Google's experimental game streaming service launches without many of its promised features and just a handful of games. It works, but there's not much incentive to buy in.

DirecTV Now

DirecTV Now delivers an impressive mix of channels for the money, but people who prioritize a cloud DVR should look elsewhere.

Editors' Choice

Adobe Flash CS3 Professional

Adobe has improved the speed of Flash and its integration with other CS3 apps, although flashy new features are few. Plus, Flash now works natively on Intel-based Macs.

ClassPass Live

It's a reasonable option if you want a wide selection of classes at a relatively low price.

Adobe PhotoShop CS Ver. 8.0

Ulead VideoStudio 8.0

VideoStudio 8.0 is a good pick for beginners who want to create and customize videos and DVDs.

Editors' Choice

$559.49 MSRP

Adobe Premiere 6.0

Premiere 6.0 is easily the best, all-around midrange editing program for Windows. For complex Mac projects, however, choose Apple Final Cut Pro 2.0 instead.