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2. Virtual CloneDrive

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - Game Jackal Pro

   4.0.0.5 Beta (Sep 18, 2009)

   No issues with new SecuROM games (ie Wolfenstein, Batman Arkham Asylum, etc) or my older games. Saves my original game discs from wear and tear and the accidental accident where they might get dropped as well as making life easier by not having to store my game discs near the computer and not having to put a disc in the drive every time I want to play the game that I purchased.

2. 
   Review - Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs for Windows

   2.29 (Jul 25, 2009)

   Great drivers. For people running ATI Radeon HD 4xxx cards I recommend using these drivers instead of the ones that are part of the Catalyst driver package. As others have noted it is infuriating trying to get the drivers from the Realtek website. I advise people to visit MajorGeeks.com. They always have the download mirrored with good download speeds.

3. 
   Review - AnyDVD HD

   6.5.7.0 Beta (Jul 24, 2009)

   With this update Slysoft now has the only software that handles both BD+ and MKB 14 meaning virtually every single Blu-Ray is supported. No one else has managed to get BD+ under control and it's been awhile now. This new AnyDVD update works exactly as advertised.

4. 
   Review - AnyDVD HD

   6.5.6.7 Beta (Jul 20, 2009)

   This beta supports a bunch of the newer BD+ discs which is nice. Great work by the developers.
   
   hackztor, you can still buy a lifetime license and if you were an existing license owner before the change to different licensing options you have a lifetime license. They used to just offer lifetime licenses. Now you can select from 5 different options and the lifetime choice remains.
   
   Great product for any HTPC owner or anyone who just wants to enjoy their movie collection even more.

5. 
   Review - CloneDVD

   2.9.2.3 Beta (Jul 16, 2009)

   Some feature additions. v2.9.2.4 beta is out now and fixes an issue in v2.9.2.3 beta. The transcoder performance is improved.
   
   It needs to be remembered that Slysoft doesn't make CloneDVD. Slysoft is an authorized reseller. Elaborate Bytes writes the software. CloneDVD doesn't need to be updated often because there is no reason to.
   
   I've never had a problem with burning backups and having them play on a standalone player but I also refuse to waste money on DVD-R media and instead buy DVD+R media which will be booktyped to DVD-ROM if the drive supports it, I use quality media and not garbage like Memorex, and I never burn too fast which most people with issues do which combined with junk media will result in coasters.

6. Comment - Windows 7 is coming: You should upgrade

   2.9.2.3 Beta (Aug 20, 2009 - 5:28 PM)

   This is a well stated and put together article. Well said.
   
   XP is still an OS that I like but it is getting long in the teeth and I question just how long it will remain a viable OS. Support by hardware makers was lacking for XP x64 which pushed Windows x64 adopters to go with Vista which was less than stellar. Windows 7 does make up for what was lacking in Vista.
   
   One thing I do have to say, however, is that I recently performed a Vista Ultimate SP2 x64 upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64. The result was a nightmare of issues. Microsoft's Windows 7 Advisor said I was free and clear to upgrade without problems. That was a laugh. The Frankenstein result of the upgrade was simply unacceptable. I ended up performing a clean install. I have never recommended that anyone purchase an upgrade version of a Windows OS but they have been acceptable in the past. My experience with this particular upgrade was astoundingly bad and I foresee many many consumers who purchase the upgrade version of Windows 7 have issues. I expected better in the upgrade routine. A clean install is simply flawless and I am happy running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. The hardest transition is the new taskbar functionality.

7. Comment - Armistice Day for the format war: Toshiba signs on with Blu-ray

   2.9.2.3 Beta (Aug 10, 2009 - 5:13 PM)

   Let's not forget that the porn industry initially backed HD-DVD. HD-DVD was cheaper because AACS was not mandatory while it is with Blu-ray. Furthermore the BDA initially said no to porn and without a license the porn industry couldn't legally release anything on Blu-ray. It was later in the Format War that the BDA reversed their decision and said yes to porn. That along with some original HD-DVD backing studios jumping ship to release movies on Blu-ray sounded the death knell.

8. Comment - AnyDVD claims it defeats protection on latest BD+ discs

   2.9.2.3 Beta (Dec 30, 2008 - 2:19 AM)

   So so sad. I'm a criminal because I want to actually watch my BluRay disc that plays quite badly due to the protections. Jumper was a perfect example of a BluRay release that had playback issues due to protections. Who was to blame? If a person used AnyDVD HD to watch the BluRay disc from their BluRay drive the disc played without the issues encountered by those who didn't have AnyDVD HD.
   
   You have an astoundingly narrow view of the world. Oh, of course, Slysoft are ciminals and the users must therefore also be bad and since the product gets pirated its okay to pirate their software. So, you are clearly and openly advocating stealing software. YOU are advocating stealing so can I infer from that you are a criminal, as well? Do you advocate any other illegal activities?
   
   I have no use for downloaded pirated material. I watch my own HD-DVDs and BluRay discs. I also have a fully compliant HDCP system but AnyDVD HD still makes things better. It has valid purposes and, as usual, the blind and holier than thou people step up and cry from the mountain tops that Slysoft is the cause for all the evilness of BluRay and that they are criminals.
   
   I am simply astounded at how many blind people there are. In the meantime I'm going back to watching my legally purchased BluRay discs using my legally purchased AnyDVD HD on my self-built and legally owned computer system.

9. Comment - Teacher must still surrender license in bizarre 'exposure to porn' suit

   2.9.2.3 Beta (Dec 1, 2008 - 5:03 AM)

   I remember when this incident first occurred and how it once again proved the incompetence of the legal system as well as its ability to steamroll someone into being guilty. The way the initial case was handled was beyond outrageous.
   
   When I heard experts had stepped in and raised questions I had hoped to see a far better conclusion to things. Of course she'll never truly be "innocent" because once it was ever mentioned she was already forever labeled as having done something wrong. Regardless, I had hoped to see a reversal and everything quietly vanish. Sadly, no, they may have given her a way out but they are still punishing her beyond belief and still placing fault on her. Her plea is either fight and possibly be found guilty again or plead, give up your teaching credentials, and still admit you did something wrong.
   
   This highlights what is wrong with the justice system, wrong with prosecutors, and shows just how much of a divide there is between the people who have knowledge about computers and those who don't.
   
   This situation should both outrage and sadden everyone.

10. Comment - YouTube bans terrorist training videos, Lieberman bows

    2.9.2.3 Beta (Sep 12, 2008 - 8:22 PM)

    There is the freedom of speech but there are also existing laws that temper it. Just as I have the right say what I feel, I do not have the right to shout "Fire" in a movie theatre.
    
    The freedom of speech is not a blanket freedom to say and do anything and everything. There is absolutely zero value in a video being posted that involves recruiting for extremist organizations.
    
    I believe in freedoms but there is simply no justifiable excuse one can give why YouTube should not remove such videos.