CD/DVD authoring software was once the domain of computer nerds and pirates, but this latest version of Nero has its sights set firmly on the mainstream. It’s clearly positioned as a tool for the whole family with an array of “multimedia” features. It’s actually a multimedia suite than simply a CD/DVD authoring system.

With a tag line of “Simply Create, Rip, Burn, Copy, Share, Backup, Play and Enjoy”, Nero 9 is designed to help you manage your library of music, photos and videos.

Tasks such as data burning, audio burning, disc copying, and automatic backup, are accessed through the “SmartStart” interface. This interface also allows you to playback audio and video files, so you review files as you’re deciding what you want to “burn”, without needing to switch to a different application.

This interface is well laid out, and even a novice should have no problem working out how to access various functions.

SmartStart interface playing a file

Incidentally, SmartStart supports Gracenote metadata retrieval, which means it will download artist and song titles when you rip a CD.

The automatic backup features offers incremental backup (where only data that has changed is copied from one backup to the next).  You can back up to optical media and external hard disks, and there are also subscription options available for online backup.

Here’s an overview of the some the modules that come as part of Nero 9:

• Nero ShowTime is a playback application that plays popular audio and video media formats. It also supports Gracenote, so that it download artist and track information, as well as album art.
• Nero Vision provides a workflow for capturing, editing and outputting video to DVD or Blu-ray. Allows you add menus, and has the ability to detect ads in video that has been recorded from TV. Nero 9 allows you to download video from the latest HD camcorders.
• Nero Live integrates with XP or Vista Microsoft Media Centre Edition (MCE) and allows you to watch high-definition TV. Also works with non MCE Windows XP systems. It allows you to do such things as time shift and schedule program recording (obviously you need a tuner to be able to use Nero Live properly).
• Nero RescueAgent is designed to help you recover data on damaged discs, hard disks or USB memory sticks. It can be used to recover data from optical discs that have been scratched, or where recording was interrupted. This new “enhanced” Rescue Agent is said to be significantly faster than previous versions.

In the intro I mentioned that Nero is being positioned a tool for the whole family, and I was quite amused by an official Nero 9 presentation where it was shown that homemaker mother “Laura” could use Nero 9 to capture her family’s “special moments”, while busy executive father “Peter” could use Nero 9 to watch TV and capture video from his HD camcorder. The teenage kids also get a mention (ripping CDs) and even grandfather Jack can use Nero 9 to secure his important personal files. There you go, Nero 9 really is for the whole family

Nero has been a leader in CD/DVD authoring for some time now, and this version simply builds on what has always been a successful and useful product. It’s easy to use, has a nice interface,  a very full feature set, and does what it promises.

Review copy provided by Australian distributor Communique Software.

Estimated retail price: $US99/ $AUS199

System requirements: Windows XP with SP2 or SP3, Windows Vista; 1 GHz Pentium III or equivalent; 1.5 GB of hard disk space for installation (up to 9GB hard disk space for DVD images and temporary files); CD, DVD or Blu-ray Disc recordable or rewritable drive; and a graphics card with at least 32 MB of memory (800 x 600 resolution, 16 bit colour).

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Entry was posted on Monday, October 6th, 2008 at 4:38 am under Reviews, Software.

Read more entries by John Pospisil.
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