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Kitguru has been using PowerDVD now for a year in many of our reviews. It is without question a great real world test for processors, and with hardware acceleration enabled it can give a good indication of how a new graphics card can help with high definition media playback.
Today we are going to have a look at the latest version of the program, which has been recently released, otherwise known as Version 11.
PowerDVD 11 will play back many media formats and it also supports DVD, photos, music and Blu-Ray discs. With the latest version 3D photographs can be natively displayed if the rest of the hardware is capable of supporting them. 2D photos can even be converted into 3D format and 3D slideshows are also a new feature. Working on enhancing the social side means that the program can also be integrated with Facebook/Flickr so you can see all the photos in one single view.
Content from a PC, a DLNA server and social networking sites are supported alongside Apple and Android smart devices. With new expanded video, audio and 3D support and the support for playback of recorded 3D TV BD discs (side by side 3D Blu-Ray disc) they are opening up to a more demanding audience, who are embracing the latest technology. 3D Videos can now be uploaded directly to YouTube 3D.
Apple's success in 2010 and 2011 has meant that Cyberlink have seen the opportunity for product integration. The latest version will allow iPhone, iPad and even Android users to control PowerDVD across a network.
Research proves that Blu-Ray adoption is on the rise. Sales of the high definition format is up 64% in America and rentals have seen an increase of over 105 percent. It is actually the fastest growing segment of all distribution.
There are three versions of PowerDVD, the plain old boring ‘standard' Edition and then a Deluxe and Ultra Version. These range in price to suit a wider audience – Standard is $49.95 (£30), Deluxe is $69.95 (£43) and Ultra is $99.95 (£61).
There are many options, and it can get quickly confusing, so use the handy chart below for a quick overview of what you need and what you would need to pay. Basically, the Ultra version has ‘everything' and the Standard version offers the mainstream functionality that the average user will need. We will be looking at the Ultra version in this article today.
