WinZip has become the most popular archival program used on the Windows platform, and it's good to see some serious innovation in this revision. Highlights are stronger encryption, greater file capacity and better compression.
WinZip takes its encryption standards to a newer level. Previous versions of WinZip used the 'Zip 2.0' encryption method, but WinZip 9.0 employs a method known as AES (advanced encryption standard). This is offered in two strengths - 128-bit (strong) and 256-bit (stronger). While traditionally WinZip only allowed you to encrypt files that were being added to the archive, this version allows encryption of files already existant within the zip file. WinZip 9.0 also offers Zip 2.0 encryption for the sake of portability and compatibility, as AES-encrypted zip files can only be accessed by AES compatible packages.
While drive capacity increases, so have the numbers and sizes of files - WinZip 9.0 imposes no practical restrictions on zip file size. It offers a 64-bit extended format that breaks through the previous barrier of 65,535-files or 4GB. This format is only used when the said limit is passed, otherwise the original is still used. WinZip's new muscles extend down to its core functionality - an 'enhanced deflate' option offers a degree of compression greater than the usual 'maximum'.
Though this is a handy space saver on systems with WinZip 9.0, versions prior to 8.1 and some other archival software will not be able to handle files compressed with this option.
A little behind the times, but finally WinZip offers a much sought after feature - a 'split zip file' option that lets you divide archives into individual files with user-defined sizes - regardless of whether you are using floppies. This is useful when transferring files over slow or unstable network connections (wireless) and for sending attachments. A number of other improvements have also been implemented - tooltips indicating archival contents, navigational enhancements and a nifty little tray icon. More significantly, WinZip has made add-on packages available over the Web, the most attractive being 'Command-Line Support' that will let you use WinZip in a manner similar to archival programs from the good old DOS days.
It's easy as ever to use and it's safe to say that it has only gotten better. All registered users of the earlier English-language versions of WinZip will be able download a free upgrade to WinZip 9.0 upon release.