Cyberlink Mediashow Espresso

Despite the number of portable devices that can be used to watch video, most clips need to be converted before they can be watched, and that conversion can be an irritating, lengthy process.

Cyberlink’s Mediashow Espresso is an impressive attempt to make things easier – it was easy to install, and the friendly interface offers large icons that are simple to follow.

It includes presets for all the big-name phones and other devices, as well as for Youtube, so conversion is a matter of dragging and dropping a video file onto the main screen and clicking a couple of buttons.

We tested Mediashow Espresso against the free converter Handbrake, and although the video from Handbrake was superior to that made by Espresso, the difference wasn’t big enough to be a big deal for most people, especially on the small screens we’re talking about. Similarly, Handbrake’s conversion was quicker, but not by much.

Cyberlink Mediashow Espresso is a good choice for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time messing around with settings and menus.