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Anyone wanting an all-in-one solution for professional quality Web design without paying a high price should give Serif’s WebPlus X2 a try.
This $79.99 program produces high-quality Web sites; users don’t have to know complicated HTML coding or have Web design experience.
The program offers interactive forums and blogs to help users produce videos, podcasts, animated photo galleries, Flash animations and much more.
The program has customized layouts, templates, buttons, fonts and more tools to fit your needs. Users also will enjoy a bonus of 12 months of pro-quality Web hosting included with the software.
Also in the Serif software lineup is PagePlus X3 ($99.99), designed to publish documents, enhance Web sites and e-mails. The program allows users to import and edit existing PDF files.
Included are photo editing tools along with lots of logos, templates and graphics. The program allows users to design stationery, business cards, labels, photo galleries and much more.
The Serif lineup doesn’t end there. Among the other products available are PhotoPlus X2 ($79.99). Users can use this to edit, organize and color correct digital images. The software works with RAW and many other popular image formats.
DrawPlus X2 is for users who want to enhance their drawings with features such as animation, which includes Flash support. This software is designed for beginners up to those who want to create any type of stylish artwork.
Sorry Mac users, the Serif software only will work on PCs and is certified to work on Windows Vista.
Information: www.serif.com
- Gregg Ellman, McClatchy Newspapers
HEAR THIS
The Duhks (pronounced "ducks") don’t land in one place too long. An acclaimed acoustic quintet from Winnipeg, Canada, they defy easy categorization by slipping unpredictably from spirituals to pop to world music to traditional folk. They seem to adhere only to one principle: keep things fiercely focused and steeped in passion.
With “Fast Paced World” (Sugar Hill), the Duhks’ fourth album, the band continues to rapidly evolve. Sarah Dugas is the new vocalist, and like forerunner Jessee Havey, she’s a soulful powerhouse, as she proves with her ferocious testifying on a cover of the traditional Deep South folk song “Mighty Storm.” Her brother, drummer Christian Dugas, can handle a variety of complex beats, including the polyrhythmic underpinning of “Magalenha,” a Tropicalia song by Brazilian master Carlinhos Brown.
At their heart, the Duhks are idealistic eclectics. But unlike some freedom-loving young prodigies, they keep their arrangements crisp, and producer Jay Joyce helps them concentrate on sharp ensemble playing and concise solos rather than lengthy jams. Songs like the pop-oriented “You Don’t See It” and the rampaging acoustic stomp of “95 South” carry a punch few jam bands ever muster.
- Michael McCall, The Associated Press

