Video editing has become a mainstream creative outlet for both hobbyists, and professionals. Getting the right video editing software can give you the freedom to express yourself better and make good videos. Most importantly, it needs to be reasonably priced since you don’t want to end up shelling out a bomb.

But how do you know which is the right one to choose? If you are a first time video editor looking for options and need help in knowing what to look for, you have come to the right place.

Here are three main guidelines to watch out for when buying your first video editing suite.

System Compatibility: If you’re on Windows, get a program that works on for it. If it’s a Mac, Final Cut Pro is compatible with it and runs beautifully on it. You should choose your video editing software according to your system specs. Buying a cutting edge video editing program might seem like an obvious choice. However, problems will arise if your system specs fall below the software’s minimum requirements. This could mean they won’t run or even install in few cases.

The second problem is even if it does meet the specs, will it actually run well? Some video editing programs are lightweight and don’t consume a lot of RAM. Whereas others come with gigantic file sizes and consume a lot of hardware resources. Do your research on the technical side of the software before buying.

Multicam Feature: Make sure your video editing program comes with multicam feature. If you shoot with your smartphone or DSLR, it can add a lot of depth to your final product. Multicam features lets you shoot the same scene from multiple angles. A video editing suite that allows for this can expand your creativity and ease of use. You should feel comfortable while making videos and not feel restricted. A good video editing package will help you with this.

Additional Features: Other features to look out for include rendering formats, import formats. Check if the video editing package offers animations, transitions, and titling. Most video editing suites these days lets you create custom 3D titles from 2D text and rotate them on their axes. This is important since you will want to use a 3D title when making trailers or intros. Look out for this.

Additionally, make sure they provide options for adding multiple audio and video tracks to the timeline. The ability to cut, trim, copy, paste, and edit seamlessly on the timeline is what matters most. A good video editing package will offer you the best of all worlds in decent proportions. Finally, make sure it fits within your budget and meets all your requirements.

The number of people who are working from a virtual office has proliferated by almost 80% between 2005 and 2012. Collaboration tools have become indispensable in this scenario, getting people together from all parts of the world, increasing productivity, encouraging teamwork and creating synergies and efficiency.

Listed below are some major pros and cons of collaboration software.

Pros

• Enabling remote working: Collaboration software allows companies to bunch the best-suited people for a project regardless of their physical location using just the internet. Members can become efficient and increase productivity by not being chained to desks. For example, the versatile Slack runs on mobile apps and web browsers.
• Ease of reporting: Collaboration software can quickly generate detailed and updated project reports by assimilating data quickly. This helps team members in not losing track of activities and helps them during reporting time, saving energy, money and time. Asana, Liquid Planner, Basecamp and Teamwork enables viewing of regular progress report using tracking tools and to-do lists.
• Document collaboration: The e-mails being sent back and forth can stop once collaboration software comes into the picture. For instance, Cloud-based collaboration tools allow documents to be easily edited and uploaded, immediately alerting other team members of the same. This ensures that the latest version is available without confusion, allowing changes to be reflected instantly and work flow to be organized and rendering external storage unnecessary.
• Time saving: Collaboration software allows for real-time conversation to take place without wasting time searching for e-mails, etc.

Cons

• No project management tools: Popular collaboration software such as Google, Asana, Sococo and Slack do not offer tools for project management, which will go a long way in maximizing the team’s productivity.
• Steep costs: When one collaboration software doesn’t cater to all nitty-gritty needs, costs spike. Moreover, training costs are incurred to train members to use the tool.
• No communication tools: Some collaboration software lack a comprehensive cluster of basic communication tools. For example, Slack doesn’t have an away or idle option for an inactive member, Sococo doesn’t feature spellcheck or file sharing and Basecamp.
• Privacy policies: Not all collaboration software rank high on privacy. One of the popular features for strengthening security online is the two-step authentication. The ones such as Teamwork and Asana, which otherwise have great collaboration features, lack a two-step authentication during sign-in.

Whether creating digital art, recording music, or editing photos and videos, there is unique software to complete each task. However, the market is filled with hundreds of developers, each offering a range of features for a specific price. And there is always the off chance that one may not be happy with their purchase. So, if you have decided to buy software for your home system, here are ten common mistakes to avoid.

Overspending on features
Every software has numerous standard features, plus optional add-ons for an extra fee. More often than not, the developer’s website will give you several reasons why buying the fully-loaded version is the ideal choice. But you will likely never use some add-on features despite paying more money to unlock them. So, if you are beginning to learn a particular software, spend only on the standard variant. You could eventually pay for additional features as you become more familiar with the tool.

Buying from spurious websites
Every software has a price tag that may occasionally drop during the festive season or on particular sale days. But you may come across a few websites that continually advertise a price too good to be true. These websites may accept your payment but never deliver the software activation code or send one that does not work. So, always check the authenticity of the websites you visit to buy computer programs and avoid those that look suspicious.

Picking the first option
Many people use their search engines to look for the software they need and purchase the first option that shows up on their screens. Remember, links at the top of the results page are often sponsored. So, you might be buying something that does not give you complete value for money. Instead of buying the first product you see, list all the top online retailers selling the software and compare them. Then choose the one that offers the best features for the price.

Rushing the purchase
Just like picking the first option that pops up on the screen, some rush their software purchase because of a time crunch. Doing so may cause you to pay a lot more than you should. So, take enough time to pick software for your needs to ensure you do not overpay for the product. If possible, wait until the holiday season, when retailers drop prices on computer software by a high margin.

Not reading reviews
People often buy software without reading a single review, which is one of the biggest mistakes they could make. Hundreds of customers post ratings and reviews on the internet about their experience with particular software. These posts could cover several factors, including the product’s usability, value for money, and benefits or drawbacks. Reading these online reviews could help you make a more informed decision when buying the software.

Skipping the trial
Another error people make when buying software is not signing up for the trial. Most computer programs offer at least a seven-day trial for users to familiarize themselves with the interface before making a monthly or annual payment. So, do not pay for the tool until you use its trial version to ensure it is the right choice for the tasks you need to complete.

Not checking compatibility
While a particular software may have all the necessary bells and whistles you require, your money might go in vain if you do not check its system compatibility. Each product has different requirements in this aspect. For instance, some may require a certain amount of storage space and RAM to function efficiently, while others may need a specific chipset. So, check if your computer has the basic requirements before buying the software. Doing so will ensure you have the right product.

Making long-term commitments
Many users sign long-term contracts when purchasing software to reduce their subscription fees. However, they fail to consider that their needs might change with time. So, while the software might suit immediate needs, you must assess whether it will still be useful after a few months or a year. If you think your software requirements are temporary, sign up for a monthly package over a yearly subscription.

Going for the lowest-priced deal
You will find many software solutions for the same purpose but at different price points. To save money, users often pick the cheapest product. Doing so leaves them with software that is glitchy and full of bugs. This hampers their overall user experience and compels them to pay more for better tools. So, carefully check the features included in the software along with the price tag to avoid disappointment later.

Not reading the fine print
Besides the software’s features, developers publish terms and conditions and other legal documentation on their websites. Purchasing the program without reading this information could be problematic because many developers list the additional charges in the fine print. The terms and conditions may also mention how users can or cannot use the software and the level of privacy offered. So, you must read the documentation bundled with the software before signing a contract and making the final payment.

As the world keeps getting increasingly digital, a lot of our paperwork, too, is starting to be processed online. Digital signatures have replaced manual ones to a great extent and thick files have made way for documents that can be downloaded, read, and stored on our computer screens. In this day and age, there is a need for a system that is well-equipped to manage the signing of a large number of electronic documents. Here is a list of some of the top electronic signing software to help you make the right choice:

• Zoho Docs

Zoho Docs has been one of the most popular document management systems for a while now. It serves as a repository of all your files and ensures that they remain safe. Apart from acting as a safe storage, it enables you to share all kinds of documents, videos, pictures, and other data online with friends, family, or those from your workplace. You can vet the software by first signing up for a trial version, which lets a single account be shared by 25 users and allots 5 GB of storage space to each user.

• LogicalDOC

Many leading organizations use LogicalDOC as their primary source of storing important electronic documents. LogicalDOC specializes in process automation and document retrieval and is thus preferred by many companies. In addition to letting you sign electronic documents smoothly, it also allows you to create, edit, and put together any kind of document with your colleague. It has a web interface that is very convenient to use and is well-integrated with Microsoft Outlook and Office. Though it does not offer professional phone support, it has an efficient email-based customer support service.

• Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a great tool to be had if you are required to exchange business documents frequently. This electronic document signing software gives its users the opportunity to create team sites and store a large amount of data that can be accessed by everyone from the team. If you have an active internet connection on your phone, you can edit any document on the go. On this software, entire folders of documents can be shared seamlessly. You can also avail of a variety of free apps if you have an account with SharePoint; and there is no limit on the number of apps that can be used.

• M-Files DMS

If you are not too comfortable using tools or software that involve complex procedures, then you can try using M-Files DMS. It is one of the simplest signing software for documents. It updates the system automatically at regular intervals, thereby saving you a lot of time and hassle. M-Files DMS also helps you to gauge the status of the files that have been added or edited. In this way, it lets you keep a note of each and every change made to a particular file.

• ONLYOFFICE by Ascensio System

If you are on the lookout for a document signing and management system that also doubles as a project management tool, then Ascensio System’s OnlyOffice would prove to be a good option for you. ONLYOFFICE also has several interesting features apart from file storing and sharing. Its look and feel are similar to that of Google Drive, and it lets you integrate emails and calendars, through which you can manage large data concerning any given project.

Video editing suites these days come packed with the latest cutting-edge technology. From multi-cam editing, audio mixing, animation, and titling features, a good video editing suite will give you the best of all worlds. Most importantly, it makes your job easier.

Picking the right video editing suite can also provide better render quality, more formats, and the ability to import and edit various file types. You can also work with audio, pictures, textures, and much more.

Here are the top three video editing software for filmmakers and video editors, for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS6: Adobe has been the leading pioneer in video editing technology. Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 is considered the industry standard software suite for video editors, and filmmakers. Its interface is built for non-linear video editing and comes with 360 VR support. It supports a wide range of file formats, has 4K and HDR video support, and even comes with the Lumetri color tool. It is great for collaborative projects and comes equipped with the right tools for it. Additionally, Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 project files can be imported and used with other Adobe creative applications like Adobe After Effects CS6.

Apple Final Cut Pro X: Arguably one of the best video editing programs for Mac Users and one of the best Apple has to offer. The Apple Final Cut Pro X comes with MultiCam editing support, magnetic trackless timeline, and various organizational tools to help video editors make videos seamlessly. Its organizational tools include libraries, ratings, tagging, auto analysis of faces and much more. The user interface is simpler and lots more powerful compared to its previous generations. It has been hailed as the ideal video editing suite for video editors.

Sony Vegas Pro 14: Sony Vegas Pro 14 is ideal for both hobbyist and professional video editors. If you have ever needed a complete video editing suite packed with all the features a video editor could ever dream of, the Sony Vegas Pro 14 is the one. It comes with Titler Pro inbuilt which lets you create custom titles. It offers various presets for its transitions and video effects.

Render times are usually much lower in the Vegas editing suites when compared to other video editing programs. Newblue FX comes bundled with the suite. You can create a wide range of cool video effects for your videos such as solar flares, lens flares, special glows, blurry transitions, zoom effects and much more. It offers high frame rate support, can stabilize shaky footage, offers MultiCam editing support and a lot more. It’s the ultimate creative and customizable package for video editors and filmmakers.

Conference calls have become necessary, especially as companies expand and onboard employees from different parts of the world. Besides, as the work-from-home culture gains momentum, the reliance on video-calling software has witnessed a further increase. Here, we’ll look at some of the top video conference web software and their pricing options.

Zoom
Zoom has become one of the most popular video conferencing software recently. You can use it not only for official meetings but also for informal catch-ups with friends and family. The basic plan is free, and you can add up to 100 participants in one call; however, the time limit is capped at 40 minutes. If needed, you can upgrade to a better plan. For instance, the Pro plan costs around $150/year and offers group meetings for up to 30 hours. You can also go for the Business plan or Enterprise plan, which cost $200/year and $240/year, respectively. The former includes recording transcripts and company branding and can host up to 300 participants, while the latter offers unlimited cloud storage and up to 500 people.

Google Meet
A Google-owned enterprise, Google Meet is famous and easily accessible to anyone with a Gmail account. Like Zoom, Google Meet also offers different pricing and plans besides its free version. The starter plan provides 30 GB of cloud storage and 100 participants for $6/month. The other options include Business Standard and Business Plus for $12/month and $18/month, respectively. With each upgrade, you get better cloud storage and the ability to admit more people. Google Meet also has an Enterprise plan, for which you can contact them directly for pricing.

BlueJeans Meetings
A Verizon product, BlueJeans is another top video conference web software. As far as the pricing goes, BlueJeans Standard costs $120/year for 100 participants and unlimited meeting time. The Pro account allows you 150 participants and 25 hours of recording limit for approximately $170/year. BlueJeans has recently come out with an Enterprise package that hosts 200 people with unlimited recordings, automated closed captioning, and real-time transcription. This plan costs $200/year. There is also an Enterprise Plus version for which you need to contact the BlueJeans sales team to get a quote and summary of the unique features.

Microsoft Teams
This is perfect for those using Microsoft already! The free version enables 100 participants with a 60-minute time limit. You also have the Microsoft 365 Business Basic that costs about $5 per user per month. So depending on how large your team is, this costing will change. The package includes 300 participants and 24 hours of maximum meeting limit. Similarly, another plan—the Microsoft 365 Business Standard—also permits 300 participants and 24 hours of meeting time, but with additional productivity apps. It costs about $13 per user per month.

Despite the iPhone’s many advanced security features, the risk of malware remains for one reason ― it is connected to the web. Hackers can still access a phone via the internet, which is why there are antivirus programs to keep sensitive data protected. Picking the right antivirus for the iPhone comes down to the safety options that are offered. Here are some of the best antivirus software that come with robust security features.

McAfee Antivirus Plus
The McAfee Antivirus Plus offers protection for cloud-based offline and online data for your iPhone. It has a strong firewall, apt malware identification, and quick spam filtration that can be used across multiple devices at home. It protects your identity over the internet and reduces the risk of online theft. Although there is a lack of parental control features, the multi-device security makes it worth getting, especially if many family members own iPhones and other Apple devices.

Bitdefender Mobile Security for iOS
This antivirus software by Bitdefender offers VPN protection for encrypted data transfer. It will protect your online activity and secure any sensitive information sent via the web. There is also a way to check for breaches of privacy so that you’re always aware of a third-party invader. The software also shields the user from clicking on a malicious page, putting their data at risk. Bitdefender is a good program for privacy and protection in an antivirus for their iPhone.

Kaspersky Security Cloud for iOS
Kaspersky offers all-around protection for iOS with features like VPN, password manager, and Home Wi-Fi security. It activates automatically when a dangerous connection is detected over the internet. This saves your phone from phishing, false advertising, and other online vulnerabilities which would otherwise spew viruses into the system. The Kaspersky Safe Kids, which comes with the software, is great for adjusting parental controls and protecting the content a child is exposed to. There are several surprising features too that can be explored, like data leak detection and payment protection.

Getting an antivirus for your iPhone will not only keep your device free of malware and speed it up, but it will also keep you safe from online threats.

Every organization uses assets such as laptops, personal computers, software applications, printers, servers, and other equipment. Tracking these assets, equipment, and inventory is not an easy task. For this, an IT asset management software can be an indispensable tool in managing the various processes involved in maintaining all the assets within the organization. These processes can range from the procurement or purchase of assets to their disposal. This will help in cutting down unnecessary costs and improve efficiency in the management of assets. The following are some popular IT asset management software that are being used by numerous organizations globally.

• EZOfficeInventory
  EZOfficeInventory helps in keeping track of assets, right from the procurement stage to the retirement stage, in a non-intrusive manner. It is one of the most popular IT asset management software with a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes setup and installation very easy. The software can scan RFID tags on external scanners as well as QR codes and barcodes through the mobile app of the software. The various services included in the software are audits, asset reservation, maintenance, and checkouts. The software also lets multiple teams in an organization collaborate when it comes to asset management.
• SolarWinds
  This IT asset management software allows for remote monitoring and management with a web-based interface. This software has some useful tools to improve and maintain IT solutions of an organization. It also offers security features such as antivirus, patch management, backup as well as recovery. Remote access and automated maintenance and monitoring are other notable features of this software.
• Asset Infinity
  One of the notable features of this IT asset management software is its ability to assist organizations in tracking damaged or non-functional assets, assess their condition, and find out who owns them. The software has the capability of using RFID tags, barcodes, or QR codes for tracking assets. It has an easy-to-use dashboard and generates instant reports to keep track of various costs associated with all assets in the organization.
• Oracle PeopleSoft
  By integrating this asset management software to Oracle’s CRM IT Help Desk and financial systems, an organization can have a comprehensive and robust system for tracking and managing various assets within the organization. This software incorporates features such as audit management, inventory management, compliance tracking, maintenance management, and depreciation management.
• UpKeep
  This is another IT asset management software with remote capabilities. With UpKeep, an organization can keep track of assets, inventory, and equipment located across various regions. UpKeep is known for sending real-time notifications and alerts about updated tasks on all hardware as well as software assets of the organization. Since this software is cloud-based, an organization can check asset information from anywhere and at any time. With detailed reports, this software also allows an organization to keep track of various costs related to the all the assets within the organization.