14 DAY TRIAL // The world is moving on, no matter the direction, and the same happens with the IT world. In this case, the direction is usually the right one, but we're not going to talk about the general movement here, since I have a specific software category in my sight: CD/DVD burning tools.
The burning tool I have found today is called Complex Evolution, and its latest version is 3.2.7, build 256. Of course that what I have here is a trial version, but it's free to try for 30 days and has some really small limitations. The price of the full version is 29.95$, but before paying, I guess we should check this version we have here first, don't you think?
The installation of the 3.3MB setup package should be very easy to complete for everyone, and so we get to the most interesting parts of any review: the interface and features of the program we have here.
Can I say that I love this program? It looks so good, and even better than having an excellent design and being well organized, Complex Evolution's interface is skinnable. There are over 160 visual themes available for free on the producer's website, and they add up to the 24 built-in ones. Because quantity is nothing without quality, I will also add that most themes look great, and I am sure it's going to be a pleasure to check them, but now, let's get to the real thing and fry some discs!
The easiest way to burn a disc is to have an image file already created and waiting for the fire to get higher. Complex Evolution can burn ISO and MDS image files, and all you have to do is use the commands from the Extras menu. Since I told you about that menu, I must add that this program can also save your discs to ISO and MDS images, as well as add individual tracks to such images. The tools available in this menu also include VideoCD and SuperVideoCD burning, as well as Data CD/DVD, Audio CD and RAW CD copy. Nice, isn't it?
Now let's get back to the main window of the program and see how easy it is to create a new disc. There are four tabs inside this window, each for a disc type - data disc, audio, DVD and UDF, the only thing missing at this time being Blu-Ray. Adding files to your current compilation is really easy to do, since you can use the big "+" button, the contextual menu, the Edit file's commands or the keyboard shortcuts. A lot of ways to do such a simple operation, don't you think?
At last, the options available inside this program are exactly what one may need, including write method and speed options, custom cache size between 4 and 160MB and, of course, bootable disc creation.
Now that we know all these, the time has come to draw the conclusions and enjoy this great program, first by looking at the screenshots and then by burning some discs, I hope...
The Good
Complex Evolution is one of the sexiest burning tools I have ever seen (we won't count in the food-burning wives that some of us may have...), is very easy to use and has all the features most of us need. The Help file is excellent and the free trial version gives you a strong taste of the final product.
The Bad
Blu-Ray support should be introduced as soon as possible, because some of the competing programs already have it, and sometimes, agony is only one feature away from ecstasy.
The Truth
Complex Evolution is a program that you must try, and that's all. Just take a look, and believe me when I say that it works at least as well as it looks!
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
