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Teletrac Navman review
12:00 pm | June 19, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Teletrac Navman, a global leader in fleet management solutions, was born from the merger of Teletrac Inc and Navman Wireless. This strategic alliance brought together the expertise of both companies to deliver Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based fleet tracking and telematics solutions. By harnessing the power of advanced technology and data analytics, Teletrac Navman provides businesses with real-time insights into their fleet operations, empowering them to optimize costs, enhance productivity, and improve overall efficiency.

With headquarters in Glenview, Illinois, Teletrac Navman boasts a global presence, with offices strategically located in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. This extensive network enables the company to cater to the diverse needs of its vast clientele, which spans various industries and encompasses over 40,000 customers and more than 500,000 vehicles across six continents. Teletrac Navman's impressive client roster includes renowned brands such as Range Rover, the American Red Cross, and Ryder, a testament to the company's unwavering commitment to delivering innovative and reliable fleet management solutions.

Teletrac Navman's comprehensive suite of fleet management solutions leverages cutting-edge telematics technology to provide businesses with real-time visibility into their fleet operations. This includes GPS fleet tracking, vehicle diagnostics, driver behavior monitoring, and fuel management, among other features. By providing actionable insights into these critical areas, Teletrac Navman enables businesses to make informed decisions that drive efficiency, safety, and profitability.

Furthermore, Teletrac Navman's solutions are designed to be scalable and customizable, allowing businesses to tailor them to their specific needs and requirements. Whether it's a small business with a handful of vehicles or a large enterprise with a fleet of hundreds, Teletrac Navman has the expertise and technology to deliver a solution that meets their unique challenges.

In addition to its core fleet management solutions, Teletrac Navman also offers a range of value-added services, such as compliance management, asset tracking, and field service management. These services help businesses streamline their operations, improve customer service, and stay ahead of the competition.

Overall, Teletrac Navman is a trusted partner for businesses looking to optimize their fleet operations and achieve sustainable growth. With its innovative technology, global reach, and customer-centric approach, Teletrac Navman is well-positioned to continue leading the fleet management industry into the future.

Teletrac Navman pricing

(Image credit: TeletracNavman)

Teletrac Navman: Pricing

Teletrac Navman, like many other fleet management companies, does not provide pricing information online. Instead, potential customers must contact them directly for pricing details due to varying costs depending on the solution, contract length, and specific business needs. Contact can be made through a portal after answering questions and providing a business email, though other options, such as a direct phone number or email would be a welcome addition.

It is anticipated that Teletrac Navman will require a three-year minimum contract, which aligns with the industry standard. However, some fleet management companies offer monthly plans without a minimum contract term, providing greater flexibility for fleet companies.

Teletrac Navman appears to require a minimum of three vehicles for its services, based on online reviews. While the company does not currently list its plan tiers, it previously offered three subscription levels: Essential (basic features for smaller fleets), Professional (comprehensive fleet management solution), and Enterprise (customized solution for fleets of 1,000+ vehicles).

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Teletrac Navman 1

Teletrac Navman 1 (Image credit: TeletracNavman)
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Teletrac Navman 2

Teletrac Navman 2 (Image credit: TeletracNavman)
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Teletrac Navman 3

Teletrac Navman 3 (Image credit: TeletracNavman)

Teletrac Navman: Features

Teletrac Navman's Director software offers a comprehensive and customizable cloud-based platform designed to optimize fleet management, enhance driver safety, and streamline vehicle maintenance.

Fleet Tracking and Management:

The software's fleet tracking capabilities provide real-time visibility into asset location, activity, and driver behavior, enabling fleet managers to make informed decisions and respond promptly to emerging situations. Utilizing GPS technology and integrated mapping tools, Director allows for efficient route planning, dispatching, and resource allocation. Additionally, the software's geofencing feature creates virtual boundaries, triggering alerts when vehicles enter or exit designated areas, thereby enhancing security and operational control.

Driver Safety and Compliance:

Director prioritizes driver safety by offering tools to monitor and analyze driving patterns. The software generates detailed reports based on data from on-board sensors and dashcam footage, identifying unsafe behaviors such as speeding, harsh braking, and fatigue. These insights enable targeted coaching and training programs to improve driver performance and reduce the risk of accidents. Furthermore, Director simplifies compliance with regulations by automating data collection and storage, streamlining workflows, and providing easy access to essential compliance information.

Vehicle Maintenance and Fuel Management:

The software's maintenance and fuel module leverages real-time engine diagnostics and other telematics data to proactively monitor vehicle health and optimize fuel consumption. By identifying potential issues early on, Director enables timely preventive maintenance, minimizing downtime and extending vehicle lifespan. Additionally, the software's fuel management tools track fuel usage, identify inefficiencies, and promote fuel-saving practices, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits.

Teletrac Navman 4

(Image credit: TeletracNavman)

Communication and Collaboration:

Director facilitates seamless communication and collaboration between fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders. The software's two-way messaging feature allows for real-time updates and instructions, while instant alerts notify users of critical events, such as accidents, breakdowns, or unauthorized vehicle use.

Reporting and Analytics:

The software's customizable reporting and dashboard provide in-depth insights into fleet performance, driver behavior, and operational efficiency. These data-driven insights empower fleet managers to identify trends, measure key performance indicators, and make informed decisions to optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve overall fleet performance.

Cloud-Based Solution and Integration:

As a cloud-based solution, Director offers flexibility, scalability, and accessibility, allowing users to manage their fleet from anywhere with an internet connection. The software also integrates seamlessly with other business systems and tools, such as Google Maps, enhancing functionality and streamlining workflows.

Teletrac Navman 5

(Image credit: TeletracNavman)

Teletrac Navman: Support

Teletrac Navman provides its customers with a dedicated customer support team ready to respond to any inquiries that may arise. Customers can reach out for direct assistance through phone or via their online contact portal. While the company does not specify its average response times, they strive to provide timely and helpful support to all customers. We are also encouraged to see that this help is available on a 24/7 basis.

Beyond direct assistance, Teletrac Navman offers customers an array of online training resources. These include webinars, instructional videos, detailed guides, and other helpful materials. This allows customers to learn at their own pace and find answers to common questions independently.

Teletrac Navman actively uses social media platforms like Facebook, X, and YouTube to connect with and provide ongoing support to their customers. These platforms are regularly updated with valuable content, including:

Relevant Information: This may include news and updates about the company, its products, and the industry.

Helpful Tips: Tips and tricks for using Teletrac Navman's products and services effectively, as well as general advice for fleet management and vehicle tracking.

Company Announcements: Important announcements about new product launches, updates to existing products, company events, and other relevant news.

Other Engaging Content: This includes videos, blog posts, infographics, and other content that educates and entertains customers while promoting the brand.

By maintaining an active presence on social media, Teletrac Navman can foster a sense of community among its customers and provide them with easily accessible support and information. It also allows the company to quickly and effectively share important news and announcements, and to gather feedback from customers.

Teletrac Navman 7

(Image credit: TeletracNavman)

Teletrac Navman: Final verdict

Teletrac Navman is a well-established company with a long history in the fleet management industry. They provide a wide array of services designed to cater to the diverse needs of fleets of all sizes. Their offerings likely include GPS tracking, vehicle diagnostics, driver behavior monitoring, and fuel management solutions. These tools can help businesses optimize their fleet operations, improve safety, and reduce costs.

Despite their experience and comprehensive suite of services, Teletrac Navman's reputation has been tarnished by recent developments. They have lost their accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and currently hold a B- rating due to a number of unresolved complaints. This indicates that some customers have had negative experiences with the company and have not received satisfactory resolutions to their issues.

Additionally, online feedback for Teletrac Navman is also negative, with a one-star rating based on the sole review available at the BBB. This suggests that customer satisfaction is low at least among some, and that potential clients should exercise caution when considering their services.

Given these concerns, it is highly advisable to thoroughly evaluate Teletrac Navman before committing to a long-term contract. Take advantage of their free demo to test their platform and assess its suitability for your specific requirements. Carefully review their terms and conditions to ensure that you understand the contractual obligations and avoid any surprises down the line.

Compare their offerings with those of other fleet management providers to determine if they offer the best value for your investment. Consider reaching out to current or former customers to get their firsthand experiences and insights. By taking these precautions, you can make an informed decision and choose the fleet management solution that best aligns with your business needs and expectations.

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ThinkTrader forex trading app review
2:04 pm | June 8, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Trade Interceptor, one of the world’s best forex trading apps, was taken over by ThinkMarkets and rebranded as ThinkTrader in 2017. In our ThinkTrader review, we’ve looked closely at the ThinkTrader mobile interface, its main features, and why it’s one of the leading mobile trading apps. 

Note that the app is available via both the Trade Interceptor and ThinkTrader websites, as well as in the Apple and Google Play stores under the ThinkTrader name.

Trade Interceptor was rebranded as ThinkTrader in 2017

Trade Interceptor was rebranded as ThinkTrader in 2017 (Image credit: Thinktrader)

ThinkTrader: What does it offer?  

Since ThinkTrader took over Trade Interceptor, it has added a range of additional features, with the goal of becoming the leading mobile trading platform. It’s available on both Android and iOS devices, and in general, is suitable for everyone from complete beginners to seasoned traders. 

In addition, ThinkTrader offers trading in a range of areas, including forex, precious metals, indices, cryptocurrency, shares, commodities, and CFDs. Clients from over 180 countries are accepted (notable exceptions are the USA, Japan, and Iran), and the apps are available in all regions except the USA and Japan.

ThinkTrader revamped the Trade Interceptor app with the express aim of becoming the leading mobile trading platform

ThinkTrader revamped the Trade Interceptor app with the express aim of becoming the leading mobile trading platform (Image credit: ThinkTrader)

 ThinkTrader: Opening an account 

Opening a new ThinkTrader account is straightforward and shouldn’t take more than five to ten minutes. You will have to provide a significant amount of personal information, including your name, date of birth, nationality, and address. Following this, you will be asked to work through a short questionnaire about your trading knowledge and experience.

On top of this, you will need to select what trading platform, currency, and leverage you want to use. Available platforms include Meta Trader 4 and 5, as well as the native ThinkInvest and ThinkTrader interfaces. Choose from eight base currency options and leverage up to 500:1. 

Finally, account verification is usually required in accordance with your country’s regulations. We created an Australian account and were required to upload photo ID and proof of address. You may also have to pass a short knowledge-based test before your account is approved. 

Opening a ThinkTrader account is fast, but you will have to provide verification documents

Opening a ThinkTrader account is fast, but you will have to provide verification documents (Image credit: ThinkTrader)

ThinkTrader: Account Types 

There are six different ThinkTrader account types. For starters, a neat Demo account is available for you to test trading strategies and become familiar with the platform before risking real money. Standard and ThinkZero accounts are both great for getting started and come with slightly different fee structures and forex spreads. 

In addition, Islamic clients can apply for an Islamic account that complies with Sharia law. Two or more individuals can apply for a Joint account if they want to, and experienced traders can take advantage of exclusive benefits and advanced leverage by requesting a ThinkMarkets Pro account. 

There are six different account options

There are six different account options (Image credit: ThinkTrader)

ThinkTrader: Features 

As one of the world’s best mobile trading apps, ThinkTrader is naturally backed by an impressive range of advanced features. For starters, the entire trading experience is streamlined and beginner friendly. But, this ease of use doesn’t come at the cost of advanced capabilities. 

For example, users will be able to access a suite of technical analysis tools. Live charts are available for most forex pairs, precious metals, popular cryptocurrencies, and over 1000 stocks, among others. You can select from ten chart types, including bar, broken line, and Japanese candlestick. All charts can be zoomed, scrolled, and overlaid with any of 100 technical indicators and/or 40 analytical objects. 

On top of this, the ThinkTrader app supports cloud-based alerts, which means you will receive notifications even when it isn’t running. In-app deposits and withdrawals are also available once your account is approved, and you can keep up to date with the latest financial news through the built-in news portal. 

Another noteworthy tool is the one-click order option. This enables you to access near-instant order processing rather than wasting time confirming orders. Multiple positions can also be closed with one click. And finally, the Trend-Risk Scanner is a powerful native tool that provides information about recommended trades. 

The ThinkTrader mobile app is neat and boasts a great range of advanced features

The ThinkTrader mobile app is neat and boasts a great range of advanced features (Image credit: ThinkTrader)

ThinkTrader: Support 

ThinkTrader’s support team is knowledgeable, fast, and efficient. 24/5 live chat and email support are available worldwide, while phone support is available in selected countries (the UK and Australia, among others). We tested the live chat briefly and were connected with an agent almost immediately. They answered our questions fast and accurately, and you can’t ask for much more than that. An impressive range of self-help articles and other resources is also available. 

ThinkTrader live chat support is fast and effective

ThinkTrader live chat support is fast and effective (Image credit: ThinkTrader)

ThinkTrader: Final verdict

ThinkTrader (formerly known as Trade Interceptor) is up there with the best mobile trading apps, and for good reason. It’s a professionally designed platform that’s accessible across most of the world, and it provides a great trading experience. 

The native ThinkTrader mobile app is backed by advanced features and makes trading on the go easier than ever. On top of this, the charting tools that are built into the app are truly impressive, with candlestick support and great customizability. 

Overall, ThinkTrader is a viable option for both beginners and advanced traders. And on top of everything else, it’s worth noting that the native desktop interface is also very powerful.

ThinkTrader: The competition

Mobile trading apps are becoming increasingly popular, and ThinkTrader no longer stands out as a clear industry leader. One popular alternative is Pocket Forex, which supports 24/7 trading on a wide range of markets with 50–1000 times leverage. Another major competitor is Oanda, which has the advantage of being available to US and Japanese clients. 

Remote Utilities for Windows review: Inexpensive, easy to use solution
11:17 am | June 3, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

The best remote desktop software needs to be easy to use yet offer a sufficiently deep feature set to support all of your business’s IT needs. RemoteUtilities for Windows is an impressively affordable remote computer access tool that provides a wide range of access options. While it’s largely limited to operating on Windows computers, RemoteUtilities makes tasks like remote file transfer, audio sharing, and webcam access easy.

So, is this the right remote desktop connection manager for your business? In our RemoteUtilities for Windows review, we will highlight everything you need to know.

Remote Utilities for Windows: Plans and pricing

Remote Utilities Pricing (2024)

(Image credit: Remote Utilities)

Remote Utilities for Windows pricing is based on the number of licenses you need for your IT team and the quantity of remote computers you plan to connect. IT managers can share a technician license, but you can only have concurrent sessions up to the number of purchased licenses.

Technician licenses are available for free and allow you to have up to 10 remote computers in your address book. If you need to access more remote desktops, there are several options available. You can access up to 20 computers with a $99 license, 50 computers with a $249 license, and an unlimited number of computers with a $499 license. Remote Utilities also offers a site-wide plan that costs $12,000, which includes an unlimited number of technician licenses.

Alternatively, you can pay $29 per remote host to allow an unlimited number of technicians to access a limited number of remote computers concurrently (you must purchase a minimum of 10 remote hosts).

It's important to note that these prices are one-time fees, not subscriptions. You get access to any major upgrades released within one year of purchase. However, after that, you’ll need to pay to upgrade the software.

Remote Utilities for Windows: Features and utilities

 RemoteUtilities for Windows includes a number of features that are relatively simple but extremely helpful. Beyond  remote desktop functionality on Windows 10 and older versions of Windows, you can drag and drop files between connected computers and make use of a shared clipboard. On top of that, you to take control of the webcam, share audio across devices, and record high-definition video of remote sessions. 

Remote Utilities for Windows review

An open remote view only session. (Image credit: RemoteUtilities)

Another thing that many business users will appreciate is that Remote Utilities enables you to integrate with your own server. IT managers can thus set up user-based access roles, sync host computer addresses for all technicians, and add additional layers of security.

It’s worth noting that while Remote Utilities primarily works for Windows, there’s also a controller app available for iOS and Android devices. You still can’t connect to one of these devices as a host, though. Remote Utilities is also developing clients for Mac and Linux computers, but they’re in beta at the time of writing.

Remote Utilities for Windows: Setup 

Unfortunately, getting started with Remote Utilities is pretty cumbersome. Downloading and installing the technician and endpoint versions of the software onto the appropriate computers is fast. But, once that’s done, you need to connect to each remote computer one at a time and verify the connection. This takes around 5 minutes per endpoint computer, and potentially longer if you’re routing connections through an in-house secure server rather than over the internet. 

Remote Utilities for Windows review

Dialog box to add a new host computer to your address book.  (Image credit: RemoteUtilities)

Remote Utilities for Windows: Interface and performance

The Remote Utilities user interface is fairly user-friendly. It resembles Windows File Explorer, except that instead of folders, the software displays remote computers in your address book. It’s easy to start up a connection just by double-clicking on a remote computer, and you don’t necessarily have to take full control of the host when starting a session. Instead, you can enter view-only, file transfer, or screen recorder modes, among other options.

Remote Utilities for Windows review

The Remote Utilities dashboard. (Image credit: RemoteUtilities)

Performance can vary somewhat widely since your connection speed will depend on the internet connections of both the controller and host computers. That said, we tested a full control session between two computers running Windows 10 on a 26 Mbps connection and there was no noticeable lag.

We also tested out the file transfer performance. Dragging and dropping a 100MB file from the host to the control computer took about four minutes with a 3Mbps upload connection. That’s about what we’d expect based on the connection speed.

Remote Utilities for Windows: Security

Remote Utilities does a nice job at managing security. Technicians’ address books can be encrypted, and the platform supports two-factor authentication when logging in to the controller software. When you connect to a host computer, Remote Utilities automatically tests its identity to ensure the IP address hasn’t been commandeered. 

Remote Utilities for Windows review

Remote Utilities allows users to encrypt their address book of connected hosts. (Image credit: RemoteUtilities)

Another plus for security is that Remote Utilities for Windows doesn’t support web-based user accounts or password management. Although that means you can’t access cloud accounts from the software, it does ensure Remote Utilities doesn’t contain the necessary information to compromise those accounts. 

Remote Utilities for Windows: Support

Customer support at Remote Utilities is good but not instantaneous. You can only contact the company by email, and your estimated response time depends on your technician license level. Site-wide license holders can expect a response within two hours, while responses for other license holders can take up to eight hours. Remote Utilities’ support team only works Monday to Friday, US Eastern time. 

Thankfully, you can get answers to most questions through the company’s online documentation. Remote Utilities also runs a community forum, where support team members frequently respond to questions. 

Remote Utilities for Windows: Pros and cons

Remote Utilities for Windows is a powerful remote desktop software designed for comprehensive access and control over remote PCs from anywhere. It is ideal for IT professionals, system administrators, and support teams, enabling seamless remote support, network management, and screen sharing. The software operates under a server-agent model, where the agent runs on remote computers, and the administrator or support personnel controls the server.

Remote Utilities offers many features, including complete control and viewing modes, file transfer, remote task manager, terminal, inventory manager, and more. It supports over 15 connection modes, making it suitable for various remote access needs.

One of the standout features is its flexibility in connection options. It supports direct connections via IP address, LAN, and an Internet ID feature, which allows connection over the Internet, bypassing firewalls and NAT devices. This makes it versatile for accessing machines across different environments and setups.

Security is a top priority for Remote Utilities, as it employs robust encryption standards, including AES-256-bit encryption for data transfer. The software also supports two-factor authentication and provides a comprehensive set of permissions for each user, enhancing the security of remote access to systems.

Remote Utilities for Windows offers a flexible licensing model that caters to small—and large-scale operations. It provides a free version for up to 10 remote PCs, which is beneficial for small businesses or personal use. The commercial licenses are competitively priced and available as a one-time purchase, including minor updates without recurring subscription fees.

Remote Utilities has many features and capabilities which may overwhelm new users. The initial setup and configuration could be challenging for individuals with less technical knowledge or without extensive IT backgrounds.

Although remote utilities generally provide a smooth remote access experience, their performance may be suboptimal compared to low bandwidth connections. Users may experience lag or slower response times, impacting efficiency in real-time support scenarios.

While Remote Utilities offers a Viewer app for macOS and Linux, its full range of features and functionalities is primarily optimized for Windows. This may limit its usefulness in mixed OS environments.

Some users have mentioned that while the support team is helpful, the available resources, such as tutorials and documentation, could be more comprehensive. Navigating through advanced features or troubleshooting issues might require contacting support directly, which can be time-consuming.

Remote Utilities for Windows: Final verdict

Remote Utilities for Windows is an affordable remote desktop connection manager for Windows computers. The licenses are available for a one-time cost, which can save businesses a significant amount of money. This software has some handy features to help IT teams manage helpdesk services. While it would be better if this platform supported Mac and Linux computers, it's still a good option if your company primarily uses Windows devices.

Remote Utilities for Windows is a robust solution for comprehensive remote access and management tools. Its rich feature set, flexibility, and strong security posture, it caterll to IT professionals and businesses looking to streamline their remote support and network management tasks.

However, potential users must consider its steeper learning curve and platform-specific focus. For organizations with diverse or non-Windows environments, compatibility and user experience are crucial factors. Evaluating Remote Utilities through its free version can provide valuable insights into whether it aligns with an organization's specific remote access needs and technical capabilities. In summary, Remote Utilities for Windows is a contender worth considering in remote desktop solutions, especially for those heavily reliant on Windows ecosystems.

Remote Utilities for Windows: The competition

Arguably, the biggest downside to remote utilities is that they only enable you to connect to Windows computers. If you need a remote desktop on a Mac computer, it's worth looking into GoToMyPC or TeamViewer. Both platforms offer much of the same functionality as Remote Utilities, including drag-and-drop file transfer, screen recording, and audio sharing.

But they can also be much more expensive. GoToMyPC charges $33 to $35 per technician license per month for an unlimited number of endpoint computers. Meanwhile, TeamViewer charges $49 monthly for one user and one concurrent session or $199 for unlimited users and three concurrent sessions.

To find out more about Remote Utilities forWindows'' competition, read our Best remote desktop software guide.

What to look for in a remote desktop solution

In today's digital age, remote desktop solutions have become a cornerstone of business operations, enabling employees to access their work environment anywhere in the world. This technology supports the growing trend of remote work and ensures that organizations can maintain their productivity levels, irrespective of their physical location. But with many options available, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Here are some key aspects to consider when searching for a remote desktop solution.

Seamless Connectivity and Accessibility—The foremost attribute of an efficient remote desktop solution is its ability to provide smooth, easy-to-establish connections. It should empower users to access their desktops and applications with minimal effort and without the need for extensive technical knowledge. The solution must be compatible across various devices and operating systems to ensure all team members can stay connected regardless of their preferred gadgets.

Security Features - With cyber threats at an all-time high, security has never been more critical. A suitable remote desktop tool should offer robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to protect against vulnerabilities. The ability to set granular access controls and monitor user activity can further enhance the security of sensitive organizational data.

Performance and Reliability - The effectiveness of a remote desktop solution also hinges on its performance. It should provide a smooth, lag-free experience, closely mimicking the feel of working directly on the host computer. High reliability, with minimal downtime and quick recovery options, ensures that work can proceed uninterrupted, thus maintaining high productivity levels.

Support and Scalability - As businesses grow, their needs evolve. A scalable remote desktop solution, allowing for easy addition of new users and resources, can be a valuable asset. Equally important is responsive customer support. A provider that offers prompt, efficient help when issues arise can save precious time and resources.

Cost-Effectiveness - While it's crucial to not tortoise on essential features, the cost is a significant factor for most organizations. The ideal solution would offer a transparent pricing model that scales with your needs, ensuring you only pay for what you use. Evaluate not just the initial costs, but also long-term expenses, including updates and support.

User Experience—Last but not least, the user experience cannot be overlooked. A user-friendly interface, minimal latency, and the ability to personalize settings can make a big difference in daily operations. The solution must have intuitive controls that don't steepsteeplearning curve for new users.

Choosing the right remote desktop solution involves carefully balancing performance, security, ease of use, and cost. As businesses continue to evolve, the ability to work remotely efficiently will become even more critical. Evaluating your options based on these criteria can go a long way in ensuring that your choice not only meets your current needs but is also a viable long-term solution as your organization grows. In this selection process, insights from current users and expert reviews can also provide valuable perspectives, helping to narrow down the choices to the solution best suited to your unique requirements.

RusVPN review
11:53 pm | May 26, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Tags: | Comments: Off

RusVPN is no longer trading under that name and has since rebranded to Planet VPN. This review was accurate at the time of review, but no longer applies to the rebranded service.

RusVPN ('Reliable. Unlimited. Secure') is a small  VPN which might look a little ordinary at first glance, but according to the website, performs better than you'd expect in several areas.

The network has a relatively small 338 servers, for instance, but they're well distributed across 37 countries.

There's much better news on the app front, with custom software for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, Chrome and Firefox browser extensions, direct support for Linux and routers, and OpenVPN compatibility to cover you everywhere else.

Unlike many competitors, RusVPN doesn't just make vague promises about its website unblocking abilities, and instead lists a host of sites where it claims to work: Netflix, Spotify, Facebook, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Twitter, Wikipedia, Google, Amazon Instant Video, HBO GO, CBC, NBC, LinkedIn, VKontakte, Instagram, Reddit, and more.

Prices are fair, and range from $9.99 billed monthly to $4.99 over one year, $2.99 over three. You can find cheaper deals around - Surfshark's two-year plan is just $1.99 a month - but generally RusVPN looks like good value to us.

Payments are accepted via card, PayPal, Bitcoin and more. There's no general trial, but you do get the usual 7 days to try out the mobile apps. In theory you're also protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee, the small print reveals this is almost worthless, as you won't qualify if you've transferred more than a tiny 500MB of data.

Privacy and logging

RusVPN's logging policy page states emphatically that 'We DO NOT Keep Any Logs of VPN Usage', going to explain:

'RusVPN is based outside 5-eye, 9-eye and 14-eye country list and have no obligation to store user activity logs, connection timestamps, IP-addresses or any other connection data. When you use RusVPN you can be sure that your privacy is 100% protected.'

Well, okay, although having 'no obligation' to log activity isn't an indicator that you're not doing it.

The privacy policy has a little more information in the following paragraph:

'We run a non-permanent connection log to solve technical problems including random name generation and internal IP address assignment (private IP address) which are reliably removed every few hours. We strictly and purposefully do not write down any information to mitigate our legal liability. We do not monitor the activity of your browser and do not record any records. It is simply impossible with our internal interface. All data about the use of the service is anonymous and is not tied to your real, public IP address.'

While this seems to contain some good news (any logs are regularly detailed, actions can't be tied to your real address), it's lacking in technical detail with some odd elements ('we don't write anything down'?), and doesn't leave us feeling we completely understand how RusVPN really works. That might be a translation issue, but whatever the cause, we're like more clarity in RusVPN's descriptions.

The company could also reassure potential customers by following ExpressVPN, NordVPN and others in putting its systems through an independent security or privacy audit, but there's no sign of that happening just yet. Until then, we just have to trust that RusVPN is living up to its promises.

Setup

Setting up a RusVPN account proved trickier than we expected. We paid via PayPal, an email receipt arrived immediately, but no 'welcome' email with details of our account. There was no 'resend confirmation email' button, so we waited several hours, but nothing happened.

RusVPN doesn't have live chat, but we sent a message via a web form asking what was happening. Hours went by without a response. We sent an email, still no response into the next day. RusVPN doesn't send an automatic 'thanks, we'll reply soon' acknowledgement to messages, either, so we couldn't even be sure that our questions had been received.

We tried again, this time paying using an existing account and were able to get access immediately.

Maybe this wasn't entirely RusVPN's fault; maybe there was some temporary email or other issue which prevented it responding to our queries. There's no way we can know for sure.

It certainly is RusVPN's fault that it has no option to resend a confirmation email, though, and that it doesn't offer live chat support, and that its email and web form support system doesn't send any automated reply to reassure customers that their messages have been received.

Platforms

RusVPN offers native clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS (Image credit: RusVPN)

Apps

Once we'd finally got a working account, the RusVPN website redirected us to a download page with links for the Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS apps, along with the Chrome and Firefox extensions.

SmartScreen

Windows Defender warned that RusVPN's installer was 'unrecognized', and asked us to confirm we wanted to launch it (Image credit: Microsoft)

We grabbed the Windows build, but were surprised to find Microsoft Defender SmartScreen stepping in to block RusVPN's installer when we launched it, warning that it was an 'unrecognized app.' That doesn't mean it's harmful, SmartScreen just hasn't seen it very often, although users might be less likely to see these warnings if RusVPN digitally signed its installers, like almost everyone else.

Windows Client

RusVPN's Windows client features a simple user interface that is similar to other VPN apps (Image credit: RusVPN)

The Windows client interface has a simple interface, and works much the same as other VPN apps. Your current location and IP address are clearly displayed, alternative locations are available on a list and you can connect with a click.

Locations

RusVPN has 338 servers distributed across 37 countries (Image credit: RusVPN)

The client recommended Canada as our default server, maybe not the best choice for a user in the UK. This wasn't quite as bad as it seems - the Recommended list also included servers in the UK and Netherlands, but as it was sorted alphabetically, Canada came top - but we're still struggling to see why Canada was in our list at all.

Settings

RusVPN’s Windows client supports OpenVPN, L2TP and even the insecure PPTP, but you can’t choose your preference in the Settings box—the client decides. (Image credit: RusVPN)

Settings are even more basic than we saw in our last review, little more than an autostart option and the ability to enable or disable a kill switch.

The client appears to support OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP protocols, but it doesn’t allow you to choose your preferred option — it makes that decision itself.

We don’t know how it figures this out, but there doesn’t seem to be much intelligence involved. During our review, it never selected the best protocol, OpenVPN, mostly going for L2TP (still a fair choice), but occasionally picking PPTP, such an outdated and insecure option that the best VPNs dropped it long ago.

That's not the end of the story. We checked the L2TP and PPTP settings, and found even these weren't as secure as they should be.

The first problem is the connection doesn't attempt to replace our existing DNS servers, ensuring we failed our DNS leak tests later.

Encryption

RusVPN's Windows client doesn't just use the outdated PPTP protocol, it sets it up with encryption as only 'optional' (Image credit: RusVPN)

Even more seriously, our connections had encryption set as 'Optional' - the client should connect even if there's no encryption. That doesn't mean it'll ever happen (it depends on the server) but it's still a concern.

There are some easy ways around this. You could just set up the open source OpenVPN Connect to connect via OpenVPN, for instance, and never have to use PPTP at all. That's not something the average user is likely to think about, though, and 'we know our software is rubbish, but you can always use something else' isn't much of a RusVPN defense.

Moving away from our protocol problems, we ran a final quick test on how the client handled dropped VPN connections, and discovered more issues.

Kill Switch

The kill switch was so effective that it even blocked RusVPN's own app (Image credit: RusVPN)

First, if the kill switch is off and the connection drops, the client updates its window but doesn't raise any desktop notification. If it's minimized or covered by another window, there's no way for you to know that your internet access is now unprotected.

Second, when the kill switch does kick in, it affects the client, too. We found our internet access was blocked, closed and restarted the client, and it prompted us to log in. Why? We don't know, but when we tried, it complained 'connection failed - check network connection.' 

Our problems continued, as turning the kill switch off didn't restore our internet access, and neither did closing the client, or rebooting the system. We had to use system restore before we could get online again.

Although this was very bad news for us, we've no reason to believe it would ever happen to the vast majority of users, as they almost certainly won't be stress-testing the client by presenting it with some extreme situations.

Most VPN apps handle our tests much better, though, and this is yet another example of how the client isn't working as it should. We're left wondering what other problems might RusVPN have missed.

Android App

The Android app is quite similar to its Windows counterpart (Image credit: RusVPN)

Checking the Android app revealed no great surprises: the interface is much the same and there are no extra settings. There's a small bonus in that Android's system kill switch shouldn't disable your device in the same way the Windows client trashed ours, though, and the app is likely to be safer and more reliable than its desktop cousin.

Performance

RusVPN was slow in connecting from our test Windows system, often taking more than 20 seconds to establish the tunnel. The Android app was faster at around 10 seconds, but top VPNs are usually quicker still (some get online within 2-5 seconds.)

Given RusVPN's poor performance so far, we weren't expecting much from our unblocking tests, despite its claims to unblock just about every platform around. But then we tried the service with a few sites, and although it failed to unblock BBC iPlayer, RusVPN successfully unblocked US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and even Disney+.

SpeedTest.net

We use a number of different speed tests to determine the performance of each VPN we review (Image credit: Ookla)

Our performance checks began on a positive note, too, with UK speeds reaching 62-66Mbps on our 75Mbps test connection. The best of the competition might scrape 2-4Mbps more, but we're not about to complain.

US speeds hit a relatively poor 30-60Mps, but the exact results you'll see will vary depending on your location and preferred server. If you're interested, use the free trial with the mobile apps to see how the RusVPN performs for you.

Final verdict

RusVPN has many of the ingredients of a good VPN - loads of apps, easy to use, excellent website unblocking, fair price - but a host of fundamental issues and problems make it difficult to trust, at least right now.

I tried GPSWOX – read what I thought of this GPS fleet tracking solution
1:25 pm | May 21, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: | Comments: Off

GPSWOX, a leading global fleet management company established in 2012 and headquartered in London, UK, provides comprehensive GPS fleet tracking and fleet management solutions for over 3500 businesses and individual consumers spanning 123 countries.

Their advanced vehicle tracking software, compatible with a wide range of GPS trackers, delivers precise real-time vehicle location monitoring, efficient fleet dispatch, comprehensive fleet monitoring, and enhanced driver and vehicle safety features. These capabilities empower businesses to optimize their operational efficiency and significantly reduce the overall costs associated with managing a commercial fleet.

GPSWOX goes beyond its core fleet management solutions by offering a white-label, cloud-based vehicle tracking software platform. This platform is designed to empower entrepreneurs and businesses to launch and manage their own independent vehicle tracking ventures. The cloud-based nature of the platform and its white-label capabilities mean that these businesses can operate virtually anywhere in the world without the need for extensive infrastructure or technical expertise. By leveraging GPSWOX's technology and support, they can focus on building their customer base and providing localized vehicle tracking services.

GPSWOX pricing.

(Image credit: GPSWOX)

GPSWOX: Pricing

GPSWOX operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, providing its GPS tracking and fleet management software to businesses without requiring them to purchase proprietary hardware. This allows for flexibility and compatibility with a wide range of GPS devices already on the market.

The pricing structure for GPSWOX is modular, allowing businesses to choose the specific add-ons and features that align with their needs. This approach avoids unnecessary costs for features that may not be relevant to a particular business. Some potential add-ons could include real-time tracking, geofencing, driver behavior monitoring, fuel consumption tracking, and maintenance scheduling.

GPSWOX, a sophisticated GPS tracking and fleet management software hosted on secure GPSWOX servers, offers potential users the opportunity to explore its comprehensive features through a 30-day free trial period. This trial allows businesses and individuals to assess the software's suitability for their needs without any financial commitment. Additionally, GPSWOX provides a 100% money-back guarantee, ensuring customer satisfaction and confidence in their purchase.

The pricing structure for GPSWOX is designed to accommodate varying requirements and scales of operation. The basic package starts at $99 per month, offering unlimited users and the ability to track up to 100 assets. This option is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with a limited number of vehicles or equipment to monitor. For larger enterprises with more extensive fleets, the $199 per month package allows for tracking up to 500 objects, while the $290 per month package extends the tracking capacity to 1,000 objects.

In addition to the monthly subscription plans, GPSWOX may also offer a lifetime subscription package for a one-time discounted payment of $4,990. This option could provide significant long-term cost savings for businesses with ongoing GPS tracking needs. The lifetime subscription eliminates the need for recurring monthly payments and ensures continuous access to the software and its updates.

Overall, GPSWOX presents a compelling solution for businesses and individuals seeking reliable and scalable GPS tracking and fleet management capabilities. With its flexible pricing options, free trial, money-back guarantee, and potential lifetime subscription, GPSWOX caters to a wide range of users and budgets.

There are several plans available for small businesses and individuals. The Lite plan allows for single object tracking at $2.99 per month, billed annually. The Basic plan offers tracking for up to 5 objects at $9.97 per month, also billed annually. For those needing to track up to 50 objects, the Pro plan is available for $49 per month, with the option for monthly billing. Lastly, the White Label plan provides unlimited object tracking for $99 per month, billed monthly.

GPSWOX used to offer monthly subscriptions for their Android and iOS fleet tracking apps at $49 and $84 per month, respectively. They no longer offer these monthly subscriptions and have switched to lifetime subscription plans for their Mobile Phone Tracker App and GPSWOX Mobile Client App. Additionally, GPSWOX charges extra fees for mobile vehicle tracking, a practice that sets them apart from their competitors.

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GPSWOX

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GPSWOX: Features

GPSWOX is a comprehensive and cost-effective fleet management solution designed to cater to the needs of organizations across various sizes and industries. Its primary goal is to assist these organizations in optimizing fuel consumption, safeguarding their valuable assets, and effectively managing their workforce.

The user-friendly software provided by GPSWOX empowers users to access detailed and precise information with minimal effort. This information can include real-time vehicle location, driver behavior, fuel consumption, and maintenance alerts. By providing this data in an easily digestible format, GPSWOX enables organizations to make informed decisions that can lead to significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency.

One of the key strengths of GPSWOX is its versatility. The solution is not only suitable for businesses with large fleets but also for smaller fleets and even individuals and families. This adaptability is further enhanced by the company's flexible and transparent pricing structure, which includes no contract obligations and offers the same features across all pricing tiers. For those seeking additional customization, optional add-ons are also available.

In summary, GPSWOX is a powerful and adaptable fleet management solution that provides organizations with the tools and insights they need to optimize their operations and reduce costs. Its user-friendly software, comprehensive feature set, and flexible pricing make it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes and industries.

Some of the key features of GPSWOX’s solution are:

Real-time tracking: GPSWOX provides real-time location tracking for a wide range of assets, including vehicles, mobile devices, individuals, and bicycles. This enables users to monitor the current location and movements of their valuable assets at any given time.

For fleet management, GPSWOX offers detailed insights into fleet activity, including vehicle speed, fuel consumption, precise address location, and a comprehensive journey history. This information empowers fleet managers to optimize routes, monitor driver behavior, and improve overall fleet efficiency.

To visualize and analyze location data, GPSWOX provides three map views: Google Maps, Satellite view, and OpenStreetMaps (OSM). These different map views cater to various user preferences and offer different levels of detail, allowing users to choose the most suitable view for their needs.

Notifications and alerts: GPSWOX provides instant alerts and notifications in response to events such as vehicle theft, speeding, unauthorized stops, and a vehicle entering or leaving a geo-zone.

Reports: GPSWOX offers a variety of downloadable reports based on date and GPS tracker name. These reports include information on driving time, rest stops, mileage, fuel usage, and more. Additionally, users can download comprehensive and group reports.

Fuel savings: Real-time fuel usage data provided by GPSWOX allows businesses to monitor and control fuel costs. By receiving alerts and reports on aggressive driving behaviors such as rapid acceleration, speeding, and excessive braking, businesses can reduce fuel consumption by 5% to 15%. Additionally, fuel monitoring helps prevent driver fraud and allows for convenient fuel level checks.

Geofencing: Geofencing technology provides businesses with a powerful tool for monitoring and managing the location of their assets. By establishing virtual boundaries, or "geofences," around specific areas, businesses can receive real-time alerts whenever a vehicle or other asset enters or exits the designated zone. This capability allows administrators to maintain heightened awareness of asset movements, enabling prompt responses to unauthorized or unexpected activity.

For example, a construction company could create a geofence around a job site to ensure that equipment remains within the designated area. If a piece of machinery were to be moved outside the geofence, perhaps indicating theft or unauthorized use, the system would immediately generate an alert, allowing the company to take swift action to recover the asset. Similarly, a logistics company could use geofencing to track the movement of its delivery vehicles, ensuring that they adhere to planned routes and schedules.

In addition to enhancing security and operational efficiency, geofencing can also be leveraged to improve customer service. For instance, a retailer could use geofencing to send targeted promotions to customers' smartphones as they enter a specific store or shopping center. By delivering relevant and timely offers, businesses can enhance the customer experience and drive sales.

GPSWOX has received numerous awards, including the Expert's Choice by FinancesOnline Award, the Supreme Software Award, and the Great User Experience Certificate, for providing its users with a superb experience.

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GPSWOX: Support

GPSWOX provides technical support 24/7 via email. General inquiries can be made by email or by phone from 9am to 9pm (GMT+2). Free calls can also be booked through a contact form, with responses expected within 24 hours. The GPSWOX sales team can be contacted by email and is available 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm (GMT+2).

Customers can also find support on the GPSWOX website, where they can access FAQs, user guides, and videos. Although GPSWOX has a YouTube channel with many videos, it is not updated frequently.

GPSWOX: Final verdict

GPSWOX, a user-friendly cloud-based fleet management solution, is globally accessible and features a simple pricing structure that supports businesses that operate internationally. The platform offers convenient and comprehensive fleet management capabilities and is compatible with most existing telematics systems, eliminating the need for additional hardware purchases.

MiX Telematics review
5:42 pm | May 19, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

MiX Telematics is a leading cloud-based telematics provider that offers a mobile asset and fleet management solution. Founded in 1996, the company operates in over 120 countries worldwide and maintains offices in the US, the UK, South Africa, Uganda, Brazil, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico.

As of now, MiX Telematics manages over 959,000,000 mobile assets with the help of over 130 partners. Its shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as well as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The company delivers a SaaS solution for enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers, with the ability to track trucks and buses, vans, cars, motorbikes, trailers and more. Employing a unified approach to telematics, the company offers actionable intelligence to solve complex vehicle and driver-related problems.

MiX Telematics: Pricing

Mix Telematics used to be  one of the providers who are pretty transparent about its pricing and contract structure. Unfortunately, they don’t publish their pricing on their websire anymore, but we’ve attached their 2020 pricing structure here for reference. 

As you can see in the attached photo, the company used to offer a couple of plans, both payable monthly or annually. For both the plans, the company charged an additional $29.95 per order for shipping and handling of hardware. Note, however, that the pricing information may not be accurate anymore. 

Self-installation: This tier starts at $35 a month for a single vehicle and you get an additional 10% discount with the annual plan which costs $378 per year per vehicle. Businesses that opt for this DIY plan are sent the tracking hardware that comes with a limited lifetime warranty, but the company does not offer installation assistance. These devices are plug-and-play, and can be transferred between vehicles.

Among the standard features are live tracking, street and satellite maps, geo-fencing, service and licensing reminders, fuel and cost reporting, access via web or mobile phones, and a 30-second software refresh.

Professional installation: As the name suggests, this is the pricier of the two plans and is available at $39.50 per vehicle per month or $426 when paid annually (after a 10% discount).

Under this plan, the company offers an accredited installation of the hardware without charging additional fees. However, once installed the devices cannot be moved to other vehicles.

(Image credit: MiX telematics)

Mix Telematics: Features

MiX Telematics offers easy to use cloud-based software which helps to optimize costs, improve performance, ensure timely deliveries, and more, all while staying compliant with government regulations. 

The MiX Telematics solution helps your business stay organized, and allows you to control the entire fleet using a central command center that makes all the info you need easily accessible. In short, it ensures that the fleet operation runs smoothly with no hiccups.

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The software is equally suitable for small, medium as well as large fleet sizes. It helps in managing vehicles effectively, optimizing fuel usage, tracking fraudulent usage, managing payrolls and more. Easy live tracking of vehicles means you don't have the stress of tracing vehicles manually, and it lets the decision-makers focus on more important and critical work.

The tracking hardware supplied by the company collects the vehicle's vital details and transmits them in real-time to the command center, where the information is processed and various reports are prepared that help fleet operators with precise details about the fleet and drivers.

Some key features of the MiX Telematics solution are:

  • Vehicle tracking: While it is the most basic feature of any GPS tracker or fleet management solution, the MiX Telematics solution offers a real-time update on the vehicle, whether it on the move or stationary. It even keeps the operator informed about the driver and gives them access to vital details such as driving speed, the route being followed, driving violations, historical trips, and more.
  • Live information streams: This is a unique solution that allows fleet operators to track vehicles assigned a specific task or event. A user-defined livestream to track a specific delivery helps in keeping the critical delivery in focus. This lets the operatory stay in touch with the connected driver/assets, keeping the message flowing. 
  • Reporting: MiX Telematics comes with a robust and dynamic reporting system that informs the operators about various aspects of the fleet including vehicle movement, location, trip and utilization reports, and so forth. Reporting like driver scoring, fuel, event violations, and cost analysis reports are also useful in assessing profitability and giving insights into driver performance. This can be further used to coach or reward drivers. 
  • ELD: The ELD devices are custom-designed to help fleet operators manage and stay compliant with various regulatory policies like Hours of Service (HoS) through electronically tracking a driver's Record of Duty Status (RoDs). ELD devices act as an effective replacement for outdate paper logbooks.

MiX Telematics: Support

The company's official website has a generic contact phone number and a basic query form for users to reach out in case of a question. It does not, however, provide any direct contact details for the sales team. The company is on most popular social media channels and while its Facebook and Twitter accounts are updated regularly, its YouTube account is not very active with videos being uploaded intermittently. 

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MiX Telematics: Final Verdict

MiX Telematics offers an interesting range of products and services, including hardware installation by experts. However, this comes with certain limitations. Its cloud-based solution is fit for varied fleet sizes, though it is always advisable to carefully assess if a provider’s offerings match with your fleet’s specific requirements.

While the company is a veteran in the business, it does not have many customer reviews online. Better Business Bureau (BBB) shows that the company has been operating for over 10 years yet it's not been accredited with them.  There is a lone 1-star review about the company; however, BBB rates MiX Telematics as an A+ company.

ForexTime FXTM review
5:15 pm | May 15, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Are you searching for the best forex trading app? If so, give ForexTime FXTM some thought. Through ForexTime FXTM, you can access numerous currency pairs, commodities, single-stock shares, and contracts for difference (CFDs). 

As you’ll find out in the following ForexTime FXTM review, this app stands out for its quick trades and withdrawals, which are facilitated by the MetaTrader platform. Most FXTM accounts are based on MetaTrader 4 (MT4).

ForexTime FXTM: What does it offer?

ForexTime, also known as FXTM, is a financial service and automated currency broker. FXTM customers can use their accounts to trade currencies, CFDs, shares, and commodities. In total, there are more than 250 different financial instruments to access through FXTM.

ForexTime FXTM review

The ForexTime FXTM app lets you trade on the move (Image credit: ForexTime)

With the FXTM app, available on both Android and iOS devices, you can monitor live rates and adjust your positions wherever you are. The inclusion of demo accounts and a flexible leverage system makes this a good trading platform for beginners and experienced forex traders alike.

This service is registered and regulated in the UK, South Africa, and Cyprus but does not serve customers in the USA, Canda, Japan, or a handful of other countries.

ForexTime FXTM: Opening an account

After that, you can finish the account-opening process in your browser or on a mobile device by installing the FXTM Trader app. In total, there are five steps to complete before you can begin trading. You’ll need to add personal and tax information to your profile, upload photos of some ID and, finally, make a deposit.

Rather than using real cash, you can start practicing trades with a risk-free virtual account. This is a great way to get a good understanding of how the ForexTime FXTM trading system works.

ForexTime FXTM review

It doesn’t take long to open a ForexTime FXTM account (Image credit: ForexTime)

ForexTime FXTM: Account Types

You can choose between six different types of FXTM trading account. Three of these are Standard Accounts and three are Electronic Communications Network (ECN) Accounts. 

ForexTime FXTM review

All standard FXTM accounts are based on MetaTrader 4 (MT4). (Image credit: ForexTime)

ECN accounts are designed for forex experts and don’t have a maximum number of orders or volume of lots in an order. Trading with an ECN account results in a better rate thanks to a reduced average percentage in point (pip) values but requires a higher minimum deposit amount. FXTM Pro ECN accounts, for example, only offer super low spread values if a balance of 25,000 USD/EUR/GBP is maintained.

FXTM’s three non-ECN accounts are the Standard, Cent, and Shares accounts. Cent accounts work in a balance of cents rather than dollars and have a tiny minimum deposit amount of $10. Meanwhile, the Share accounts allow you to trade in European and US shares and have a reduced minimum spread value of 0.1, compared to 1.3 for Standard accounts and 1.5 for Cent accounts.

ForexTime FXTM: Features

The ForexFXTM platform is full of handy features to help you manage trades. We were especially impressed by how easy it was to modify our positions using cross-device trading, which enabled us to open a trading position on one device and close it from another.

ForexTime FXTM review

Live currency charts are available through the FXTM Trader app. (Image credit: ForexTime)

A major advantage of using this trader is that FXTM is regulated by authorities in the UK and Cyprus, both of which have deposit protection insurance. As a consequence, if you are trading from within the EU or UK through FXTM, you could be eligible for £85,000 or €20,000 in cases of brokerage insolvency. 

Newcomers to foreign exchange trading will appreciate ForexTime’s vast library of educational resources. Here, you can explore ebooks, forex trading webinars, and glossaries of common forex trading terms. ForexTime also releases weekly market analysis videos filled with expert advice about new trading strategies.

Meanwhile, more advanced users will be able to use the ForexTime FXTM Pivot Points Strategy to enhance their trading style. This FXTM tool enables you to perform five-point calculations to decide what position to take on a range of financial instruments.

ForexTime FXTM: Support

Besides the wealth of informative educational materials on the FXTM site, this platform has a solid customer support service. You can get assistance from agents 24 hours a day over the phone, via live chat, or through third-party platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

ForexTime FXTM review

You can discuss issues with ForexTime FXTM staff through a variety of channels.  (Image credit: ForexTime)

ForexTime FXTM: Final verdict

The ForexTime FXTM platform remains one of the best forex trading apps available today. Users who are able to meet the deposit minimums required to open an ECN account will receive highly competitive rates and avoid any limits on order volume.

But ForexTime FXTM isn’t just good for professionals. There’s a lot to offer here for casual and first-time traders thanks to a large backlog of trading guides and a fully-featured mobile app that lets you modify your positions on the go. 

Whatever kind of trader you are, you can be confident that FXTM is a safe way to make foreign exchange trades. That’s because ForexTime FXT is registered in countries with strict deposit protection schemes and has built up a solid reputation since opening for business in 2011.

ForexTime FXTM: The competition

ForexTime FXTM isn’t the only trading app out there. For first-time users looking for an app more tailored toward improving their trading skills, Stock Trainer is an alternative option worth considering. This virtual trading app provides the ideal environment in which to learn more about how foreign exchange markets operate.

At the other end of the spectrum, for those who feel that ForexTime FXTM’s 250 financial instruments don’t offer enough variety, Admiral Market is a popular competitor with a large selection of stock, futures, and forex markets.

Google SEO Tools review
12:16 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Google dominates search, so it makes sense that its own set of search and analytics tools would be among the most powerful available, even if they're all free to use. Whether you run a small personal blog or a large e-commerce site, Google offers a suite of tools that lets you understand how people find you online, what they're searching for, and how your pages are performing in real time.

In this review, we take a close look at the main tools Google offers for website owners and SEO professionals: Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Trends, Google Keyword Planner, and Google Business Profile. We'll walk you through what each tool does, where they shine, and what they're still missing compared to paid alternatives.

Google SEO tools: Plans and pricing

Plan

Starting Rate

Google Analytics (Standard)

Free

Google Analytics 360

Custom

Google Search Console

Free

Google Trends

Free

Google Keyword Planner

Free (Requires a Google Ads account)

Google Business Profile

Free

Google Ads

Variable (Pay-per-click)

All of Google's core SEO tools are completely free to use. You just need a Google account to get started. However, Google Ads operates on a pay-per-click model and Google Analytics 360 is an enterprise-grade upgrade available for large organizations.

Google SEO tools: Features

Google's free SEO toolkit remains one of the most comprehensive available at any price point. Across Analytics, Search Console, Trends, Keyword Planner, and Business Profile, you get a full-stack view of your site's visibility. It's broad enough to serve solo bloggers, yet deep enough for professional teams managing large properties.

The tools are best suited to users who are already operating within the Google ecosystem. Because everything ties back to Google Search, the data you receive is first-party and highly accurate. That said, the lack of a unified dashboard still means you're jumping between separate interfaces to get the full picture.

Yet what Google does particularly well is continuous iteration. In 2025 and 2026, Search Console received a string of meaningful upgrades that close the gap with paid SEO tools. Below, we've broken these down under dedicated sections.

Google Analytics 4

GA4

(Image credit: Google)

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the current standard for web and app analytics, having fully replaced Universal Analytics, which was shut down on July 1, 2023. GA4 uses an event-based data model—rather than the session-based model of its predecessor—which gives you a more granular view of how users interact with your content across devices and platforms.

You can track everything from page views and scroll depth to custom events like video plays or form submissions, all without writing code. Cross-platform tracking is built in, so you can follow the same user across mobile and desktop visits. GA4 also integrates tightly with Google Ads, making it easier to trace conversions back to specific campaigns.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC)

(Image credit: Google)

Search Console is your direct line to how Google sees your website. It shows you which queries bring people to your pages, how your content is indexed, and whether any technical issues are affecting your visibility. Unlike third-party SEO tools, this data comes straight from Google, so it's as authoritative as it gets.

In December 2025, Google also introduced an experimental AI-powered configuration feature inside Search Console's Performance report. Instead of manually clicking through filters and dropdowns, you can now describe what you want to analyze in plain language. For example, saying "show me mobile queries containing the word 'reviews' over the last 90 days" gets Search Console to configure the report automatically.

The feature handles filter application, metric selection, and date comparisons on your behalf. It's still in an experimental rollout to a limited number of users and properties, so you may not see it in your account yet. When it does land, it's a genuine time-saver for anyone who regularly digs into performance data.

Google PageSpeed Insights

PageSpeed Insights

(Image credit: PageSpeed Insights)

PageSpeed Insights evaluates the performance of individual pages on both mobile and desktop, scoring them from 0 to 100. It draws on both Lab Data (simulated test conditions) and Field Data from the Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX), which reflects how real users experience your pages across different devices and connections.

The tool is free to use at pagespeed.web.dev and requires no account. Just paste a URL and you'll get a breakdown of Core Web Vitals, along with specific recommendations for improving load speed, layout stability, and interactivity.

Google Trends

Google Trends website screenshot

(Image credit: Google)

Google Trends lets you explore how interest in specific search queries changes over time, across regions, and in relation to competing terms. It's particularly useful for content planning, spotting seasonal patterns, and validating whether a topic is growing or declining in popularity.

The tool is entirely free and requires no login. You can compare up to five terms at once, filter by region, time period, and search category, and access real-time trending data. If you want to embed Trends data directly into a site, Google also provides an API for that purpose.

Google Keyword Planner

Google Ads keyword planner

(Image credit: Google)

Keyword Planner is part of Google Ads and is primarily designed for advertisers who want to research keywords before building campaigns. That said, it's widely used by SEO professionals too—it provides search volume estimates, competition levels, and cost-per-click data that can inform both paid and organic strategies.

Note that Keyword Planner requires a Google Ads account to access. You can create one for free without spending money on ads, but the account is a prerequisite. Volume data shown to accounts that aren't running active campaigns tends to be displayed in broad ranges rather than precise figures.

Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business, which was rebranded in November 2021) is the tool businesses use to manage how they appear in Google Search and Google Maps. You can add your address, hours, phone number, photos, and service details, and respond to customer reviews directly from the dashboard.

For local SEO, Business Profile is essential. An optimized listing significantly increases your chances of appearing in the local "map pack" results that appear at the top of many location-based searches. The tool also provides insights into how customers find and interact with your listing.

Google SEO tools: Interface and in-use

Google is famous for its friendly user experiences, and Analytics, Search Console, and Ads exemplify why. All three SEO tools use an easily navigable left-hand menu bar with drop-down menus that help to organize your data displays. On top of that, within Analytics, you can create custom dashboards and reports to put the most useful performance information in front of you.

Perhaps the biggest issue with Google’s SEO interface is that Analytics, Search Console, and Ads are three different platforms. You can link Search Console and Ads, but you still need to navigate back and forth between the two interfaces for most tasks.

Separating the three platforms helps keep their respective missions—monitoring performance, optimizing performance, and creating ad campaigns—clearly delineated. But, it would be a more streamlined experience if they were rolled into a single user interface.

Google SEO tools: Support

Google offers support for Analytics and Search Console by web only. Both platforms have extensive documentation centers, and you simply need to describe your issue to find the appropriate help file. If you get stuck, though, support is limited to posting in a help forum and hoping that another user answers your question.

Support for Ads is more concrete. There’s an online documentation library similar to what you’ll find for Analytics and Search Console. But, you can also get help over the phone, by live chat, or by email.

Ads by Google

(Image credit: Google)

Google SEO tools: The competition

Google's tools are in a category of their own when it comes to price. Everything is free, plus the underlying data comes directly from the world's most-used search engine. No third-party tool can replicate that. Where it falls short, however, is in competitive intelligence: you can see how your own site performs, but not how you stack up against competitors on specific keywords.

That's where paid platforms like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Moz Pro come in. These tools build on top of Google's data using Search Console API connections, while adding features like backlink analysis, competitor keyword gap tools, rank tracking for arbitrary keywords, and site audit crawling.

If you're managing SEO seriously across a competitive niche, you'll likely find yourself using Google's tools alongside one of these platforms rather than choosing between them. For website analytics specifically, Matomo and Plausible Analytics are popular privacy-focused alternatives to GA4, particularly for users in regions with strict data protection regulations.

Google SEO tool: Final verdict

The trifecta of Google Analytics, Search Console, and Ads is an extremely powerful combination for website owners. The three tools together allow you not only to monitor your website traffic, but also to build more traffic through organic and paid search results.

The only major thing that Google’s SEO tools are lacking is information about how your website is ranking in search results against competitors. Also, there's no visibility when it comes to other search engines like Bing or AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Still, given that Google doesn’t charge anything for its SEO suite, it’s pretty hard to complain. Paid options like Semrush and Ahrefs exist for those who want to take their SEO game to the next level.

I tested Google Forms and found it perfect for basic surveys, but limited for complex, large-scale surveys
11:54 am | May 14, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Google Forms is an online form builder with robust functionalities, both on the free and paid tiers. It simplifies the process of creating and managing online forms to gather data from various audiences. It doesn’t have the most advanced data collection features, but it works well for collecting and analyzing simple data.

I reviewed Google Forms extensively so that you don’t have to go through the same stress. My review focused on essential factors, including its features, pricing, ease of use, and customer service. Read on to learn about Google Forms’ unique strengths, weaknesses, features, and how it fares against rival online form builders.

Google Forms 2

(Image credit: Google)

Google Forms: Plans and pricing

Google Forms is a freemium tool. Anyone with a Google account can access the free version and enjoy most features. The free version lets you create surveys to gather and analyze data. There’s no limit on the number of responses you can collect, as long as it fits within your allocated storage space.

Free users have 15 GB of storage for data collected on Forms and other Google tools. They’re also limited to self-service and community support. If you need more storage space, direct support, enhanced security, and collaborative features, a Google Workspace subscription unlocks these benefits.

Google Workspace is designed for businesses with employees who need access to Google’s software suite, which includes Forms. It unlocks premium features on Google Forms and many other Google tools, such as Docs (document editing), Sheets (spreadsheets), and Meet (videoconferencing).

Google Workspace has three pricing plans: Starter, Standard, and Plus. The Starter plan costs $7 per user per month and unlocks 30 GB of storage for each account. It also unlocks access to Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, which can help you create online forms.

The Standard plan costs $14 per user per month. It provides 2 TB of storage per account, ample enough to store vast volumes of data collected via forms. It also includes access to Google Gemini and direct support from Google’s team if needed.

The Plus plan costs $22 per user per month and increases storage to a sizable 5 TB per account. It unlocks enhanced security features for organizations where data security is paramount. Google Gemini and direct support, which are available on other plans, are also included.

Google offers an Enterprise Plus plan with no regular pricing. This plan is designed for large companies, typically with a minimum of a few hundred employees, that can negotiate a custom plan with Google’s sales team.

The core features of Google Forms remain the same in both the free and paid versions. What differentiates the paid plans is access to Google Gemini, higher storage space, enhanced security, and access to advanced features on other Google tools.

Google Forms is designed as a simple tool for individuals and enterprises to gather and analyze data. It doesn’t have the most sophisticated features you’ll find on form collection tools designed specifically for businesses, but it works well for everyday forms.

Google Forms 3

(Image credit: Google)

Google Forms: Features

Google Forms offers a decent set of functionalities that enable you to create and manage online forms. It lacks some sophisticated analytics, customization, and integration features, but it meets most basic form creation needs.

To start, Google Forms has a library of pre-loaded form templates. Examples include templates for party invites, event registrations, online orders, and RSVPs. You can use these templates as the foundation for your forms, instead of going through the hassles of creating them from scratch.

Whether you select an existing template or create a form from scratch, Google Forms makes the creation process noticeably easy. You can input as many questions as you like in a numbered format. Existing questions can be rearranged by dragging and dropping them in the desired positions.

Each question on a form can have various response formats, including a short text, paragraph, multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdown list, rating, date, time, and even a file upload. Any uploaded files will count towards your allocated storage space, so carefully consider this if you’re creating forms for a large number of recipients.

You can insert images to add context to a question. A question can be compulsory or optional, depending on your preferences for collecting data. The short text format lets respondents answer a question in a single line, and the paragraph format allows respondents to type their answers in multiple lines.

You may choose to make your questionnaire a quiz, with point values assigned to each answer and automatic feedback once the respondent completes the questions. You can choose to collect email addresses during your response, and respondents can receive an email copy of their answers after completing the form.

As a respondent completes a form, you can choose to display a progress bar highlighting how far they’ve gone and how many answers are left. You can also choose to shuffle the question order for each respondent. Likewise, you can display a custom message after a respondent clicks the submit button, e.g., “Thank you for your response!” These features may sound trivial, but they go a long way in creating an interactive form that people are encouraged to complete.

I liked that Google Forms allows respondents to edit their responses after submitting a form. This feature is helpful, given the tendency for people to make mistakes when filling out forms. For instance, if I create a form asking people for their opinion about a product, it’ll be helpful to allow them to edit their responses after interacting with the product repeatedly. However, the response editing feature isn’t enabled by default. You have to toggle it on manually.

Google Forms 4

(Image credit: Google)

Notably, respondents don’t have to complete a form in one go. If a respondent has a Google account, which includes most online users anyway, and is signed in, their responses to each question are saved as a draft for 30 days. They can close the form and return within 30 days to the same responses, then complete the rest and finally press the submit button.

With your form created, you can share the link via email, social media, or embed the form on your website. All responses will be collated and displayed in a single dashboard, making them easy to analyze. You can export the responses to Google Sheets for further analysis.

Google Sheets comes in handy if the responses are numerical, as you can use formulas to analyze them. For example, I created a mock quiz and got mock responses from some friends and colleagues. Then, I used Google Sheets to grade the forms automatically. You can conduct real quizzes and grade them just like I did, saving considerable time, especially when dealing with many respondents.

On Google Sheets, you can also generate charts to visualize responses, from bar charts to pie charts, line charts, and scatter plots. I liked that the charts were very customizable, but that sounds more like something to discuss in a Google Sheets review than in Google Forms.

I mentioned earlier that Google Forms’ core features don’t differ much between the free and paid plans, but the latter unlocks valuable collaboration functionalities. Under a Google Workspace plan, multiple users can collaborate in real-time to create and edit forms.

For example, five employees can work on the same form, with each adding questions and configuring settings. Every employee can monitor each other’s changes on the form and message each other via Google Chat to clarify changes.

A standout feature on Google Forms is its support for conditional logic, i.e., showing or hiding questions based on a responder’s previous answer. For example, in a survey about which smartphone brands people use, selecting “iPhone” opens a new question of “Which iPhone do you use?” and selecting “Samsung” opens a new question of “Which Samsung smartphone do you use?”

However, Google’s conditional logic support is basic. It doesn’t allow the most complex workflows that are permitted in various business survey tools. Generally, Google Forms excels in basic form management but has limited dynamic features. It doesn’t have as many integrations and customizations as you’d find in survey apps like Qualtrics XM.

For example, Google Forms doesn’t let you directly capture signatures from respondents, detect a respondent’s geographic location, or generate PDFs from form data. Though it’s slightly customizable, all forms created on Google Forms retain a similar structure, which doesn’t bode well for businesses that always want to deliver a unique experience.

Google Forms integrations are mostly limited to other Google tools, but with few third-party integrations compared to rival survey apps. Another drawback is that while Google Forms lets you embed forms on a website, you can’t host the form directly on a custom domain.

From my perspective, Google Forms was created mainly as a free tool for individuals and businesses to manage everyday online forms. It works excellently for basic forms, with features that many rivals charge money for. However, if you need an online form app with extensive integrations, customizations, and features, you’re better off with an alternative. 

Google Forms: Interface and in use

Google Forms scores an A+ in simplicity and ease of use. The interface is as simple as it gets, which I’ve observed as the norm with Google tools. From creating forms to viewing and analyzing responses, the Google Forms interface is easy to navigate. It helps that the app doesn’t have many complex features, so it isn’t hard to familiarize yourself with the interface.

You can easily add questions, rearrange them, and insert visual elements when creating forms. After creating a form, the Publish button is prominently displayed at the top-right corner, so you can click it and share the form with respondents. I liked that Google Forms has many keyboard shortcuts that make navigation more fun, although it took me some time to master them.

Google Forms is accessible only via the web interface. There are no dedicated desktop and mobile apps, unlike some rival tools.

Google Forms: Support

Google Forms users have access to reasonable support resources, depending on their tier. Free users can scour through the Help Center to resolve issues. The Google Forms section of the Help Center contains abundant user guides that will help you troubleshoot issues.

Free users can also check Google’s official support forum for answers to their questions. If the answer isn’t present, you can ask a new question and expect answers from other Google Forms users, but there’s no guarantee. Fortunately, Google Forms’ intuitive interface means you wouldn’t encounter many problems in the first place.

If you’re subscribed to Google Workspace, you can get direct help from Google’s support team via email, telephone, and live chat. Google has a 24/7 support team, but response times can vary depending on your location and the type of issue. Nonetheless, Google offers decent support with few complaints.

Google Forms: The competition

Google Forms has many rivals with unique strengths and weaknesses. As I’ve mentioned, Google Forms doesn’t have the most advanced features you’ll find in some rivals. SurveyMonkey is the main competitor I’d like to highlight and examine what sets it apart from Google Forms.

SurveyMonkey doesn’t have an interface as intuitive as that of Google Forms. However, it offers more sophisticated features, integration, and customizability. With SurveyMonkey, you can create more dynamic forms and customize them to fit your brand.

The built-in analytics features are more comprehensive on SurveyMonkey than on Google Forms. SurveyMonkey has many more third-party integrations, making it an ideal choice for businesses that want to conduct complex surveys.

The drawback is that SurveyMonkey isn’t as cost-effective as Google Workspace, considering the additional features you’ll get with the latter outside Google Forms. SurveyMonkey does have a free plan, but with minimal features compared to Google Forms’ free version.

Google Forms: Final verdict

Google Forms fulfills a valuable need for creating simple online surveys and collating responses. It’s the go-to tool I recommend for individuals or businesses seeking to conduct simple surveys.

However, if you need the most complex survey features and extensive customization, it’s not the best choice. Google Forms is perfect for small surveys but not large-scale ones.

We've featured the best survey tools.

WordPerfect review
4:06 pm | May 13, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

In our formal evaluation of  WordPerfect  we analyze one of the longest-standing  Microsoft Office alternatives. It is a comprehensive office suite available in multiple editions for Windows operating systems and comprises a word processor, spreadsheet application, presentation creator, digital notebook, eBook publisher, and image editing software.

WordPerfect:

WordPerfect: Interface

Individuals with prior experience in Microsoft Word will find immediate familiarity with WordPerfect X9, given its striking resemblance in layout and available tools. Users have access to a comprehensive range of customization options, including font styles, size, alignment, colors, and borders, along with the ability to incorporate lists, tables, and graphic elements into their documents.

WordPerfect review

The interface for WordPerfect, featuring an invoice template (Image credit: Corel)

Quattro Pro X9 serves as a functional equivalent to Microsoft Excel, exhibiting a striking visual resemblance to its renowned counterpart. It possesses numerous text formatting options analogous to those found in WordPerfect, along with dedicated buttons for inserting rows and columns, facilitating the creation of calculations and formulae.

Presentations X9, an analogous software program to Microsoft PowerPoint, shares a similar layout structure to WordPerfect and Quattro Pro. This layout features toolbars situated horizontally across the top of the application window. Additionally, there are supplemental toolbars positioned vertically on the left and right sides of the page. The left toolbar facilitates the insertion of elements and shapes, while the right toolbar is utilized for managing slides. 

WordPerfect: Features

WordPerfect X9

Individuals familiar with Microsoft Word or similar word processing software will recognize that WordPerfect X9 offers comparable functionality and features. The process of creating, editing, and formatting documents is both intuitive and efficient.

There are several features that we found particularly favorable. For instance, WordPerfect employs a Reveal Codes function, which is immensely useful for locating additional coding that may have been applied to an element on the page and is causing it to not display in the desired manner.

Additionally, the software provides a comprehensive collection of document templates from which users may select, thereby expediting the process of document creation. These templates are organized into various categories that cater to both professional and personal requirements

One aspect that was lacking was the discrepancy between the keyboard shortcuts for certain standard functions and those commonly employed by the majority of applications. For instance, the combination of the control and command (or command on macOS) keys along with the W key is recognized as a conventional shortcut for closing a document, whereas in WordPerfect, the control key and the F4 key must be pressed in conjunction to achieve the same result.

Within the suite, the spreadsheet program, Quattro Pro, possesses an intuitive user interface due to its shared toolbar layout with WordPerfect. This alignment enables users to swiftly access all text formatting functions through the toolbar icons, in addition to functions tailored for numerical manipulation.

In use we found that employing basic functions, manipulating dates, and executing vertical lookup functions (vlookups) all yielded positive results. Regarding file format compatibility, Quattro Pro exhibited seamless capability in opening XLS, XLSX, CSV, Lotus, and XML files 

However, there were a few elements that were unsatisfactory. Specifically, in contrast to Microsoft Word, which assigns a distinct keyboard shortcut to close documents, Quattro Pro lacks such a shortcut altogether, albeit the user has the option of configuring the shortcuts according to their preferences.

Furthermore, the list of sheets positioned along the bottom of the window did not perform as expected. It progressed from A to ZZZ instead of commencing with a solitary sheet and incorporating a button to append additional sheets when necessary. 

In the event that a document encompasses a limited quantity of sheets, there is no cause for concern. However, should the document comprise a substantial quantity of sheets, the process of navigating between them becomes increasingly arduous. This is due to the fact that the button designated for facilitating movement to the conclusion of the list directs the user to ZZZ, rather than the terminal sheet that has been effectively generated.

WordPerfect review

WordPerfect X9 has a large selection of document templates (Image credit: Corel)

Presentations X9

Presentations X9 features an intuitive interface that is designed to maintain consistency with other applications. Unlike Microsoft PowerPoint, which provides dedicated tabs in its toolbar for animations and transitions, Presentations X9 conceals these functions under the Format menu item. This particular design choice may be viewed as an inconvenience by some, but it aims to enhance the user's focus on the content of their presentations rather than visual enhancements and effects. 

Similar to Quattro Pro, Presentations also features outstanding file format compatibility, enabling the seamless opening of PPT, PPTX, and SHW files. Additionally, it can import a diverse range of content types, encompassing vector graphics, images, videos, and CAD models.

The application provides the capability to effortlessly generate shapes, charts, and graphs. It encompasses tools tailored to assist in alignment and spacing tasks, guaranteeing a visually cohesive and organized presentation. Additionally, the feature of incorporating speaking notes into the slides is included.

Other features

Furthermore, the suite contains WordPerfect Lightning, eBook Publisher, and AfterShot 3. Lightning is a note-taking software that combines text notes and other documents into digital notebooks. eBook Publisher supports both MOBI and EPUB formats, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of devices. AfterShot 3 is a Photoshop alternative with comprehensive photo editing capabilities.

WordPerfect: Pricing

The WordPerfect suite is offered in three distinct editions: Standard, Professional, and Home & Student. The Standard edition is available at a cost of $249.99, the Professional edition at $399.99, and the Home & Student edition at $99.99. 

WordPerfect review

Three editions are available: Standard, Professional, and Home & Student (Image credit: Corel)

The Standard edition encompasses all the functionalities previously enumerated and also comprises an expansive repository of TrueType fonts, clipart imagery, templates, photographic elements, and instructional videos. Other elements include a compact version of the Oxford English Dictionary, an address registry, bitmap editing software, a drawing application, and an XML editing utility.

The Professional tier incorporates all conventional functionalities and additionally includes the Paradox database management system, Corel ScreenCap, and Roxio Secure Burn.

In conclusion, the Standard edition and the Home & Student edition are identical, with the exception of the eBook publisher in the latter.

WordPerfect: The competition

The most apparent rival to WordPerfect is Microsoft Office, which has been renamed  Microsoft 365. This is because both possess a substantial number of identical applications and functionalities.

The distinction between Microsoft 365 and WordPerfect lies in the composition of their respective suites. While Microsoft 365 encompasses email, calendar, and desktop publishing applications, WordPerfect offers applications geared towards image editing and eBook publishing. Furthermore, the pricing models differ, with Microsoft 365 being a subscription-based package and WordPerfect entailing a one-time purchase.

WordPerfect: Final verdict

In our evaluation, WordPerfect was determined to satisfy all requirements pertaining to office software suites. It encompasses a comprehensive array of applications, incorporating the customary functionalities anticipated in an office-oriented software package. The inclusion of supplementary image editing and eBook publishing applications, coupled with a substantial collection of incorporated extras, enhances the value proposition, offering a compelling solution for cost-effective software procurement.

In contrast to the software’s name, WordPerfect exhibits imperfections, the primary shortcoming being its exclusive availability for Windows operating systems. Additionally, it is devoid of any email or calendar integration capabilities, a feature that is uncommon among comparable software suites.

However, for those already utilizing a Windows-based operating system and not particularly concerned with the integration of email functionality, WordPerfect presents an exceptionally cost-effective option.

Read our guide to the best free office software.

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