Productivity Reviews

Internet Explorer 8: screenshot gallery

Photos Internet Explorer 8 is now available for download. Here's a gallery showing some of its main new features.

Microsoft 2.0 review

Review In this solidly researched and footnoted book, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reviews the key people, products and principles that will drive Microsoft's future.

Lotus Symphony 1.2 review

Review Although the interface of IBM's free office suite is attractive, its hunger for system resources and lack of features and OOXML support mean that OpenOffice.org 3 is a better free alternative.

iWork '09 review

Review Intuitive interface design and easy access to useful features make iWork the best office suite choice on the Mac. Although it lacks some of Microsoft Office's advanced options, iWork '09 is an emerging powerhouse in its own right.

Google Chrome 2.0 pre-beta: a first look

Preview Version 2.0 of Google's Chrome browser is now available in pre-beta form. Check out some of the key new features.

Googling Security review

Review This book examines how Google can (wittingly or unwittingly, directly or indirectly) breach our privacy.

Schneier on Security review

Review This book is a compendium of Bruce Schneier's many columns on a wide range of security topics. We assess its value, and talk with the author.

Security Engineering review

Review The world has changed in the seven years since the first edition of this seminal book was published. Anyone involved in designing any kind of security system should read this second edition.

Google Chrome

Video Josh Lowensohn examines some of Chrome's top features including the deeply integrated search, minimalist interface and smart use of privacy

Benchmarks: Google Chrome

Tech Guide Google's Chrome browser seeks to set new speed standards and thus accelerate the development of AJAX-based web applications. Check out our comparative performance test to see how it fares.

Google Chrome (beta)

Preview Google has launched Chrome, an open-source browser that sends a clear challenge to Microsoft in the way it lets users work with applications.

Internet Explorer 8 beta 2: a first look

Preview IE8 (beta 2) should satisfy Microsoft's loyal browser base, but it's unlikely to lure committed Firefox users back to the fold.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred review

Review Capable of fast and accurate speech-to-text processing, application control and audio file transcription, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 is an excellent dictation program. You'll still have to spend time training both the software and yourself, though.

Opera Mobile 9.5 beta

Video The newest version of Opera's browser for Windows Mobile phones inches closer to the desktop-browsing experience with a spruced up UI and more powerful features

MobileMe review

Review If Apple irons out the glitches, MobileMe could be worthwhile for iLife and iPhone users who want to keep data on their Macs, handset and iPod Touch, as well as Outlook mail and calendars, on the same page.