Over the years Nero has evolved from being a simple CD burner in its earlier versions to becoming the complete multimedia suite we find in its latest version, Nero 9.

As well as the classic Nero Burning ROM tool – which now includes support for Blu-Ray – Nero 9 includes pretty much everything you need to make the most of your music, photos, videos and creativity. You'll be able to carry out complete multimedia projects, from ripping your favorite audio CDs and mixing the tracks with Nero SoundTrax to creating videos with your photos, and even design CD artwork (top and back covers, booklet and CD sticker) by yourself with Nero CoverDesigner.

All these tools are conveniently available from Nero StartSmart, a handy app launcher with two main toolbars: on top of the window, shortcuts to Nero's apps; on the left-side menu, direct access to the most frequent tasks (data burning, audio burning, copy disc, etc.) than open right on StartSmart's main area.

Nero 9 features other interesting tools that try to cover even more areas. You can use the built-in Nero Backup tool to make safety copies of your most important data, for example. Nero also includes an embedded video player and a photo editor (known as Nero PhotoSnap) though these two apps are quite basic and could have probably been left out without much remorse for the user.

Talking about extra apps, Nero has often been accused of being bloatware, and this version won't change that. It does include a large array of tools, though to be honest they're all quite straightforward and easy to use. I guess the discussion about complexity versus simplicity will still go on, but my view is that Nero 9 is no longer a simple burning tool: it's a full-featured suite that happens to include a burning app, plus many other features that make it an excellent application for all your multimedia projects.

Nero 9 follows the trend of previous versions and adds even more features. If you only need a DVD burning tool, look elsewhere; but if you're looking for a complete multimedia suite, this is your program.

Download Nero 9.0.9.4b in Softonic

MagicISO is a powerful and easy CD/DVD image file edit tool. It can open/create/edit/extract CD/DVD image files, and convert BIN to ISO and back. Make image files from CD-ROM or hard disk, and handle bootable information. It can also convert BIN or any other format file created by CD burning software (Such as Nero-Burning ROM, Easy CD Create) or virtual CD-ROM driver software (such as Daemon-tools) to standard ISO format.

MagicISO has the ability to create ISO image files. You can directly add/delete/rename files or folder in CD image file(s) with MagicISO. It can handle up to 10G large sizes so that user can extract/edit/open DVD image files in ease. You can also use MagicISO to make CD/DVD image from CD-ROM to hard disk in order to backup CD/DVD or use it with virtual CD or Virtual machine.

MagicISO has the ability to make bootable CD/DVD image file. With MagicISO, you can process the boot information for CD/DVD image file, as well as directly add/remove/extract boot image for the CD/DVD image file. MagicISO can also make multiple bootable CD/DVD image file. Using this function, you can combine multiple OS installation CD into one CD/DVD image file in order to install multiple OS from one CD/DVD. MagicISO embed Windows Explorer and use the double window unification user contact interface. Use the quick button and the mouse Drag & Drops files between Windows Explorer and MagicISO so that you can handle the CD/DVD image file easy but powerful enough.

Download MagicISO Maker 5.5.269 in Softonic

SoftDisc is an image file creating/editing/managing tool. It also lets you emulate a virtual CD or directly burn a CD image file which is handy when, for example, you need a CD in use when playing a game.

The program lets you store disk information in ISO format. It allows you to record info on disk from local and network hard disk drives as well as removable media. What's more, once you have created an image file, you can modify it in any way you like.

SoftDisc integrates UltraISO, Daemon Tools and Nero in one making it an all-in-one solution for your CD/DVD images. It is capable of handling up to four virtual CD-ROM drives and is able to simulate various protected game CDs. The interface is nice, XP-ish and Explorer-like.

Download SoftDisc 3.02.320 in Softonic

With the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats becoming increasingly dominant, it's important to have a burner that can handle them all.

The problem with most new burners is that they come at a cost and Astroburn is no exception. The full version will cost you a few dollars but this demo allows you to perform basic burning of small files. Unlike big name programs such as Nero, Astroburn is one of those programs that's easy to use and allows you to carry out a wide array of functions.

You can burn discs, create and record ISO, copy discs, erase rewritable disks and create music CDs. The interface is incredibly stripped down featuring a drag and drop burning process that's easy to use. The fact that the interface is so basic should not give the impression that it's not particularly powerful though.

However, it doesn't always burn as it should do. Normally CD burners automatically optimise burning for the speed of your drive but it seems that Astroburn requires you to configure this yourself. If you don't define the right speed , the buffer is too slow and you'll suffer from the dreaded "buffer underrun" problem. The support page is useless because it simply gives you a phone number for technical assistance rather than an FAQ.

Nevertheless, if you need a simple solution to burning HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and don't mind paying a bit for the pleasure, Astroburn is a worthy option.

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The game presents the hard battle between the forces of evil and a powerful hero – the character we control. This time it's not just Dante (the original protagonist), but two people instead: the aforementioned Dante and also Nero, who appears in this demo and has nothing to do with the CD burning tool.

The game's objectives involve completing several missions, gathering objects and of course, killing all the evil creatures you'll find on your way to the final boss. And the best part in the game is precisely these fights against demons, monsters and other strange living beings. Being a hack and slash adventure, Devil May Cry 4 focuses on close combats and enables you to perform extraordinary movements and incredible combos with your sword and a new powerful weapon, the Devil Bringer. Plus, battles feature a hard-beating background music that reminds me of the Blade original soundtrack and which only make them more exciting.

The graphics in Devil May Cry are impressive. I tested the game on a Vista machine with DirectX 10, and I can tell the game makes the most of the computer's resources, rendering beautiful landscapes, realistic light effects and smooth movements.

On the downside we find game's controls. You can really tell this game was originally developed for consoles, because it's really hard to control it with a keyboard. If you have a gamepad you can plug into your PC, I'd recommend using it even if it's only to test the demo.

Devil May Cry 4 presents us with a new episode in the war between Nero and Dante against the forces of evil. Great graphics and brilliant battles make of this game a worthy action adventure, despite its difficult keyboard controls.

Download Devil May Cry 4 Trial Edition in Softonic

When all you want to do is just burn a CD or DVD, huge suites like Nero are certainly not the most suitable solution. Instead, you should look for a simple recording application such as InfraRecorder.

This easy tool features everything you need to record both CD and DVD. It supports data and audio burning, dual-layer DVD and also disc images. It works with rewritable discs and can burn copies on the fly as well. Results are very satisfying, with just one small complaint: I'd like to have a sound normalizer for song compilations.

But the best thing about InfraRecorder is undoubtedly its simplicity, in every sense. It launches in a few seconds, enables you to drag and drop files, features very intuitive menus and even includes a reduced version (InfraExpress) for last-minute recordings. However, if you want to record MP3 files into audio CDs you'll need to download the decoder by yourself and copy it to the Program files – InfraRecorder – Codecs folder.

InfraRecorder is a simple and efficient tool for quick CD and DVD recording.

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Software applications are being constantly improved with every new version. Bugs are fixed, designs are polished, new functionalities are added. But sometimes they become too bloated, often losing sight of what they were created for in the first place. So for instance, whenever I need to record a CD or DVD, I no longer turn to Nero but use DeepBurner instead.

This neat program allows you to record CD or DVD in a very simple way: every time you launch it you see a project selection window where you can choose what to do (create a data disk, create an audio CD or burn an ISO image) and you're then guided through a few easy steps in a wizard-like process.

Despite its basic appearance DeepBurner features a large variety of tools and options for your recording needs: support for multisession disks, the ability to erase rewritable media and even a built-in editor to create and print your own custom CD covers and labels. There's also the option to create ISO image files, although you need to follow a small workaround to get to it: run the program and choose "Create data CD/DVD" in the project selection window. Select the files and folders you want to include in your ISO and when you're done click on the "Burn Disk" button. In the next dialog you'll be able to choose "Save ISO" instead of actually burning the data onto a CD.

On the down side, DeepBurner could be criticised for being too simple, especially when compared to big recording suites such as Nero or Roxio. It's perfect if you just need to record a CD from time to time, but if you're looking for something more then you'll miss features like volume normalizing or being able to create copies, to name just a few. In any case, DeepBurner is a perfectly valid option for those who prefer avoiding complicated programs and prefer the simplicity of an app focused on one single ability: recording CD's and DVD's.

Download DeepBurner Free 1.9 in Softonic

Do those no-name CD-Rs really record data at the speed they claim? Check it out with Nero's free tool.

InfoTool specifies the write speeds, supported formats, and other information on every CD or DVD drive in your system. It examines the hardware as well as on the media in your drives.
This version lets you burn Nero image files instead of predefined data.

Download Nero InfoTool 3.01 in Softonic

PC technology has come a long way in the last few years, but the sad fact is that they are still prone to crashes and system failure. Unfortunately, few of us have adequate protection to prevent losing all our valuable data.

That's where Selkie Rescue Data Recovery comes in, allowing you to ensure that if everything goes wrong, your data doesn't go down with the ship. I think many people are often put off of disaster recovery software because they think it's too complicated or that it's not worth the effort because 'it'll never happen to me'. However, anyone who's been in the position where they've lost their university thesis, an important business project, or even their entire web site's files, will tell you that it's vital for you to take these precautions.

Selkie Data Recovery is designed to make the process of protecting your data quick and simple. All you need is a blank CD, a crossover cable, your broken computer (obviously), and a working computer.

You start by creating Selkie rescue disk, and the program includes its own built in burning tool to help you do this without any fuss. It's a hassle-free solution, but you don't get as many writing options as you do with a burning app such as Nero or Roxio. You can still use these programs to create your recovery disk if you like, and Selkie includes instructions on how to do this.

Once you have your magic rescue disk, you're ready for anything. If your operating system crashes you simply reboot your machine and insert the CD into the drive. The interface is coded in DOS and is a far cry from the graphical user environments you'll be used to. Beginners may get a little overwhelmed by this at first, but if you follow the steps on screen, the program will find your files within a few clicks.

Then it's just a case of inserting the CD and copying your files to another computer over a network or via a parallel connection cable. This is a painless enough process, unless your machine is part of a complex LAN, in which case it can take some fiddling around to find the right network directory to copy to.

On the whole though, Selkie Rescue provides a fast and reliable way of recovering your stuff when your computer gives out on you.

Download Selkie Rescue Data Recovery 3.5 in Softonic

Nero 7 Premium enables you to experience your digital media in completely new and innovative ways. With the addition of a Nero Home – media manager, you can now have the complete PC and TV experience. Whether you want to access your media files from the comfort of your living room, or complete digital media projects on your PC, Nero 7 Premium is all you need.

This full feature update includes:

Nero Home

• Quick & easy access to all your digital media files from the comfort of your living room using a remote control

• Integrates TV time-shifting, DVD, video, photo and audio playback

• Easy wizard setup and user interface

• Support for all popular media formats

• Powerful database for storing and organizing of media files into playlists

• Advanced search options

• Complete multiple tasks concurrently

Nero Scout

• Optimized to provide access to media files from all Nero applications

• Browse media files from Windows Explorer

Nero StartSmart 3

• Simple-to-use interface

• Easy connection to the Nero ProductCenter

• Improved integration in Windows XP autoplay

Nero Burning ROM 7

• Advanced search options with Nero Scout

• Support for DVD-R Dual Layer format and DVD+R Double Layer

Nero Express 7

• Redesigned to maximize ease-of-use, efficiency and speed

• LightScribe support

• Support for DVD-R Dual Layer format and DVD+R Double Layer

• Verification for Audio CD, Video CD and Super Video CD

• Support for short lead-out recording

• Intelligent compilation size status bar

• Tree-view in data project

Nero WaveEditor 3

• Surround sound editing with up to 7.1 channels

• Zoom out/in of the recording beyond any limits

• Layout improvements: all channel view/channel sum view

• Offline effect processing possible

• HQ-Dithering to reduce the noise (noise reduction)

• Edit history window showing all editing steps

• Automatic track splitting and export tracks to separate files

Nero SoundTrax 2

• Support for up to 7.1 channel surround sound editing and mixing

• Option to produce subwoofer channel tracks automatically

• Automatic record triggering for LP/tape with supporting wizards option

• Drop CD track splits or CD indexes directly in the multi-track project

• Includes wizard for easy vinyl-to-CD or tape-to-CD transfer

• Add volume or pan curves to the audio tracks

Nero Vision 4

• HDV capturing support

• Improved support for DVD camcorder media (8 cm)

• Full support of Dolby® Digital 5.1 audio

• Supports chapter menus

• Splitting and merging of titles

• Playback of slideshows

Nero Recode 2

• Copy your DVDs with the fastest DVD 9 to 5 copying software in the world

• Convert DVDs and video data into Nero Digital (MPEG-4)

• Remove unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or bonus material

Nero ShowTime 2

• Support for H.264/AVC playback

• Playback media from Nero MediaHome with excellent sound and video quality

Nero MediaHome

• Fully certified UPnP AV Media Server 1.0

• Playback your media files on your TV or hi-fi system

Nero PhotoSnap

• Rotate and cut pictures

• Numerous visual effects

• Improve the resolution of your pictures

Nero CoverDesigner 2

• Choose from a variety of templates

• Import covers from your scanner, digital camera or the Internet

Nero BackItUp 2

• Supports drag and drop for file backup

• File backup from Windows Explorer

• On-the-fly compression

• FTP backup and restore

• Predefined file filters and file excluding list

Nero ImageDrive

• Supports up to two image drives simultaneously

• Mount image after boot of PC

• Seamless integration into Windows Explorer

Download Nero 7 Premium Reloaded 7.11.10.0 Update in Softonic

DVDx allows you to convert DVD to VCD2.0 or SCVD1.0 or DivX in one step (including multiplexing, splitting). It produces very good quality movies in MPEG1/2 format and you don't need to have 5GB or more free on your hard disk. DVDx has been designed especialy for unexperimented users, it is a simple and intuitive program. You only need Nero to burn your VCD/SVCD. DVDx has evolved in a very powerful program, the fastest DVD backup solution ever and is now adopted by a lot of people including advanced users.

Download DVDx 2.7 in Softonic

The Disc image system is a driver that can mount ISO CD/DVD images into a Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 based system. This gives the impression that a new CD/DVD-ROM drive has been added and a disc has been inserted. The small size of the driver and its simple operation allow an integration which is similar to actually using CD/DVD-ROM hardware, but as the drive is virtual, there is no hardware noise or lag. It is even possible to mount as many images as there are available drive letters.

The Disc image system can mount ISO images that contain either ISO9660 or Joliet (or both) file systems, which on a Windows 2000/XP/2003 based system allows nearly all ISO images to be mounted. It will not allow images to be mounted if Windows does not read that type of file system e.g. HFS+.

For single users the Disc image system allows you to store frequently used CD/DVD images so they can be accessed quickly and quietly (no more loud whirring noises). It will also eliminate the need to have a disc left in the CD/DVD drive when running applications that require access to the disc. When using on a laptop, it allows better use of the battery as CD/DVD drives require a large amount of power, especially when the drive is running continuously.

When you create ISO disc images with products such as Nero, the created images can be mounted using the Disc image system, allowing them to be tested before being burned to discs, thus reducing disc wastage.

For networks that require a secure central location, or just want to store images in an easy to reach place, the Disc image system will allow those images to be mounted locally. This in turn protects certain images from unauthorised use and allows software stored on servers to be installed without finding the installation CD/DVD(s). There is no need for special server software as the small driver is installed on each of the targets. As the Disc image system works with the ISO standard, it gives you the opportunity to store images that can be accessed by other operating systems, such as Apple Macintosh OS X and Unix as they already have the built-in ability to mount ISO images.

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ISO Recorder is a tool for Windows XP, 2003 and now Windows Vista, that allows (depending on the Windows version) to burn CD and DVD images, copy disks, make images of the existing data CDs and DVDs and create ISO images from a content of a disk folder. ISO Recorder was conceived during Windows XP beta program, when Microsoft for the first time started distributing new OS builds as ISO images. Even though the new OS had CD-burning support, it did not have an ability to record an image. ISO Recorder fulfills this need and has been one of the poular Windows downloads ever since.

With an advent of Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 version 2 of ISO Recorder has been released, which intorduced some new features including ISO creation and support for non-admin users. Finally, in Windows Vista it became possible to address another long-standing request and provide DVD burning capability.

Since the very beginning ISO Recorder has been a free tool (for personal use). It is recommended by MSDN download site along with Easy CD and Nero and is used by a number of companies around the world.

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DVD2SVCD automates the complex multiple steps, and the latest techniques, to backup DVDs to CDRs for later playing on a standalone DVD player (that supports playing VCD/SVCDs). DVD2SVCD supports all steps from extracting the video information from the DVD, to the final creation of ready to burn to CDR the popular .bin/.cue format files (CDrwin/Fireburer/Nero/others).

Download DVD2SVCD 1.2.3.1 in Softonic

As you've probably found to your cost before, some applications just don't go well with the Windows Hibernate or Suspend features, and often it can cost you important data if your machine shuts down unexpectedly. One way to fix the problem is to install Shutdown Lock, a program that can hibernate-enable any application, such asFlashGet, or AudioGrabber.

Aims of the program include:

• To enable hibernate and stand by feature in application, like Nero Burning ROM, FlashGet, or AudioGrabber

• To use Windows XP fast user switching feature more safety

• To prevent unexpected system shutdowns or restarts that could cause immense and sensitive data loss

• To operate stably and unobtrusively

Download Shutdown Lock 1.5 in Softonic