MaximumPC 2008 05

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Sometimes the ends do justify the

means. Take Adobe’s Photoshop

Elements 6.0, for instance.

Normally, after we complete a

software review, the app is unin-

stalled and the disc fi led away. Not

so with Photoshop Elements 6.0.

We often fi nd ourselves reaching for

this program even over a full-fl edged

photo editor such as Photoshop

CS3. It simply gets us the results

we need with less time and hassle.

That’s a big win in our book because

less time editing means more time

shooting. And frankly, unless you’re a

Photoshop CS3 whiz, Elements may

actually yield better results. And the

app isn’t lacking advanced functional-

ity, either. You still get access to Adobe

Camera RAW updates, for example—a

major leg up over other newb-centric

photo editors.

$100, http://www.adobe.com

It’s hard not to love Fraps. We’re just not sure which part of the

popular program we love most. The fact is, this all-in-one application

should be a mainstay of any gamer’s desktop rig. For the frame-rate-

oriented gamer, the program lets you overlay frame rate, so you can

monitor performance in-game. Amateur directors love the program’s

movie-capturing feature, which lets you record what you’re doing in

a game—you can achieve better-than-HD quality! And rounding out

the list of fi ne features is the program’s screenshot function. We love

being able to capture stills of our favorite game moments—frame rate

included—with just the touch of a button!

$40, http://www.fraps.com

These days, you can’t get very far on

a computer without amassing a bunch

of user names and passwords (surely,

you’re not using the same password

for every account you register!).

KeePass Password Safe helps you

keep all that information straight.

This free open-source program

lets you manage all your passwords

using an encrypted database that is kept safe

from prying eyes by a single master password

(the only one you need to remember!) and the

one-two of AES and Twofi sh encryption. From

the straightforward interface, to the random pass-

word generator, to the ability to easily create login

scripts for the sites you visit, this app takes all the

annoyance out of registered accounts. For ultra

convenience keep the lightweight program on a

USB key that you take with you anywhere.

Free, http://keepass.info/index.html

KeePass Password

Safe

Why stress your noggin trying to

remember your login?

Fraps

The gamer’s ultimate benchmarking and

multimedia companion!

Adobe Photoshop

Elements

Make your pictures better without

the brain strain

The Password Generator’s multitude of options

will satisfy even the most paranoid users.

The movie-creation feature comes with plenty of

options to address hard drive space and sound-

quality concerns.

Common editing chores, such as

color-cast correction, are effortless

with Elements 6.0.