Review: iPod Copy Master can't master music management

iPod Copy Master $20.00 iPod Copy Master will help you copy music from your iOS device to your PC, but be prepared for an unattractive design and a higher price tag than that of its competitors.

Download Now Buy Now

Copying music from your iOS device to your PC is not as easy as it should be, thanks to the limitations of iTunes. Neither is it made much easier with iPod Copy Master, a $20 application that promises to streamline the task. Fortunately, its rivals do a better job.

The free version of iPod Copy Master is so limited as to be almost useless.

iPod Copy Master sounds promising, as it offers to transfer 1,000 songs from your iPod, iPhone, or iPad to your PC in less than 30 minutes, and touts its ability to copy playlists and ratings back to your PC, too. But you'll have to hand over $20 to access any of those features, as the free version is so limited as to be almost useless. It allows you to copy only one track from your iPod to your PC, and not just one track at a time—one track only.

iPod Copy Master's default skin is supposed to resemble wood, but it's neither realistic nor appealing.

iPod Copy Master also sports a design that looks as though it's supposed to resemble wood, but comes no closer to real wood than those station wagons with faux-wood panels on the side that you used to see back in the 1980s. You can change the skin, but the only other option in the free version sports a black background with white text, which quickly irritated my eyes.

The black design is more attractive, but it made my eyes hurt.

And, really, even a more appealing color scheme can't help iPod Copy Master. This application has the basics covered, as it easily detects an attached iOS device, and quickly pulls up its contents on your PC's screen. And I like that you can choose between transferring the music only to a folder on your desktop or doing that and syncing with iTunes. But that's about it.

I would be more willing to overlook iPod Copy Master's flaws if the free version offered more functionality. At $20, iPod Copy Master costs the same as CopyTrans, a more full-featured iOS management tool that allows you to copy files from your iPod to your PC. CopyTrans also offers a free version that lets you transfer 250 tracks at a time. And SynciOS offers files transfers and more iOS management tools for free…in an application that looks better than iPod Copy Master.

From PC World. Electronics product reviews and advice for best reference

Review: Master Gmail's Keyboard Shortcuts with KeyRocket

Engineers love keyboard shortcuts. So, like most Google products, Gmail offers you the ability to do pretty much anything with a keypress, from composing a new message (c for compose) to going back to the main list of emails (u for up). These keyboard shortcuts are one of Gmail's best features: they let you compose, archive, forward, and reply to messages, move between labels, search, and more, all without reaching for your mouse.

Alas, they're also hard to learn. After enabling keyboard shortcuts in the Settings screen, you can hit "?" to get a semi-transparent overlay listing all shortcuts. For some people, looking at a long list isn't the best way to learn–and KeyRocket thinks it can do better.

Every time you use the mouse to do something your keyboard can do, KeyRocket would let you know.

Veodin's KeyRocket for Gmail sits in the background as you use Gmail, and quietly watches your every move. As soon as you tick the checkbox next to a message (to select it), it pops up a discreet notification letting you know you could have just hit "x" on your keyboard to do the same thing. When you hit the Reply button, KeyRocket informs you that "r" would have worked just as well.

Because the messages are contextual, they are much more useful than a help sheet: You learn in bite-sized chunks, and only about those functions you actually use.

KeyRocket makes key combinations easy to understand.

KeyRocket isn't perfect: Ideally, it should be able to tell when you already know a shortcut, and just prefer using the mouse now and then for the same function. KeyRocket shouldn't tell me about the "#" shortcut in the one time I use the mouse click the button, just the first few times.

Still, despite this minor flaw, KeyRocket is an excellent learning aid for Gmail.

Note: The Download button takes you to the Chrome Web store, where you can install the latest version directly into your Chrome browser.

Endlessly tweaking his workflow for comfort and efficiency, Erez is a freelance writer on a mission to discover the simplest, coolest, and most effective software and websites to make tomorrow happen today.
More by Erez Zukerman

From PC World. Electronics product reviews and advice for best reference

Logitech Alert 750e Outdoor Master System Review: Terrific Resolution, but Supports Only Six Cameras

Both Logitech's outdoor (shown here) and indoor cameras deliver exceptional video quality.The most impressive feature of the Logitech Alert video surveillance system is the quality of its cameras, both in terms of the resolution of their video (960 by 720 at 15 frames per second) and their physical construction (the cases are fabricated from zinc, not plastic). The downside is their cost--and the fact that you can’t deploy more than six cameras.

You’ll need to buy a master system that includes either one indoor or one outdoor camera (priced at $300 or $350, respectively), and then purchase additional cameras for $200 (indoor), $230 (indoor with night vision), or $280 (outdoor with night vision) each. For our evaluation, we set up a four-camera system consisting of two outdoor cameras, one indoor camera, and one indoor night-vision camera. Assuming that you start with a master system that includes an outdoor camera, this package would cost $1060. (All prices are as of June 13, 2012.)

Networking

The setup we evaluated utilizes HomePlug AV powerline networking. In this kind of networking, electricity and ethernet data packets (including audio and video) travel over the same cable. This arrangement means you must have an AC receptacle within the vicinity of each camera you deploy, but you don’t need to string cable from your router or your computer to make any connections; you just plug Logitech’s HomePlug AV adapter (included with each master system) into an outlet near your router. Logitech provides a 10-foot ethernet ribbon cable with each camera, but you can purchase longer cables if you need them (a 50-foot cable is priced at $20, and a 100-foot cable costs $40). Each camera must be connected to a somewhat large HomePlug AV adapter (the indoor model plugs directly into a receptacle; the weatherized outdoor models, which have short pigtail plugs, should be secured to a wall).

Since Logitech routes the cameras' video through its own servers, you don’t need to futz with port forwarding or other complex router settings to enable remote viewing of your cameras. You can view live video from any PC, smartphone, or tablet with Internet access. To view recorded video or to control the system remotely, however, you’ll need to sign up for Logitech’s Web & Mobile Commander service (first year included, $80 per year after that).

The software can show all six cameras, but five are limited to very small windows. Fortunately, you can switch the order.We encountered no problems in our evaluation, but you should note that powerline networking can be problematic in some environments: If your home or facility has poor-quality electrical wiring, or if your circuits must also support machines that draw high amounts of electrical current, for example, powerline networking might deliver poor performance or fail altogether. If that describes your situation, or if you just don’t like powerline networking, Logitech also offers the same outdoor and indoor cameras set up to run on Power over Ethernet. The outdoor PoE model costs $240, and the indoor model is priced at $190 (currently Logitech does not sell the indoor night-vision camera configured for PoE). In addition to buying the cameras themselves, you’ll need to deploy a PoE ethernet switch to support these models (such devices start at about $80 for a four-port Fast Ethernet switch).

The Cameras

All cameras are equipped with microphones and motion detectors. You can fine-tune the latter using Logitech’s software, drawing independent zones within each camera’s field of view, and adjusting the camera’s sensitivity so that only large objects or significant motion will trigger the camera to record. You can also set up the software so that when the camera detects motion, it can send you an email or dispatch an instant message to your phone with a clip from the video. In our experience, however, this setting generated so many messages that we soon turned the messaging feature off.

Logitech’s cameras save motion-triggered video recordings to an on-board MicroSD card (a 2GB card is provided, but the cameras can support cards with up to 32GB of storage space). If you have a Dropbox account, you can set up the cameras to transfer recordings to the cloud automatically. Even without Dropbox, however, you can put the host PC to sleep when you’re not using it for other tasks, and save energy. When the PC is awake and Logitech’s software is running, the program will automatically prompt the cameras to archive their recordings to the host PC’s hard drive.

The cameras have excellent night vision up to 65 feet. Don't try to save money by putting an indoor camera in a window pointed outside, however, because the LEDs will reflect off the glass.Although Logitech’s cameras each carry a very good wide-angle lens, we wish that the company also offered a pan/tilt model. And if the cameras were outfitted with a speaker output, you could build a two-way video intercom system around them.

Bottom Line

The Logitech Alert system is top-shelf in nearly every respect: The cameras are rugged, they produce exceptional resolution, they record audio, they don’t rely on a host PC, and they’re easy to install and configure--even for remote viewing. We also appreciate the fact that they’re available in both powerline and PoE configurations, just like the Trendnet TV-IP322P. The one drawback is that the system is limited to a maximum of six cameras; although that isn't a problem for most homes, it might be inadequate for some businesses. If you’re looking for a video surveillance system you can deploy quickly, and if the six-camera limit isn’t a deal-breaker for you, we can’t recommend a better choice. The Swann DVR-4 2600 is almost as easy to deploy, but it's limited to four cameras and has a more restricted range.

Note: This review is part of a roundup of video surveillance systems. For more, read our introduction to the roundup.

From PCWorld. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center here

Relive a Gaming Classic With Dungeon Master Java

Introduced back in 1987, Dungeon Master is the granddaddy of action RPGs. Games from the classic Ultima Underworld to 2011's game of the year, Skyrim, bear a close familial resemblance to it and adopt liberally from the mechanics and innovations it introduced. Behind a deceptively simple real-time, first-person, step-based interface lie a game of substantial depth and intricate balance. Exposition is nearly nonexistent; the way forward is sketched out with cryptic three-word phrases that first seem to mock the player, but later reveal themselves as clever clues or prophecy. Combat is an addictive dance of mouse management, mnemonic skill, and party prowess. Few games have done it better. The main barrier to enjoying all this goodness is age. Dungeon Master Java (free) rejuvenates this venerable title, letting retro enthusiasts enjoy it on modern PCs.

Remember these guys from Dungeon Master? Twenty-five years later, they still want to kill you.Playable PC versions of Dungeon Master are hard to come by and lack key features like stereo imaged sound or the Chaos Strikes Back sequel, which contained the game's most memorable levels. The graphics are also pretty rough to look at today, even for a retro experience. Dungeon Master Java takes care of all these problems and brings this classic into the twenty-first century with updated art and an impressive level editor that will having you designing dungeons in minutes.

Installing Dungeon Master Java is a drag-and-drop affair, requiring little beyond picking a directory and unzipping the file into it. Both Mac and PC files are included in the archive. There are separate Windows executables for the game and the editor, both of which run as standalone programs rather than browser-based Java apps. Version 1.4.2 or later of Java is required, but otherwise pretty much any PC with a supported OS will do, as system demands are modest.

What you get in return is a faithful recreation of the original Dungeon Master game with a graphic style that echoes the nostalgic charm of the early RPG days without inflicting the pain of the hardware-limited graphics of that era. Furthermore, all assets used in the engine are designed to be replaceable, so the game can recreate whatever environment you prefer. Several add-ons already exist, providing everything from custom anime portraits to tile sets from the classic SSI Eye of the Beholder RPGs. The same is true for sound effects, interface elements and even the title screen. Virtually every facet of the game experience is at your control. The most recent version adds a much needed scaling function that allows the game window to smoothly increase in size to meet modern resolution needs, along with an in game automap the novices will appreciate but purists will shun.

Gameplay includes the original Dungeon Master campaign along with a new dungeon by the game's author, a healthy serving of dungeon delving given the free price. The level editor, a paragon of simplicity and utility, has been the gateway to more content via a small but dedicated DM community who have recreated the famously difficult Chaos Strikes Back add-on and other lost gems, including Raven's first title, a Dungeon Master clone called Black Crypt. There's enough out there to keep you busy for quite a while.

People who played Dungeon Master back in the day remember it fondly for good reason--and the formula still has plenty to offer modern gamers. The spatial puzzles bring to mind Portal, with their ample drops, teleports, floor triggers and wall switches. Exploration requires keen observation, and it1s easy to get in over your head with enemies, a situation Dark Souls fans will find familiar. There1s something here for everyone. Until the highly anticipated Legend of Grimrock brings 3D acceleration and other top shelf technologies to the classic RPG table, Dungeon Master Java stands as the best way to experience this nearly forgotten style of gameplay. Highly recommended.

--Jim Norris

From PCWorld. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center here