reference

We are of the humble opinion that Mystic Board publishes some of the worst software available on Download.com; they are almost without exception poorly designed and utterly useless. Nonetheless, we always try to approach each program with an open mind and a positive attitude. So we did with MB Dream, but to no avail. If anything, this program is one of the worst of the worst, and that's saying something.

MB Dream bills itself as three programs in one, containing sections for Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, and Inner Dreams Number. We started with Dream Interpretation, which is set … Read more

The publisher's description of Senomix Timesheets claims that it's designed for "engineering or project-based offices." We think this is a good thing, as it will likely take an engineer to figure out how to use it.

It's not that the program lacks instructions. The problem, in fact, is that the publishers have gone to the opposite extreme. Who has time to read a 31-page "getting started" guide? Better yet, who has time to read the full 84-page user guide, or the admin user guide, which weighs in at a staggering (and ridiculous) 256 … Read more

MB Tarot Dictionary conveys an incredible amount of detail about Tarot, the fortune-telling cards of legend and lore. This listing of terms is simple to use and is written in a straightforward way even newcomers can understand.

The program's interface is sparse but functional. We would have liked a more professional layout than its black-and-white display, and maybe a more insightful Help file instruction, but the functions were so basic that it took us practically no effort to get going. The dictionary consisted of an alphabetical listing of a few hundred Tarot-related terms. From Abysmal Tarot to Zodiac Pack … Read more

Scan the bookshelves of any serious movie buff and you're almost certain to find a worn, dog-eared copy of "Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide."

Of course, just as encyclopedias work far better as interactive, online guides like Wikipedia, so do reference tomes like this benefit from the digital treatment.

Enter Leonard Maltin Movie Guide for iPhone ($4.99), which not only reproduces the full text of the print version, but also delivers some interactive "plot twists."

In addition to 24,000-plus capsule reviews, the guide provides a couple dozen of Maltin's latest reviews (full … Read more

The Web is arguably the best way to get your burning questions answered quickly. But finding online resources beyond search sites such as Google and Bing that will help you do that can be difficult.

Which services can you trust? Which will get you the best information? I've sifted through several question-and-answer Web sites, trying to find the most reliable services. Let's take a look.

Ask Me Help Desk Ask Me Help Desk has an extremely active community that seems constantly willing to answer your questions.

When you get to Ask Me Help Desk, you'll need to first click on the category that best matches your query. So if you want to ask a question about business or technology, you'll have to click on either option. From there, you can ask any question that might be related to a particular topic on the site.

Since the site's community is so active, it's likely that you'll find a question that someone has already posed that's either exactly the same as yours or quite close. If you still want to ask your question, you can, but I found in my queries that finding the right answer was made easy by quickly searching the site.

I asked several questions to see how the site performed on different topics. I asked how many dog breeds there were (about 400, according to the top answer), looked to see if anyone knew what HTTP stood for (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and more. In almost every case, except for a medical question for which I'm still awaiting an answer, the question was already asked, and the answer was available on the site.

Ask Me Help Desk is a great service that will let you access answers for free. I just wish registration wasn't required to ask a question.

Askville Amazon's Askville is another take on the many question-and-answer sites on the Web. But unlike most of the other services, which allow you only to ask a question, Askville, which is free to use, will let you input details about your question to get a more desired response.

I found that when I used the detail option in my queries, I received the best response. I was able to ask the community a better question. For example, instead of asking how many dog breeds there were, I used the detail option to also ask Askville users how many terrier breeds are currently recognized by the American Kennel Club. It worked: there are 27 terrier breeds recognized by the AKC.

Askville's biggest issue is its design. It doesn't have a simple, easily navigable menu system like many of its competitors. Unfortunately, the site's front page is dominated by an enormous logo, a huge search box, and random questions that most people probably won't care about. A sleeker navigation pane would have been preferable. Besides that, I like Askville. The answers I got were generally informative. And thanks to such a large community, many of the questions you might ask are already on the site.… Read more

It sure looks expensive, and at $135,000, the Goldmund Eidos Reference Blu-ray player is definitely in the upper crust of Blu-ray players in terms of cost.

Hand-built in Geneva, the Eidos Reference Blue is a truly rarefied design. Limited in production to 50 units, dawdlers will be left having to make do with a plain vanilla Denon or Sony Blu-ray player.

Will the Goldmund outperform the Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player we raved about a few days ago? I have no idea, but I do know that a $20 Casio watch keeps time just as well as a Patek Philippe … Read more

Learn the meanings behind hundreds of astrological terms by using this simple program. Users who consult this program for guidance will not be disappointed with the no-nonsense direction this program takes.

The interface is a particularly strong aspect of this dictionary. Words are easily scrolled through in a list and the definition is large and easily read. Users can consult the online Help file, but it is very sparse and they will probably have better luck simply clicking around and experimenting. To get a definition, users simply scroll through the alphabetical list along the left-hand side of the program. Once … Read more

Science Data Reference System provides scientific minds with a quick reference sheet and a helpful hand with equations. With a simple layout and topics appropriate for young scientists and those in collegiate-level courses alike, this is a great tool.

The program's interface is a breeze to master thanks to its simplicity. Its scientific focus is divided among four tabs and within each of the tabs, users navigate with a menu along the left side. Each menu is managed differently, depending on what help it gives, but thankfully, all are simple enough to utilize independently, since there is no Help … Read more

Extreme sports and music go hand in hand, so it's not surprising companies such as Skullcandy and Nixon take advantage of this relationship to market headphones to teens and young adults with an interest in such activities.

Now you can add Roxy to the list. The female-centric surfwear maker has teamed up with JBL to offer a line of stylish earphones aimed at young women. The middle-of-the-road model is a canalphone called the Reference 250 earphone that sells for $40. This reasonably priced set offers the best value of any of the headphones in the Roxy line, and sound … Read more