Most modern PCs come with basic DVD playback software bundled, but you’ll need
a premium version such as this to get access to more advanced audio and video options.

This version of CyberLink’s offering adds support for HD video, which we tested using an HD channel running at 1440 x 1088. With an Athlon 64 3800+ PC, we managed smooth, crystal-clear video, with the CPU load hovering around only 50 percent, partly due to the support for graphics-accelerated hardware. Critically, though, you’ll have to buy additional HD packs (available later this year) to play Blu-ray or HD-DVD movies, with only WMV-HD support as standard.

Video quality options have been improved. CyberLink Eagle Vision 2 is now adaptive and allows you to adjust chroma/luminance to brighten images or make them look more natural or vivid and a split-screen preview compares the changes with the original video.

This latest version adds Dolby Digital EX, DTS 5.1, DTS 96/24 to the already excellent audio support, as well as AAC decoding. But DTS-ES Matrix, Discrete and Neo:6 are only available through the Advanced Audio Pack. Dolby Headphone audio creates a fairly realistic virtual surround sound, and there’s also CyberLink’s own version – CLHP.

For notebook users, the new See-it-All feature monitors the amount of remaining battery power and speeds up playback to ensure the movie finishes before the battery runs out. Playback speed can be increased up to 25 percent and we found it surprisingly watchable — unless you’re trying to read subtitles. The nifty Say-it-Again feature replays the last few seconds of video with one button press – handy when you couldn’t quite make out what someone said – without running the risk of skipping back a whole chapter.

Other features include UPnP (Universal Plug ‘n’ Play) support, letting the software detect compatible equipment and access network-based media. If you already own PowerDVD 6 Deluxe, the upgrade cost is reasonable, but unless you’d really appreciate any one of these features the price is ultimately rather steep.