CNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual 144MB download.
CNET Editors' review
PowerDVD version 12 Ultra is here, and it brings with it increased 3D support and improved playback controls. At the same time, it changes its game a bit by offering tools for organizing and managing all of your media across devices. Now you can use your desktop PC as a server for all of your content, and with PowerDVD Mobile, you can browse and play that content from anywhere.
PowerDVD's bread and butter has always been its movie playback capabilities, and with version 12 that hasn't changed. The program can still play DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and an impressive number of video file formats quite well. Some new additions, however, include playlists, the ability to zoom in on video, and 2D-to-3D conversion for Blu-ray discs. At this point, the conversion feature is pretty much a novelty, but that doesn't change the fact that it works considerably well. It even lets you adjust the depth of the graphics in case you want to see how eye-popping the 3D can get.
Beyond typical movie playback, PowerDVD 12 comes with dramatically improved syncing and streaming. Now it can act as a hub for all of your media content--videos, photos, and music--and can sync across your various PCs and Android devices via USB. Setting up your devices to stream over the network can get confusing, but once you figure it out, PowerDVD's DLNA keeps it working like a charm. It even lets you push media content from PowerDVD out to selected devices. This means that from your desktop, you can push a video out to play on your Android tablet and vice versa. Streaming to Android devices requires the PowerDVD Mobile app, which comes free with PowerDVD Ultra. Otherwise, the app costs $19.99 in the Android Market.
PowerDVD 12 also lets you view, share, and download photos from your Facebook and Flickr albums--something I haven't seen in any other multimedia programs. And finally, it comes with built-in access to the 7digital Music Store, which confirms my belief that CyberLink is making a run to incorporate an iTunes for Windows and Android into its software.
At this point, it seems like CyberLink PowerDVD is quickly outgrowing its name. Sure, DVD playback has been and still is its main gig, but the program is obviously creeping into other territories with its integrated social media features, streaming and syncing, and its partnership with the 7digital Music Store. Whether it's true or not, I'm all for extra features without the extra cost, and that's exactly what this iteration of PowerDVD offers up.
If you're looking for a premium, all-in-one media player for Windows, I highly recommend checking out PowerDVD 12 Ultra. It may not be as easy to set up as iTunes, but it has some power features that make it worthwhile.
Publisher's Description
From CyberLink:
PowerDVD 12 is the perfect universal media player for all your entertainment needs. Play any movie, video or music file or view photos stored locally, online or on other devices all from within the one powerful application. It also works perfectly within your home network, share media library to other DLNA devices at home, browse content from other media server or extend your media experience to PowerDVD Mobile on your iPhone, iPad and Android phone or tablet.
What's new in this version: Version 12 adds:
Multimedia Support
- Media Library for Video, Photo and Music
- Rating Media content
- Instant View - preview media in folders with folder thumbnail
- Instant Zoom - seamless zoom in video, up to 4x
- Instant Scale - Adjust folder/thumbnail size
- Search YouTube video
- YouTube playlist/subscription/favorite
- Lossless HD Aud... See all new features
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 491 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 3 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-3 of 3
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"Wonderful easy to use very versatile media player"
Version: CyberLink PowerDVD 12
Pros
Great plug ins and support. I've always been a fan of Power DVD and other cyberlink products but this time it's better than before with added features. Also I've noticed the player seems to play better quality sound than vlc or Win media player on media files.
Cons
PAID-high dollar at that. can be processor heavy at times especially with those nifty plug ins that you can download.
Summary
Still a top notch player from a company that keeps putting out great procducts.
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"PDVD 12 ULTRA upgrade"
Version: CyberLink PowerDVD 12
Pros
I just caved in for the 'member's' upgrade price. I was at pdvd10 ultra mk 2 and quite happy with its abilities and passed on ver11 but i had my first real and completely positive cyberlink experience in years, since ver7. I am totally impressed with its ease of installation, and integration into my whole cyberlink array, i have a ton of oem blu ray stuff and ver10, 9 and 8oem.
now i can do way more then i will ever want to use and it all worked first shot. i needed to do very little tweaking though i did not set up remote/android. the network streaming is great, immediately. i have a handful of computers and laptops spread around here and right away it did its thing. and it was clear when i tried to do something it couldnt do(monitor movies in a lan drive) with a short statement and the help is completely directed for exactly where i am when i click it.
blu ray played, dvds no problems, kept many of my old settings and i like the lossless audio, finally.Cons
havent had it long enough to identify real cons. only have personal annoyances which have nothing to do with the product mostly my shortcomings.
It seems to be way too big and can be frustrating or confusing locating how to things. not enough area for manual overrides of file gathering. it is so big , there is a significant learning curve for carried over functions for small changes. but, it appears that it may be enjoyable setting up new things and tweaking what i can when i figure out just how far it will go, or if it will go, etc. .it does look to be a fair amount of it to weed though and pick out what is important for my needs and which is to be left alone, if i can. the one thing i noticed was while playing new blu ray: it offered to change from 60 to 24 which was nice but it was real slow. lots of spinning circles. never happens in pdvd10 playing bd and i have 128gig c4 ssd, 1090T, 8gig ddr3 1600 on a 890fx w/5870@ 12.1. i am hoping this will be gone when i find out whySummary
my 'members' offering contained media espresso for free and the android /remote set up and pdf and all for less than half the normal price. it made it a must buy despite being rather satisfied with my pdvd10 ultra mk2 version 2325. i stopped there because functions began to become blocked for some reason. i passed on ver11 because it was too much like what i had in 10, even passed up new egg shell shocker under 30buck price for 11. and lucky, pdvd 12 ultra was released the next day for less than 20 more than shell shocker for 11 ultra was.
i sweat out the installation, waited 12hrs after downloading it before i even considered install. i am glad i did go for it, though. it was nothing to do, very intuitive set up from download to 'finish' it is great for my primary interests in the pc movie/video dept plus it came with the espresso for movie conversion for remote devices and can convert a bunch at once or so it said. my only real issue was the slow down while playing a blu ray on my 42" LG 550. i have always been able to watch a blu ray movie on the tv while surfing, emailing checking imdb or whatever, no problems. so , i dont know what is going on here. that shouldnt happen with the 6core @4.1gig on boost, and a 5870 w/8gig ddr3 1600. clocked a little too.
maybe i am responsible for not setting everything up properly,maybe not.
bottom line is that i was quite pleased with the overall performance of the product(s) multi capacity operation. it played old dvds and made them look nice. played blu rays and had lossless audio in the one 7.1 bd i have with that new audio. none of the past hassles with my amd gpu and hdmi audio either. i will be learning more as i use it more and explore its potential.. but , so far it is just fine and worth the upgrade -
"its good...."
Version: CyberLink PowerDVD 12
Pros
fentasti features!!
Cons
should have more shortcuts as vlc media player.
Results 1-3 of 3
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