or OPDS

Positives:

You can adjust the brightness of your screen to suit your preference and even save your colour settings, and animations as a theme ready to use later on. Sync between phone and tablet is also possible.

Negatives:

Free downloads have ads and it does not support PDF files. Highlighting and annotation options should have been part of the regular Moon reader also and not only part of Moon Reader Pro.

Get Moon+ Reader App from Google play store.

3) WattPad

This is a unique app that allows readers to discover new and exciting stories every day from the huge collection that it has stored. Not only does it allow you to read and discover new writers, with Wattpad you can even become a writer! Discover writing skills in you that you never had! After writing out your story you even have the option of sharing it with the other Wattpad users who are connected! This makes Wattpad a social eReading App that connects all sorts of readers and writers across all genres.

Positves:

There is a wide range of genres to choose from and the Wattpad is available as an iOS and an Android App. Interestingly, the app can be used as an offline app as well. There is a huge range of books to choose from. This app also has a night mode for late night readers. With different customization options this app will keep you entertained and engrossed.

Negatives:

There is an alleged problem with indentation of paragraphs while posting stories. This is a big deal when it comes to Wattpad because this is an app that shares stories and allows people to post their own.

Get Wattpad App from Google play store.

2) Aldiko Book Reader

Topping the list of ebook readers for Android is currently Aldiko, which is power packed with features. You can even download your own eBooks directly to your device without having to use the computer. It supports ePUB and PDF formats as well as Adobe DRM eBooks. It imports ePUB and PDF books into your library from third-party apps such as Dropbox or any gmail or email attachments. Moreover, the app supports language localization, a very useful feature.

Positves:

It is highly customizable. It comes with the option of choosing your own colour theme, font, font size, night mode, bookmarks full text search and lots more. You can even import your own ePUB and PDF files. You can buy eBooks from any eBook retailer, thus you are not tied down to only one store.

Negatives:

The free app wasn’t very tablet friendly until the recent update of the paid version to 2.1. There are no provisions made for bookmarks, highlights or notes that are made available. There are hardly any customizable options either. The only available options are changing font size and margins not font face or colour themes.

Get Aldiko App from Google play store.

1) Kindle EReader

Kindle fire has been a revelation for Amazon and arguably most popular Ereader device ever. Its app enables access for android users to more than million books, newspaper and magazines from kindle store. It literally makes your android phone as kindle fire by emulating all its functions.

Positves:

• Awesome sync features with your kindle device.
• Easy to read, exhaustive repository.
• You can bookmark, search highlighted words on wiki/web and nice indexes.

Negatives:

• Still no dictionary support as it is there in kindle fire.
• No status bar to show chapter progression
• No multi font support. Text appears in only one font.

Get Kindle App from Google play store.

Depending on your goals and how expert you are, one should choose the correct Mac 3D Animation software for best and satisfying results. While creating 3D objects which are basic in nature, a simple program comes into play while an elegant, detailed program should be used when you wish to create an intricate animated film. Below we highlight 4 software which are slated to be best 3d software for mac in market.

#4 CARRARA

With a superb customer support Carrara 8 is another option to be considered when it comes to choosing a Mac 3D software program. It offers unique 3D characters and avatars which can be created from scratch. Superb quality CG movies and elements along with live footage can be created with this software. Complex landscapes and environments too can be created.

Where it excels:

One can exchange and use 3D characters with tools which seem real. Being available in both Mac and Windows version, this program offers all the features used in animation, allowing the creation of thumbnail images which can be viewed with movements. Being compatible in nature, one may easily import and export files as and when needed and also import 2D images into 3D objects. Carrara is not very expensive to buy; assuring an individual of getting its full value for the price they pay. Good customer help, newsletters and full contact information are the help and support it offers.

Where it falls short:

However, with a lot of interesting and new features, this program is best suitable for an intermediate to advanced user as beginners might find themselves in a fix when using it. Basic knowledge and information about animation is very much needed when using Carrara 8.

#3 KINEMAC

Offering some brilliant and unique features, Kinemac is a software program designed uniquely for Mac. Its feature set includes a strong animation control system lets the user control any aspect of movement. Using all the newest technologies it seems to be the best application for TV advertisements and movies.

Where it excels:

With good video tutorials and online help, it is a sought after program. The software is empowered by drag and drop features, allowing the user to export files easily, making it pretty compatible though importing 2D and 3D files cannot be done. Standard objects can be created instantly making work easier. Merging of objects with one another, translations, rotations, resizing, creating speed are some of the superb features this program has to offer. SVG files may be extruded as needed while using specialized attributes to create a realistic character.

Where it falls short:

One of the shortcomings of this product is that it is a little complicated in nature and less user friendly than Cheetah 3D. Some system requirements are too needed, in terms of RAM, when compared to other software programs. A little bit of previous knowledge about animation can make you a master of this program.

#2 CHEETAH 3D

Cheetah3D being a user friendly, flexible and easy to use program, it is designed uniquely for Mac. It has a universal binary application with a 64-bit version for Intel Macs with a very intuitive interface which is absolutely Macintosh in nature.

Hotkeys, mouse controls, toolbar and UI layouts can be customized as required. A superb feature that this program offers is the full set of object; polygon and point selection tools with the polygons have any number of edges possible. With the help of tags, additional features can be added to objects.

Where it excels:

An excellent video tutorial for first time users is available along with simplified user manuals, including all the basic features. Instancing is supported by the particle system resulting in creation of intricate and explicit scenes when required. A variety of files can be smoothly imported and exported making it very compatible with other programs. A user forum, retail store and online help being available make this software more accessible.

Where it falls short:

However, Cheetah 3D does not provide with some of the really detailed features of some exclusive programs. One of the major shortcomings of this program is that of character rigging and animation along with an old UI layout.

#1 POSER Software By Smith Micro

If you are looking for animated characters which are ready-to-use, being complex and detailed in nature, then Poser 8 is the software program for you. Poser offers completely textured humans and animal figures, props, various types of hair, different poses and full scenes for the user to use. Also 3D scene elements are included.

Where it excels:

Being more professionally oriented, this program comes in handy for designing explicit and life-like scenes for movies and other fields of work. A Content library with drag and drop features enables the user to immediately choose from a variety of items used for animation. The 3D animations created with its help can be used in other applications, making the program quite compatible. It offers a variety of help options like contact information, user manuals and user forum for intermediate to advanced users.

Where it falls short:

Though, Poser 8 seems to be an excellent program when it comes to complex features, it is not advisable that beginners start with it as they might get confused by the interface. Latest versions of all software’s should be used. Poser’s Organization and Management system gives fewer choices when it comes to putting up your resources. Also one has to specifically use only Poser’s file finder to open certain resource files which can sometimes result in a mess, with the user unable to find anything he needs.

This is especially true for IT companies and emerging businesses today. Instead of having multiple computers with different OS, a single computer Virtualization after all, is the order of the day and VMWare and Virtualbox does this job perfectly.

There are of course other advantages of having two different OS on the same machine – it provides security, convenience and also saves the cost which you might have had to incur if you bought two machines for the OS. Moreover, the convenience aspect too is huge.

Users of Apple, for instance, were surprised when they learnt that Apple discontinue support for Rosetta which could run financial software Quicken 2007. For such users, have virtual clients can help them carry out their functions effectively on a different OS.

Who Is VMWare & VirtualBox?

VMWare, one of the virtualization companies which is quite popular today. The company’s offerings are generally used by virtual datacenters as well as desktops by business and organizations all over the world. At present, the company serves a whopping 400,000 customers and 55,000 partners. 

Through the VMWare Workstation one can not only create virtual machines effortlessly but also do a host of other functions. For instance, features like Unity interface integration and dual monitor support as well as Player which helps play virtual machines.

You can even snapshot and take screenshots of the VM. When you do take the screenshot, you are provided with a detailed diagram of the total snapshots you had taken till then as well as the one which you are using currently. The latest version supports Windows 8 and USB 3.0. There are also improved graphics drivers.

VirtualBox on the other hand, is a property of Oracle, and is a great option for transforming OS like Windows, Linux and OS X into VM’s.  The best thing is this is free! Yes, you heard that right! Being certified under the GPL this software can be downloaded by anyone.

The free software lags behind in the feature department. There are no tools like Interface and Coherence. On the better side though, the software enables you to create VMs which could be easily utilized in another virtual client and you can even help create group VMs.  VirtualBox snapshot feature is as good as the VMWorkstation one.

Which one is Ease of use /Install?

If you provide installation media of any common OS, the VMWorkstation will automatically identify the OS in question and provide all OS related setup information.  The VMWorkstation’s main window too contains many shortcuts to common tasks like “Connect to a Remote Server” or “Open a virtual machine” which makes navigation easier.

Setting up VirtualBox on the other hand, is a bit difficult compared to installing VmWare. The extended setup information provided in the former is missing. Creating a new VM might be difficult for users who are not experienced.

Yet given its cost, Vmware takes the cake. Being costly, it offers a multitude of services. Compared to Virtualbox this is not so welcome as the latter is absolutely free. Moreover, VMWorkstation is only available to Linux and Windows users and Mac users have to buy VMware fusion which currently is available for $49.99. In the end, you may want to spend $199 to avail extra features, comfortability than VirtualBox’s raw configuration.

Better Performance

Performance wise, VMWorkstation is definitely upto par. Being easy to use and with a great user interface, you can start creating new VM clients in a jiffy. The Setup Wizard is friendly too and can let users know the nuances without any problem. Moreover features like Unity (which is missing in VirtualBox), helps incorporate the constituents of the virtual machine directly into the primary OS. Most features of the VMWorkstation are either lacking or not as good in VirtualBox.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, VirtualBox, in spite of its lesser features seems to be a good option for all amateur users. Though it is true that features like Unity are welcome ones you do not want shedding out $199 for it. If you are not restricted on money though, VMWorkstation is the clear winner and can help you manage things much easily and that too in professional manner.

The choice is up to you (and your pockets), you need to know which would suit you better. If you are just starting into business, VirtualBox would suit just fine. If you are on the other hand, been into business for some time, you might think of VMWorkstation.

Facebook provides a great platform through which you can stay in touch with your friends and let them know what you are doing, your thoughts, likes, dislikes, and even your plans for the weekend.

So many people breezily share a lot of personal information on social networking websites, something that they don’t do in real world. Somehow, the internet seems to make things impersonal, even if not anonymous. Although such websites have brought people from across the world closer, there are still risks that are associated with these websites, mainly due to the amount of personal information that people share in them.

Malicious Links on Social Networks

When you click on a malicious link posted on your friend’s wall, there are very high chances that your PC will get infected by the worm Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b.

Kaspersky Labs, which offers products like Kaspersky Internet Security 2012, has a comprehensive database of such worms that affect social networking sites. According to Alexander Gostev from Kaspersky Labs (Senior Virus Analyst), the chances of clicking on such malicious links are higher because they are usually posted by the user’s friends on the website. In such cases, Kaspersky Internet Security helps you communicate safely, while steering clear of all such viruses.

Other Side of Facebook Apps

And then, there are Facebook Apps. Facebook Apps range from those that help you manage your status messages to ones that help you determine trivia about yourself. You can find Apps that predict your weekend to Apps that help share your baby’s photos. There are even Apps that help you tell the world how you are feeling right now.

Facebook games like Farmville, Cityville, Café World, and Angry Birds are also popular among its users. The problem here is that in order to access these games or Apps on Facebook, you’ll need to give varying levels of access to your profile and your wall. Some applications ask for access to your entire friend network, wall, and also for the permission to post on your wall.

Do users want everyone to see all information and updates about themselves on Facebook?

Intelligent users do set visibility permissions, but, when you they provide access to a lot of Facebook applications, there’s a high chance that they will be exposed to privacy violations.

The ‘Take This Lollipop’ Effect

Take This Lollipop is an App that demonstrates how easy it is to use a Facebook App to gain information about you, your friends, your likes and dislikes and finally, where you live.

To drive the point home, the App is modeled on a horror movie. Once you grant the App all the privileges that it requires, it takes you into a movie. You go down a dark lane into a house. A dirty, lonely man sits in front of a computer, and logs into Facebook. He accesses your account. Soon you see your photos, wall posts, and status messages scroll by on the screen.

The man gets more and more obsessed by what he sees. Finally, he manages to locate your address. He then turns and looks at you through the screen, and gives a menacing smile. He gets into a car and starts driving towards your house with your profile picture pasted on his dashboard.

Learn the Dangers

If you want to find out how much info can be gathered about you by the simple act of granting permission to an app to access your account, try this App. It is not a malicious one, and is just designed to warn unwary users about the dangers of sharing too much information indiscriminately.

The video is excellently done. Even though it is not real, you do get the feeling of your privacy being invaded when you see the man on the screen seeing your profile, wall posts, photos, videos, status messages and then finally finding your geographic location. Regardless of whether you do try the App or not, be wary of sharing your information with everyone.

Social Sites Security

Today, one of the most important aspects of a security suite is its ability to protect you in your online activities, especially on social sites like Facebook.

Trend Micro has a link scanner that scans all the links posted on your page and alerts you to potential security risks. It checks against its constantly updated virus signatures database online to keep you safe from false links that can take you to dangerous sites.

Norton’s Facebook security feature is available as a Facebook App, which, if added, always scans you Facebook page for risky links and keeps you safe. In addition, Norton provides a feature called Identity Safe. You can store all your online IDs and Passwords here. Norton will encrypt them and keep them safe for you.

Norton has the edge in this aspect of Online Protection.

Mobile Security

Trend Micro comes with security Apps for iOS and Android. These apps provide several features like mobile tracking, number blocking and keeping you safe from malware while surfing. Norton also comes with a good set of mobile security features that keep you safe while you communicate using your mobile appliances.

Both Trend Micro and Norton cover this aspect of security well and keep you safe while on the move. It is a tie here.

Real Time Protection

Trend Micro provides good protection while you are surfing, protecting you against virus, spyware and other intrusive threats that can gain entry in several different ways – Harmful Websites, Fraudulent Emails, through Instant Messaging and so on. But it still has certain weaknesses that malwares can use to avoid detection and gain entry to the system.

Norton’s Real Time protection is top-notch; it keeps updating its database against new threats all the time, and easily recognizes threats and alerts you to possible new malware. It recognizes most of the known malware and keeps you protected all the time, whether you are online or off line.

Norton wins in this aspect as it keeps more up to date in its malware recognition and is fast in recognizing and preventing new threats.

Clearing Malware

Trend Micro does a decent job of clearing your system of recognized virus and other malware. But its implementation of monitoring and clearing threats contains a few holes which can let potentially harmful programs slip through. Norton does a great job of detecting and eliminating most kinds of threats. It is also excellent at removing virus, spyware and other malware. It works swiftly, removing the malware and also clearing all traces left behind by the threat. Its various components blend in and work together nicely to keep your system clear of harmful intrusions.

Norton Security wins in this aspect. Its implementation of threat recognition and removal is significantly higher, though Trend Micro is improving with each version in its coverage of threats.

Storage and Backup

Trend Micro provides its users with 10 GB of online storage. You can backup all your sensitive data here, as well as quite a few media files if you so want. Your data is encrypted and kept safe. You can easily recover all your important data that you have stored here in case of a bad system crash.

Norton comes with just 2 GB of backup space. While this might be good enough to back up important data, more storage to accommodate media files would have been welcome. Trend Micro wins here, it provides more space for Synchronization/Backup .

Conclusion

Both Trend Micro and Norton provide comprehensive security cover for your system, protecting it from all kinds of malware. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Trend Micro scores better in ease of use and in having less impact on system performance. Norton has consistently proved better at detecting and preventing threats and at clearing existing malware on your system.

Norton has been better at implementing heuristic techniques to detect new threats and eliminating them. Trend Micro now uses cloud technology in its security implementation. This means that the program is not entirely dependent on the virus database that it has on your system. It has a network of information that is constantly updated and so can be used to look up new, zero-day threats to prevent attacks on your system or network.

Eventually, which one you choose comes down to personal preferences. While Norton provides better overall security, it has been consistently unpopular among many users for its huge impact on system performance. It perceptibly slows down your system. The company is working to lessen their footprint on system resources, but the problem still remains.

Trend Micro has a much easier-to-handle User Interface and has much less impact on your system resources. It lags behind Norton in certain security features, though the newer versions are promising much better implementation of Malware detection and removal.

Read full Trendmicro Titanium review