Review: Cyberlink Power DVD 8 Ultra video software

Cut-down versions of Power DVD are bundled with more DVD players than any other program, and when people come to buy full movie player software, most go for the name they know. At the moment that's Power DVD 8 Ultra, the top-of-the-range player with all the extras.

The point of any DVD playing software, of course, is to play DVDs, which Power DVD does well. In addition to playing movies crisply and with good picture quality, this version is Blu-ray compatible, so you can get the full HD experience. However, if you want to play HD DVD discs, Power DVD 8 Ultra won't be much help, as it is no longer supports this now-defunct format, whereas the previous version 7 did.

The Power DVD 8 Ultra opening screen is so full of icons for the different technologies it supports that there's little room for anything else. The program includes support for large-format screens, up to a resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels. Features like TrueTheater, which handle different screen types, from standard 4:3 to widescreen 16:9, enable movies to fill the screen to their fullest extent while retaining the correct proportions.

Cyberlink has also built-in optimisation, which can make use the computer's main and graphics processors to enhance the look of video and make sure it plays smoothly. There’s software designed to auto-adjust colour and lighting, too, according to a number of pre-defined profiles.

Audio support in the Ultra version of the software includes Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel sound and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel decoding, giving you the latest home cinema audio. It also handles the rival DTS-HD 7.1-channel surround sound, so you're well covered for multi-track audio.

The other new feature is Movie Remix, which enables users to revamp movies, primarily their own home videos, with title overlays and scene cuts. There doesn’t seem much point to this, as the editing facilities are meagre and pretty childish, way below what a dedicated video editor offers.

Many people will be happy with the standard software with which their computers come, but for anyone who wants more Power DVD remains a very well-featured DVD player, brought up to date with the latest technologies.

Vista compatible: Yes