) so searching for the right one is not too arduous. Once the design has been chosen the next step is to add images. If the images need to be uploaded via a digital camera or scanner Picture It! will fire up the relevant software and upload the files. There are also thousands of clip art images available; three of the four CDs included in the software contain around 75,000 images. And for those with Web access who need even more choice there is a link to another 100,000 images online. However, the real fun starts with manipulating the images. All the usual features are available here-adding borders, frames, text and shapes; rotating your picture; adjusting brightness and contrast et al-but there are also some seriously addictive transformations to indulge in. These range from helpful to just plain silly but fun. So while the image connoisseur in us is fine tuning a masterpiece by removing dust and scratches (or even red-eye and wrinkles!) the mischievous in us can skew the image, add a 3-D effect and then create the illusion that the viewer is looking through frosted glass. This latter feature is dangerously addictive. There are more illusions than a magician has up his sleeve and it's almost impossible not try to them all out. Picture It! also features one great time-saving feature. A "mini-lab" allows basic manipulation of a number of images simultaneously. Once the design project is complete sharing your pictures can range from easy to imaginative. Simply print them or have them printed professionally, e-mail them to friends or relatives, upload the design to the Web or go one step further and order custom t-shirts, mugs or mouse pads. So, hire some Victorian costumes, take a family photo by the mantelpiece, add a sepia tint and the odd handlebar moustache and away you go. Adrian Spence.

Digital TerrainTM:- Check the overall ascent and descent of your route with this interactive hill profile. Save and share routes:- Save waypoints, routes and tracks for future use, send them via email, or even put them on your web page great for planning a group trip! 3D WorldTM:- Visualise the terrain around your routes and tracks in a continuous 3D landscape! See the shape of the horizon, change the lighting to envisage the hills during different times of the day or create Fly-through movies of your routes and tracks and save them for future use. Print Maps Zoom in and print your own custom full colour route maps. Print to scale:- Print maps at the scale of your choice. Multi-page maps:- Customise your printing with the new automatic paging for longer routes. TextNotesTM:- Ad.

You can also choose the types of tasks you intend doing with Quicken such as tracking investments, planning for retirement, controlling business finances and many more. Of course, you can always add new accounts or features later as your needs grow. Quicken XG supports online banking and investment updating although the range of supported institutions is limited to those who specifically support Quicken. However, most of the big ones except Barclays are supported, with Barclays due soon. Usefully, you can set up automatic downloads to ensure Quicken XG always has the most up to date information. As well as the use of Quicken XG itself and the online services for 12 months, you also get three free consultations with a Quicken financial expert who can help set the program up or advise on how to achieve certain goals. With so much flexibility and power, it is good news that the built in help is particularly well designed. The information is presented in both general and task-specific formats, making it a breeze to get to the information you need. Quicken XG provides a fresh new look for existing users as well as many improvements to its general functionality and tweaks to the analysis tools. New users will appreciate the Guided Setup Wizard which is a huge help when starting from scratch. -Iain Laskey.