User Rating:
Good: Vintique has a lot of choices for filters, vignettes, and frames, producing good, but not especially unique results.
Bad: Fine-tuning of basic editing tools switches to the original image, after you've already applied effects. The sliders are not fluid.
Bottom Line: If you want to give your images a retro look, Vintique gets the job done, but there are better apps available that are less confusing to use. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The 2013 Nissan Rogue SV makes good use of its power with a responsive CVT. The crossover's handling is smooth and predictable. The SL package upgrade adds a lot of tech for not a lot of money.
Bad: The screen for navigation and cameras is small and located low on the dashboard. The Rogue doesn't have Bluetooth audio streaming.
Bottom Line: The 2013 Nissan Rogue SV surprises with good available safety and infotainment tech and above-average performance. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Harman Kardon Classic headphones have a unique, sleek design with excellent fit and finish and impressive sound quality. They also fold flat (a nice carrying case is included) and have a detachable cable and an Apple-friendly inline remote and microphone that makes them a good companion for iOS mobile devices.
Bad: The headphones are fairly pricey, and the inline remote and microphone won't work with many non-Apple smartphones and tablets.
Bottom Line: The Harman Kardon Classic on-ear headphones combine impressive design and excellent sound quality to create a very enticing headphone set for a comparatively fair price. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Dell Inspiron 17R SE has a quad-core Core i7 processor, decent graphics, and a big 1080p screen.
Bad: The thick, inelegant body won't impress anyone. For the money, I'd rather have a high-end GPU and midlevel CPU than the other way around.
Bottom Line: Dell's Inspiron 17R SE packs reasonably high-end parts into a budget-feeling chassis, saving a few hundred dollars or more over similarly configured laptops. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is a comfortable, large sedan with an affordable price tag. The Lexicon stereo sounds great. USB and HD Radio are standard features.
Bad: The R-Spec upgrades don't really boost performance. BlueLink telematics and Bluetooth audio streaming are not available. Parts of the cabin look and feel cheap.
Bottom Line: It may look like a sport sedan on paper, but the 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec's feature additions amount to little more than a styling upgrade. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: Windows 8 embraces the future wholeheartedly. Log-in and boot times are fast, the apps look gorgeous, and the Sync feature brings seamless transition between devices.
Bad: The learning curve is steep and in-app navigation isn't obvious. There are just too many known unknowns here.
Bottom Line: Microsoft makes an aggressive, forward-thinking and bold statement statement for the future of PCs with Windows 8, and vast security and speed improvements more than justify the $40 upgrade price. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 sports a proven, sensible design, a bevy of useful features, and fast performance. The S Pen Stylus is a unique addition.
Bad: Only a limited number of apps make full use of the S Pen and some of the ones that do can be buggy and confusing. Some S Pen features aren't enabled by default and others don't work properly.
Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the best Samsung tablet yet. If you can get over its somewhat high price, it's a sound Android tablet investment. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 sports a proven, sensible design, a bevy of useful features, and fast performance. The S Pen Stylus is a unique addition.
Bad: Only a limited number of apps make full use of the S Pen and some of the ones that do can be buggy and confusing. Some S Pen features aren't enabled by default and others don't work properly.
Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the best Samsung tablet yet. If you can get over its somewhat high price, it's a sound Android tablet investment. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: Running Dead is a unique running-game concept, with upgradable weapons and varied environments.
Bad: It takes too many games to make enough money for new weapons -- it feels like you're being pushed to buy your way out in the store.
Bottom Line: If you want to try a running game that's a little different from the rest in the genre, Running Dead is a good option, but be ready to grind through levels to make money for new weapons. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: RealPlayer offers solid performance and a simple interface.
Bad: There are no power features like photo effects, advanced sorting, or video editing.
Bottom Line: If you're looking for a single app from which you can view photos, watch videos, and listen to music, then, dare I say it, RealPlayer is a solid choice. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The HP Envy 4-1015DX has an aggressive price, a sleek design for a budget laptop, strong battery life, and extras like Bluetooth and a backlit keyboard.
Bad: This entry-level configuration has an older, slower Intel Core i3 processor, although HP's site has affordable upgrade options; also, the heavier chassis and lack of DVD drive don't quite make sense.
Bottom Line: HP's Envy 4 is an attractive, affordable type of ultrabook with a basic but solid set of features, even if it lacks the speed of more expensive alternatives in our entry-level configuration. Your best bet is to pay more for a faster version, or get a cheaper AMD-based Envy instead. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: Google Translate is extremely versatile, as it supports more than 60 languages and several input methods, including text, handwriting, voice, and OCR.
Bad: There's no offline support. OCR is only for Android and cannot be used on existing photos from a device's gallery.
Bottom Line: If you anticipate having a consistent data connection on your travels, Google Translate, with its versatile input methods and simple interface, is an excellent option. [Read more]