Dropbox is the simplest, most elegant file-synchronization tool I've ever used. Dropbox Basic provides 2GB of storage free, and Dropbox Pro gives you 50GB for $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year. The service stores files with strong encryption on ...

Transparent automatic synchronization of a dedicated folder. Smooth operation on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Good Web interface. Allows access to deleted files and earlier versions. Tight OS integration

Current version synchronizes only one dedicated folder and its subfolders

Dropbox is a superbly implemented cloud-based automatic file-synchronization service that's ideal for working with files you can store in a single folder.

SugarSync is a cloud-based file-synchronization and backup service that looks as sweet as it sounds, and it enhances its appeal with some features its competitors can't offer. These include support for image-viewing and file-management via the iPhone ...

Lots of file-synchronization options. Support for mobile phones

Confusing range of features. Limited OS integration. Problems syncing some Mac files. Only five previous versions of edited files retained on the server

Of the file-synchronization services we've seen, SugarSync has the most features. But there may be too many to keep track of conveniently.

Back in the day, you couldn't get into a speakeasy without saying "Swordfish" to the guy at the door. Imagine if you had to remember a password for every store on Main Street! That's what it's like on the Internet these days. Luckily, you can choose ...

Automatically captures and replays log-in credentials. Fills Web forms. Data is stored online, decrypted locally. Can be accessed from any browser; supports many browsers. Imports from the competition. Has numerous mobility options

Online storage may worry some users. Doesn't rate strength of previously saved passwords. Stores only one credit card per profile

LastPass is a free, feature-rich password manager and Web form filler. It has almost every software feature found in any competitor, plus some unique features of its own. Numerous mobility options mean you can use it wherever you are.

Other iPhone e-book readers take pride in how many books they offer and how much they let you futz with fonts and display. Not so Classics. The selection of books you can read is limited to what the software vendors consider worthy great literature, ...

Beautiful presentation of books. Chapters and bookmarks. Best page-turning animation

No formatting options. Very limited number of books to choose from. No transfer of your docs from PC to iPhone. No purchase of current titles available

Classics' page-turning animation and sound are without peer in the iPhone book-reader crowd, but don't expect any control over your books' appearance, or the ability to buy any current works.

over IPversion 4.0 of Skype puts video front and center. The service, which offers free voice and video calls between PCs and low-cost calls to standard phones, has always had a refreshingly clear interface, but now the UI has been redesigned with a ...

Free PC-to-PC voice and video calls. Low rates. Clear notifications. Large community. Improved sound and video quality

Default windows are too large. Compact view requires two windows. Video image is not as good as SightSpeed's. No video mail. No built-in call recording. No Web client. No 911 service

Skype's new interface makes video calls a priority and is the most intuitive out there. The new, efficient Silk audio codec produces class-leading sound for video and voice, earning Skype our Editors' Choice for video calling.

Barking orders at a video game imparts realism but not funat least, that's how I felt before I used the Say2Play voice-command interface. This software allows youbut doesn't force youto carry out maneuvers by speaking. It works well with virtually any ...

No voice training necessary. Surprisingly good at recognizing commands. Gives an intuitive way to perform some actions

Has a few minor bugs. Takes some getting used to

Wielded properly, the Say2Play voice-command interface is an awesome weapon in any gamer's arsenal.

Social networking, shopping, Web-based mailtons of our everyday Internet activities are protected by passwords. Random character sequences make the best passwords, but nobody can remember more than a few of those, and writing them down on Post-its is ...

Effective touch-style fingerprint reader. Fingerprint log-in to Windows. Manages username/password credentials for Web sites, programs. Checks for strong passwords. Optional (extra cost) biometric file encryption

Must save account credentials manually. No user-defined names for accounts. Fixed-size account access list can make finding a specific account difficult. No automatic generation of strong passwords

DigitalPersona Personal 4.0 stores, applies, and rates your passwords. Both the password manager and its associated fingerprint reader are attractive and easy to use. DigitalPersona offers fingerprint-based Windows log-in and an extra-cost file ...

In the past few years portable GPS devices have grown from the early 3.5-inch screen size to the now-popular 4.3-inch widescreen format. Recently, we reviewed two even larger 5-inch GPS devices, the Magellan Maestro 5310 and the Garmin 5000. With ...

Special RV features and vehicle profiles. Revamped user interface. Improved text-to-speech functionality. New Driver Safety view

Expensive when compared with the competition. Live traffic features require GPRS wireless connection. No support for TMC receivers

ALK's CoPilot Live 11 Laptop offers some nice features for RV owners, but if you're not driving a Winnebago, you might want to go the less-expensive route with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009 for laptop GPS navigation.

With the addition of text-to-speech, Microsoft's Streets & Trips remains a solid low-cost GPS alternative.

Text-to-speech conversion. Multisegment routing. Integrates MS Live Search. Coupon search (with subscription).

Small POI database. Sluggish on route recalculation times.

Emsi Software teamed up with Austrian antivirus vendor Ikarus Software to put more protective power into its a-squared Anti-Malware 4.0 antivirus/antispyware utility ($39.95 direct). The product does a superb job of keeping malware from infesting a ...

Blocked every malware sample from launching and also blocked unique hand-made variants of most. Warns of malware-like behaviors. Community-based alert reduction limits pop-up queries

Identified several perfectly valid programs as malware. Did a poor job of cleaning up malware from infested test systems. Disabled two test systems by quarantining Windows Explorer

a-squared's near-perfect malware blocking performance is tainted by its erroneous identification of valid programs as malware. In testing, it did a poor job of cleaning up infested systems. You can get better protection for the same price with Webroot ...