quick

Basic PDF utility

PDF files are a part of just about everybody's life now, but many people don't have applications that are capable of doing much with these files besides viewing them. Quick PDF Tools is a small suite of utilities that lets users do more with their PDF files than just look at them. It's not the most feature-filled program we've ever seen, but it's not a bad choice if you're looking to perform a few basic tasks with your PDFs.

The program appears in the Windows context menu, so all you have to do is … Read more

Quick Take: Sony KDL-EX400 series

CNET did not review the Sony KDL-EX400 series of LCD TVs, which includes the 46-inch KDL-46EX500, the 40-inch KDL-40EX400, and the 32-inch KDL-32EX400, but we did review the KDL-EX500 series, which is similar.

The major difference between the two series is the inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate and Sony MotionFlow dejudder processing on the EX500 (more info). The EX500 also has a slightly better dynamic contrast ratio specification. Aside from these differences, we expect the picture quality of the KDL-EX500 to provide a very good indication of how the KDL-EX400 will perform.

For more information, see the full review of the Sony KDL-EX500 series.Read more

Quick Take: Samsung PNC550 series

CNET did not review the Samsung PNC550 series of plasma TVs, which includes the 50-inch PN50C550, the 58-inch PN58C500, and the 63-inch PN63C550, but we did review the PN50C590 series, which is similar.

The major difference between the two series is the inclusion of CinemaSmooth processing on the PNC590 models, which allows proper reproduction of 1080p/24 content (more info). Aside from this difference, we expect the picture quality of the PNC590 to provide a very good indication of how the PNC550 will perform.

For more information, see the full review of the Samsung PNC590 series.

Sony announces quartet of low-cost car stereos

Yesterday, Sony added four new single-DIN in-dash receivers to its Xplod line of car audio equipment, replacing last year's CDX-GT line. The new CDX-GT650UI, CDX-GT550UI, CDX-GT350MP, and CDX-GT250MP will all be available in the coming weeks with prices ranging from $80 for the most basic GT250MP to $160 for the most fully-featured unit, the GT650UI.

The top-of-the-line CDX-GT650UI and CDX-GT550UI have USB ports on their faceplates to connect with iPods, iPhones, Sony's Walkman, and other USB mass storage devices, as well as analog auxiliary inputs. Both units also feature Sony's ZAPPIN, Quick-BrowZer, and Jump Mode search technologies … Read more

QuickBooks update offers greater efficiency

The latest version of Intuit's small business accounting software, QuickBooks 2011, focuses on the fact that time is money for entrepreneurs. With that in mind, the update offers a host of new features aimed at streamlining important accounting tasks. Namely, QuickBooks 2011 hopes to make invoicing and collecting payments even faster and easier than before.

The main updates for QuickBooks this year are found in the two most popular versions of the software, Pro and Premier. The first thing seasoned users are likely to notice is a vastly simplified start-up process, thanks to the new Quick Start Center feature, … Read more

Font friend

Some fonts are better suited for certain projects than others, but it's not always easy to preview and compare fonts to make the best decision. FontViewOK is a lightweight font viewer that lets you do exactly that. It's nothing fancy, but it's a great way to easily see what fonts look like in a variety of styles.

The program's interface is plain, consisting mostly of just a list of fonts. You can enter custom text with which to preview the fonts, and can also see what the fonts look like bolded, italicized, struck-through, and underlined, as … Read more

Hot keys for music listening

SizzlingKeys is a free background app that lets you control iTunes playback with hot keys, even when you're in another application.

SizzlingKeys lets you program nine global hot keys: play/pause, previous and next track, volume up and down, show/hide iTunes, show playlists, search, mute, and the ingenious "Almost Mute," with a customizable Almost-Mute level. The app also lets you assign hot keys for rating tracks, and it will display an optional, temporary floating window (with the track info and art). You can also set SizzlingKeys to automatically launch iTunes when you press your play/pause … Read more

QuickBook Inventories

Fishbowl Inventory 2010 is an inventory control application that integrates with QuickBooks, the popular bookkeeping software. However, it can also be run as a standalone inventory management tool, making it especially suitable for distributors, wholesalers, delivery businesses, and even large operations such as manufacturing that maintain lean inventories for just-in-time operations. Among the features it packs are bar coding, parts tracking, shopping cart and Point-Of-Sale integration, multisite operations, administrative tools, and order management and tracking. Development kits, integrated hardware, and additional services are also available.

Fishbowl Inventory's installer lets you select or exclude the Manufacturing Option, which adds specific … Read more

MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we have questions on extending wireless networks with AirPort Express devices, new Macs not booting to a retail upgrade DVD for Snow Leopard, QuickTime not able to play some media files, and changing from the less secure WEP wireless security scheme to WPA or WPA2.

Question: Extending wireless networks with an AirPort express

MacFixIt reader "Mark" asks:

How can I get my Airport Express to act as a bridge (extend my Wi-Fi signal)? I only have a 2Wire (WEP password) router, and … Read more

Quick Take: Samsung UNC6300 series

CNET editors did not review the Samsung UNC6300 series, but we did review a similar series of Samsung LED-based LCD TVs, the UNC6500 series.

According to Samsung's Web site, the main difference between the two series is the presence of Samsung Apps in the UNC6500 models. The two series also have slightly different styling, one colored "stone black" and the other "graphite." According to one portion of Samsung's Web site, the UNC6500 is also 0.1 inch thinner than the UNC6300; however, according to another section of the site, they're the same thickness (… Read more