StarBurn has been an almost annual giveawayoftheday here since 2007, at which time its publisher was Rocket Division Software, an outfit notable as much for "mistakenly" hijacking a computer user's home page as for its actual product. Of Rocket Division Software there is today no longer any sign, so if you want to check back on the earlier reviews and comments on Starburn here at GOTD, go here:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/?cat=72

Having had to waste a lot of time rescuing a friend's computer from Rockeyt Division Software's odious bundling-in of a "pack" which was made to look like it was essential to Starburn's operation (it wasn't: the pack was a new unwanted toolbar and sa home page hijack) I've stayed well clear of StarBurn ever since.

Today's giveaway, however, comes from StarBurn Software Ltd, of whose provenance I'm unaware or even its location seeing as how its address is a post office box in the offshore tax haven of Tortola, the British Virgin Islands.

That said, StarBurn Software Ltd is a distinct improvement on Rocket Division Software when it comes to being open and up-front: it follows best practise by (a) clearly flagging up optional add-ons at the time of install and (b) requires the user to tick each check-box, rather than uncheck them from a default setting.

That's excellent. What isn't excellent is this in the EULA for today's giveaway, which has to be agreed to otherwise the StarBurn software installation will not proceed:

The Company keeps right to use customer's computer to perform marketing activities like gathering, tracking and analyzing search queries etc.

I'm assuming, this text actually relates to the yesteryear StarBurn search engine / tool bar / home page hijack -- but it would be better if it wasn't there at all. It certainly doesn't inspire confidence in the developer.

Downloading and installation of today's giveaway went fine though, no nasties, no deception. Key file loading was quicker than the usual cut 'n paste. Unfortunately, through some quirk in the set-up, the program opened in a spectacularly daft style, with small non-resizeable windows for each separate wizard. Going into Settings allowed me to tick 'Old School View' -- weird -- and also to set the program's update check to 'Never' (in view of that EULA, above.)

And after that, well. . . Today's giveaway is no different to the always-free StarBurn except in one respect:

http://www.starburnsoftware.com/products/starburn/editions

and whilst the ability to record to a remote device over TCP/IP may be appreciated by some, it's irrelevant for my purposes and so I'll be sticking with the basic freeware version -- or rather, I might've done, but herein lies StarBurn's problem:

Nowadays, its basic features are pretty much trounced by the GUI simple press-a-big-button-and-go Ashampoo Burning Studio freeware, whilst its more complex features aren't particularly well explained and in any event require the kind of learning curve that a potential user might just as well devote to the absolute gold-standard freeware ImgBurn:

http://www.imgburn.com/

where the user support forum is more comprehensive than StarBurn's (StarBurn's, which used to be quite a busy place, seems much less active nowadays.)

Anyway. Does StarBurn work? It certainly has in this morning's simple DVD burn test from a TS Video folder.

That's hardly an exhaustive test, but it's enough to suggest that anyone who doesn't yet have a freeware burner installed on their computer should either go for today's offer here or simply download StarBurn Free direct from the developer.

Compare and contrast is recommended with all GOTD software and StarBurn is no different -- just make sure that, in view of that suspect EULA, you ensure that the Update Check: Never option is ticked.

Thanks, GOTD, and thanks, StarBurn Software.

MikeR  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+195)

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You must agree to this if you use this software. It is in the agreement acceptance before you install it:

" Company reserves the right to collect your personal information in order to ensure the most effective functioning of the Software. Under no circumstances this information will be sold, given or else how provided to the third parties however Company reserves the rights to use this information for own marketing or other activities."

AP  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+173)

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This is one of the BEST and more complete burning software ever released on the market right now...

Can burn audio, video, photos, and data files on CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays/HD-DVDs, VCD, SVCD & CDs using very advanced features which cannot be easily found elsewhere, such as the ability to select the disc file system and even the burn speed.

And can also be used as a PORTABLE APP:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/CD-DVD-Tools/StarBurn-Portable-Edition.shtml

Great tool if you work with ISO files on a daily basis, since it can burn/create/mount ISO files as a virtual drive.

Actually I'm an old user of the FREE version which provides you with absolutely the SAME advanced features as this GAOTD, except that enabling users to share drive over local network.

So, if you are an ordinary home user using one or two PCs not connected among them through a LAN, my suggestion is to stick with the FREE version, so as to download any possible future UPDATE/UPGRADE of the program without paying a dime, unlike this GAOTD instead does.

But hey...the shareware edition costs a measly 5 BUCKS (crazy price...the developer must have lost his mind...LOL!!!), so why not buy it instead?

BEST FREE (and maybe easier to use) ALTERNATIVES

http://www.imgburn.com
http://www.burnaware.com/burnaware_free.html
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/archive/index.php/t-1270323.html
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/en/features
http://infrarecorder.org
http://www.anyburn.com

Enjoy!!

Giovanni  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+133)

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Pros
*Burns data CD/DVD/Blu-ray/HD-DVD, audio CD, video DVD, VCD, and SVCD
*Is able to burn ISOs
*Can create ISOs of discs or files
*Can copy audio CDs
*Can burn bootable discs
*Can share CD/DVD/Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive over local network
*Has an always-free version that has all features except sharing drive over local network

Cons
*Some advanced settings may confuse non-technical users

Free Alternatives
Review of best free burning software for Windows

Final Verdict
Click here for final verdict and full review

Ashraf  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+89)

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@2, I feel ya. Once MS announced that they included the ability to remotely shut down your pc without your permission, I decided right then and there never to move beyond the Win 7 install I have. When they stop supporting it or I have to buy a new machine, I will immediately install Ubuntu and never look back. Nobody tells me what I can and can't do with my machine if I'm not doing anything illegal. Now as for your question, what you need is a program called WINE which is a Windows emulator for Linux. I'm told it's quite robust and will run just about any Windows based program out there, even games. Good luck! As for Starburn, it copied a couple of audio discs I have for backups ok but like my other programs, it wouldn't rip the music off a professional disc. Kept giving me the .cda files only. Don't know if I'm doing something wrong or it is just the DRM on it. If I copy the files to the HDD and then burn them it works fine...go figure.

Noizee1  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+42)

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