TiVo and EyeTV users can now transfer their recordings to DVD or DivX disc, or convert the content for viewing on iPod video, PSP, or other portable video players, including compatible cell phones. Users of set-top DVD recorders can also import and burn shows from these devices.

Through the use of data spanning, Toast can copy massive files that are too large for a single DVD, onto multiple discs. This enables users to move enormous files, such as videos, music libraries, digital asset collections, and other data to other Macintoshes as well as to Windows PCs.

Disc contents can be maintained in a catalog for tracking the location of particular files, often a problem with the proliferation of discs. The discs need not be on-line in order to find specific digital assets. File browsing of home and network directories has been enabled to simplify the process of finding music, videos, photos, etc.

The new Toast Photo Disc option enables users to create discs for use on Mac or Windows at exceptionally high quality along with a built-in slideshow capability.

Scratched or damaged discs can be copied onto new media, and their files recovered and restored.

Users can now preview video and audio from movies before they commit to making a copy. In addition the user can select the individual DVD movies and audio in consideration of available disc space and quality level.

The Audio Conversion Assistant, which is a part of the included CD Spin Doctor, walks the user through the process of converting vinyl LPs into digital tracks. Users process the tracks, add song info, and burn them to disc or transfer them to their iPod. All in all, Toast 8 is a must-have application. $99.99

Speed Download 4 (MAC)
Speed Download 4 is the "best in class" candidate for a Macintosh file transfer utility. It provides the complete solution for downloading and uploading files to and from FTP servers, with auto-resumption of broken or stopped connections, and using the most efficient processing of bandwidth.

The peer-to-peer feature enables a user to initiate highly reliable and fast transfers of files between two or more Macintoshes, with the security of encryption, and control over which files are transferred, and to which location. Password-enabled users are provided with access to files placed in shared folders.

Received files are automatically filtered into file folders, such as Documents, Music, and Images. This keeps downloaded files organized and easy to find. The History option shows which files were processed on a given date.

The program intercepts download commands from the user's browser, and processes the files according to the user's instructions. An entire page or site's worth of downloads can be processed at one time by copying the site's URL into the program's Add Files from URL... dialog window.

The flexible scheduling feature enables the user to set the dates and times for initiating downloads.

The first software bundle included Delicious Library (to catalog, browse, and share books, movies, music, and video games), FotoMagico (photo presentation software), ShapeShifter (software to change the overall appearance of a Macintosh), DEVONthink Personal (knowledge base and information manager), Disco (disc burning software), RapidWeaver (website creation software), iClip 4 (multiple clipboard and scrapbook application), Pangea Arcade (a collection of three games: Nucleus, Warheads, and Firefall), NewsFire (an RSS newsreader), and TextMate (a general-purpose text editor for Mac OS X). $49 (This offer may no longer be available. Check the MacHeist website for offers.)

Contact: MacHeist, http://macheist.com, e-mail: directorate@macheist.com.

Harold's Monogram Collection 4 (MAC/WIN)
Harold's Monograms is a world-class collection of over 50 monogram fonts representing the most expansive and diverse library of monogram fonts yet available. The fonts provide a rich treasure of typographic variety unequalled anywhere in a single collection. The monogram formats cover virtually all of the popular design variations, including oval, diamond, block, collegiate, entwined, hexagram, octogram, script, shield, snowflake, vine, and Art Nouveau. Many of the fonts provide for the composition of two- or three-letter monograms, some with a choice of decorative frames. Directions are provided for composing the monograms since monogram letter and frame variations require nonstandard keyboard layouts. $35

The program works smoothly and is very responsive. The tool palette is very lean and easy to use. It includes a selection tool, rotation tool, text tool, image placement tool, freehand vector tool, frame tool, line shape tool, hand tool, and magnifier tool.

Although the program is an entry-level product it has many features that belie that fact, such as unlimited undos and redos, zooming up to 10,000%, assignment of unlimited master pages and layers, reordering of composed pages, transparency, use of frame shape for clipping, virtually effortless masking, and more.

The frames, into which all imported page assets reside, can be displayed in a wide range of border shapes, strokes, and fills (graduated and solid). Frames and their contents work synergistically to affect the appearance and placement of the contents that they hold.

Most of the major elements, such as frame contents, frame location, and frame parameters; text styles, text without styles, and text orientation are controlled using Inspectors, which allow for the precise control of settings.

A free lite version supports the composition of a single page rather than the limit of 9,999 pages of the full version. A number of short demonstration movies show the basic operation of the program. $129

The software, which installs as a system extension, works in the background to maintain every version of a saved document so that they can be recalled whenever necessary. To summon a previous version the user simply selects the document on the desktop, clicks the right mouse button, and selects the version from the contextual pop-up menu. Archived versions are listed by their modification date and time. $49.99

Contact: Acertant Technologies, Inc., 1172 South Dixie Hwy, #613, Coral Gables, FL 33146, http://www.acertant.com, 305 402-1456.

The paint tools, like the others, respond much in the same way that they do in the real world. Layers of paint can be smeared together, mixing as expected, and blending right on the screen canvas. Several controls are provided to change the properties of the media and approach the control that is available using the actual materials.

Users can import a photograph to use as a tracing image. The image appears on a background layer over which the user can use any of the paint tools to sketch or paint directly on it. The background image can be adjusted in size, position, rotation, and transparency.

Other significant features are the availability of metallic colors, support for pressure-sensitive graphic tablets, unlimited undos, and more. $19.95

The ten lessons cover an overview of the application, the use of filters, establishing an automated workflow, and emphasis on each of the output formats: MPEG-4, Flash, QuickTime, Windows Media, Real Media, MPEG-1/2, and MP3 Audio.

The DVD includes the sample video clips that are used in the demonstrations so that viewers can follow along.

Mr. Caplin leads the viewer through every tool, function, and capability of the software. His insight and skillful application of the program is certainly the best way for any Squeeze user to learn all of the subtleties of the software. Not surprisingly, the video quality of the training clips is excellent. $99.99

Users select one of the many novel themes as the container for their creation. The theme is a full-motion background that crawls across the screen to reveal the digital assets that the user has composed. The completed montage can be e-mailed, saved to an iPod, output to a QuickTime movie, saved as a screensaver, or published to the Web.

During playback the recipient can pause on a video and see and hear its full contents and then move on when he or she is ready. PulpMotion creators can also add the recipient's image live so that they will appear in the montage via their own iSight camera.

The user can choose from more than 100 professionally designed SD and HD menu templates with menu transitions and user-selectable buttons, frames, and background images.

Users can record hours of music on DVD using MPEG, LPCM, or Dolby Digital audio formats. Audio CDs can be ripped to MP3 files easily, and stored on either CD of DVD discs. Conversely, MP3 or WMA audio format music can be converted into conventional audio CDs.

Other useful features include: extensive disc-labeling capabilities including support for LightScribe and Labelflash; data back-up including disc spanning, disc copying, password-protecting discs, and creating bootable discs; added disc copying capabilities in the bundled version of InterVideo DVD Copy 5 Silver; disc playback using the full version of the bundled InterVideo WinDVD 8 Player Silver; drag and drop burning from the desktop (Quick-Drop); Ad-Zapper for automatic removal of commercials from shows recorded on TV; easy creation of sophisticated slideshows with accompanying music, transitions, and custom zoom and pan effects; semi-automated ExpressFixª mode for correction of common digital photo problems such as red-eye; and more. $49.99

GenoPal is a wonderful aid to the digital publisher who needs to produce printed and on-screen materials that must exhibit harmonious colors. The process is effortless and the results are instantaneous and valuable...in a bankable way.

The user can select the number of colors that are to be generated and the manner in which they are displayed. The color palette that the user creates consists of a user-selected number of rows and columns separated by a settable gap between the color cells.

A particular color that is generated can be locked in place using the new Pin Up feature. A color that has been pinned remains fixed so that it no longer changes. Palettes can be saved, shared, and imported into applications such as Adobe Photoshop. $24.95

There does not seem to any subject that is not covered fully in this massive volume of Adobe PDF 8 information. Major sections deal with an introduction to the program; converting documents to PDF; editing PDFs; PDF interactivity; PDF publishing; and Acrobat PDF and LiveCycle Designer forms.

The entire book contents is included on an accompanying cross-platform CD-ROM which also includes samples from the book, PDF forms, JavaScripts, and the Adobe Reader software.

Although the book is provided in searchable PDF format, the print version is easily navigated with a detailed index and numerous cross references. The book is an essential guide for the serious PDF user.