Friday, January 12, 2007

ChoiceMail One Spam Protection Reviews

Year-round spam makes us spend unnecessary time reviewing and deleting email messages designed to promote a product or service or commit fraud. And we try to avoid spam like the plague.

6StarReviews took the task of comparing anti-spam technology that works in a number of ways. We found that among other features, ChoiceMail One is a spam blocker designed to protect POP3, AOL, Yahoo, MSN and Hotmail email accounts, and it works best for individuals with multiple email addresses.

When we at 6StarReviews compare spam protection we look into how many email accounts can have spam protection at what cost. Among ChoiceMail One’s attractive features is that it lets you protect an unlimited number of email accounts in any format. Better yet, ChoiceMail One is a customizable management system that makes it one of the best spam blockers our reviewers have found.

What’s New with ChoiceMail One:

  • Customized Features: Our reviews that compare spam protection products found ChoiceMail One to be among the best spam blocker in the market because of its ability to customize its features to the user. You can apply your contact list to your ChoiceMail One account to pre-approve senders you know, as its SmartAway(tm) process responds only to approved senders.

User Interface and Product Application:

6StarReviews routinely conducts spam filter reviews. In so doing we found that ChoiceMail One goes beyond spam filters. Essentially ChoiceMail One is a desktop solution that gives you the tools to manage your mailbox, allowing you to decide which emails come through and which do not. Through the ChoiceMail One spam protection solution, you will only receive and accept the mail you want, and block out the mail you don’t want.

A management system that works by allowing the mail you choose to come to you, Choice Mail blocks 100% of undesired mail, per your instructions. ChoiceMail One is not a spam filter but rather performs by putting you in control. ChoiceMail One crafts a “whitelist” comprised of all the email addresses currently in your inbox. As you send messages to new contacts, their information is added to the whitelist, and all whitelist addresses go straight into your inbox. You may also choose to receive emails on subjects you choose by adding key words to your account, and make your own rules to block out messages you don’t want.

Any mail that is not obvious spam or doesn’t not fit your criteria for acceptance are quarantined. All unknown senders receive a “registration request” from ChoiceMail One that directs them to a web page in which they are asked a series of questions to validate whether they are actual people versus computers trying to spam you. If the person registers, ChoiceMail One generates a popup box for you, where you choose to accept the sender or not. ChoiceMail One also offers virtual email addresses you can give to vendors to protect your active email addresses. Many choices, ergo the name, “ChoiceMail”.

In essence, ChoiceMail One empowers you to:

• Decide who gets in, and who doesn’t

• Provide spam protection for your operating email addresses

• Monitor unrecognized email addresses while allowing them the opportunity to prove themselves real

• Choose which unrecognized email to receive, and which spam blockers to enable

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature: Black and White Lists

Your ChoiceMail One whitelist consists of your existing inbox email addresses and any email address you send to that is new. The whitelist feature gives you the control of exactly who to let in.

The “blacklist” is just the opposite: You may add in any addresses you chose to refuse, and they immediately go to your junk mail forever to be eventually erased.

CA Anti-Spam is one of the Best Spam Blockers

When we think of spam, visions of unwanted emails dance in our heads, knowing we must read them just in case they’re important, but more than likely will waste our time and end up in the trash.

Spammers use email technology to get their marketing message across, commit fraud or just plain old annoy you. In our quest to rid ourselves of such wasted time 6StarReviews decided to compare the various anti-spam programs and review their multiple features. We found that CA Anti-Spam is an among the most effective spam blockers that uses spam filters to keep emails clean. It ensures that you receive emails from those you know and that messages from unknown senders don’t reach your inbox.

Additionally, our spam filter reviews found CA Anti-Spam to be among the least complicated spam solutions out there, since the spam blocker applies easy-to-use spam filter technology that does not require your management skills. CA Anti-Spam performs the job for you! Plus, it works effortlessly with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express to keep spammers and fraudulent phishers at bay. Recipient of PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award for three years now, CA Anti-Spam has been recognized as one of the best spam blockers around.

In our effort to compare spam protection products, 6StarReviews found CA Anti-Spam’ s spam filters to successfully keep spam away.

What’s New with CA Anti-Spam?

  • Multilingual Feature: Most spam blockers are available in English only, or have limited language support options. The CA Anti-Spam program provides international language support that automatically filters spam in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Korean depending on your computer’s settings. We find that the best spam blockers prevent spam in multiple languages, as fraud and e-tricks have no borders.

  • Instant Rebate: Now get an instant rebate of $10.00, reducing their already low price of $29.99 for three PCs to $19.99.

User Interface and Product Application: Ease of Use

CA Anti-Spam provides spam protection for multiple POP3 email accounts that are configured in Outlook as well as all Microsoft Exchange accounts. Its symbiotic relationship with Microsoft Outlook/Exchange provides optimal performance, with prompt access to all toolbar features. And now, our reviews found that CA Anti-Spam enables you to move your list of recognizable senders from one computer to another via its import/export feature.

Compare other programs with what CA Anti-Spam offers. Essentially, this spam protection product:

  • Prevents spam by only allowing in senders that are pre-approved by you

  • Quarantines mail for your review

  • Verifies the identity of unknown senders to avoid phishers and email fraud

  • Creates a spam score to better assess which senders are most likely to be spammers

  • Allows messages from plausible commercial entities to reach your inbox so you won’t miss order confirmations and the like

  • Offers an email search option so you can quickly locate messages, files, people, etc. (Available for English-only Outlook and Outlook Express)

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature: Continuous Protection

It’s hard enough to keep track of home and work, plus everything else in between. CA Anti-Spam automatically renews your subscription each year so you don’t have to go unprotected or have the hassle to re-sign up. Before your subscription is up CA Anti-Spam will email you a reminder to which you need not respond because it will automatically charge your credit card once renewal time has arrived. Of course if you do not like anything to be done without your authorization, you may remove the continuous protection renewal feature from your account.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Online Diet Reviews of Weight Watchers

Imagine a diet where you can eat ice-cream, pizza and hamburgers, and even be encouraged in doing so…wouldn’t that change your whole view of a weight loss diet?

Believe it or not, this diet does exist, and is the key factor behind the enormous success of the Weight Watchers weight loss diet.

Simply said, their programs for diet work like a scorecard: the member gets a point calculator, which assigns a point value to every food you eat. You may eat as much ice-cream you like as long as you stay within your daily allotment of points for specific foods.

A credible name in an industry, Weight Watchers is now taking on the web with an online version of their services.

Can they reproduce the same enthusiast on the Internet? Find out by reading the following online diet review prepared by 6Starreviews.

What’s New?

  • Newly added fitness material on their web site, precisely more than 100 workout videos and cardio plans.
  • Following their association with Weight Watchers, the restaurant chain Applebee’s offers nine delicious Weight Watchers menu items, with a point values for each tempting dish.

Reasons to choose Weight Watchers

  • Complete food and meal section: Members get access to hundreds of delicious recipes and meal ideas, for both the Flex Plan and Core Plan. Hint...hint, there’s even a mouth-watering pizza recipe…
  • The community factor: Weight Watchers’ success is based on the sincere support between mutual members. This is felt through their website as well. You have access to message boards and experts, day and night. You can do it!
  • Make exercising fun: Weight Watchers features an impressive library of activities and workout videos, for all types of levels. You can download the video and watch it as many times as you want, to make sure you get it right!
  • eTools: When chartering your online diet’s progress with the weight tracker or using creativity with the recipe builder, Weight Watcher’s eTools give you access to a suite of interactive weight loss diet tools!

6StarReviews’, Favorite Feature:

  • Weight Watchers on the go: You have been called to give a speech outside town? Great for your career…but what about your diet? Weight Watchers mobile solution let you use the site's tools from your PDA device, so you can check your food choices for the day or consult the restaurant guide!
SouthBeachDiet is One of the Best Weight Loss Diets

It’s no secret to anyone. One of the strongest motivation points behind starting a new weight loss diet is because we want to look good on the beach.

While most of us live in northern states and traded sand for snow, we still look forward to our summer vacations where we’ll have plenty of time to flex our muscles.

Is it just a coincidence then, that one of the most popular diets of all-time is branded after the sunshine state?

The glamorous South Beach Diet was developed by Miami-area cardiologist Arthur Agatson. Their popularity is due mostly to word of mouth, and now offer programs for diets through their website.

Armed with our sunglasses, we went for an excursion in the sunshine state, and compiled the following online diet review.

What’s new?

  • Just in time for the holidays: A new book was released by Mr. Agatson, called The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook.
  • Banking on their association with Kraft, the South Beach diet now has its own line of frozen dinners. Trans-fat not included!

Reasons to choose the South Beach Diet

  • Vast selection of online recipes: Browse through more than 900 online recipes, all designed to help your weight loss diet.
  • Online tools to survey your progress: After becoming a member, you get access to tools tracking your weight loss diet goals. If that wasn’t enough, you also have a personal meal planner!
  • Updated restaurant guide: So it’s your wife’s birthday, and you don’t feel like spending the whole day on cooking? Take her out, but not before consulting the restaurant dining-out guide, which advises you on what you can (and can’t!) eat at the restaurant!
  • Beach Buddy program: We often hang out with people similar to us. Find someone who has the same weight loss diet objectives and compare each other’s progress daily! Nothing like a friendly competition…

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature:

Motivating online community: Online clubs, newsletters, expert dietitians visiting the message boards and taking your answers, everybody is there to encourage you in your weight loss diet! You can also exchange with the thousands of members through a private message system, and see what their best program for diet is.

eDiets is the Best Weight Loss Diet

Sometimes, planning your suppers for the following week is almost an Olympian challenge.

All we hear is conflicting information. Fat is bad for you, then fat is good. Your cholesterol must be kept to a minimum, now you need to raise your levels of HDL… Just who can we trust?

If you are looking for reliable information on the subject of fitness and nutrition, then eDiets are the experts you are looking for. They offer customized nutrition and fitness plans, and have more than 1.3 millions members.

But just like all other diets, the question is always: does it really work?

Since we have extra pounds to lose, 6StarReviews enrolled on eDiets and compiled the following online diet review.

What’s new?

  • eDiet’s newest nutrition plan is called the Mediterranean diet, based on fresh fruits, vegetables and essential fatty acids.
  • eDiet gives its members the possibility of writing to a daily journal, to make sure you stay on the right path to weight loss.

Reasons to choose eDiets

  • Diet and healthy plans for everybody: No longer can you use the excuse “but this weight loss diet doesn’t work for me”. eDiets offers more than 20 programs for diets. Which one fits your profile?
  • What’s for supper? Join recipe club and get access to more than 600 mouth-watering recipes!
  • Total body makeover: This program transformed Oprah into the best shape of her life, and is seen as one of the best weight loss diet in the industry. The workouts are personalized to your goals, and keep your emotional eating in check.
  • My Diet: Log on to your personal diet program to check on your progress. You want to eat out? No problem, your program takes account of your dining out and adjusts your caloric intake.

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature:

Get healthy meals delivered right at your doorstep! With all the healthy eating and working out, who has time to cook? Become a member of the recipe club and get customized meals delivered to your front door! Your guests will think you spent the whole day cooking!

Online Diet Reviews of Diet.com

Every ex-smoker easily remembers how hard it was to stop smoking. Dropping this deadly habit doesn’t require motivation only; they also had to adjust their lifestyle.

Like it or not, the same truth applies to weight loss diets. You can have all the motivation in the world, yet you won’t make any progress unless you stop visiting fast-food restaurants and start making your own lunches for work.

In an industry full of online diet services trumpeting their secret recipes for weight loss, Diet.com presents a refreshing concept: successful programs for diet starting by a good look in the mirror.

Led by internationally renowned Dr. Robert Kusher, the online diet service starts by examining your personality and offers suggestions on how to improve your weight loss diet objectives.

Can someone get to know you through a computer screen? 6StarReviews took the bait, and following is an online diet review of Diet.com.

What’s new?

  • Diet.com Podcast: Listeners can download practical diet and fitness tips to take on the go!

  • Diet.com launched “Diet Talk from the Doc,” a weight loss diet blog authored by Dr. Robert Kushner himself.

Reasons to choose Diet.com

  • Diet Buddies: View the profile and pictures of other online dieters, and exchange information on what works and what doesn’t! Given the growing number of members, is there a chance of meeting that special someone on the board? You never know!
  • Celebrity Workout: Watch Tiffany Kelly (Miss. Massachusetts 2006) perform fitness routines, all from the comfort of your living room!
  • Recipe Tools: Choose among 1,000+ FREE recipes to make deliciously healthy meals! Banana pancakes, anyone?
  • Weekly prizes: Ready for a little competition? Enter the weight diet loss challenge! Submit your weight loss goals, track your progress and win weekly prizes! Are you up to the challenge?

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

  • Create your own profile: In an industry where most online diet services are aggressively shooting for your money, Diet.com stands out by offering a free membership. Right after creating your basic profile you can add buddies to your list, participate to message boards and even read a few recipes!
Denise Austine made our Online Diet Reviews

« I don’t have the time to do it ».

This is the most frequent excuse on our inability to follow a fitness and diet plan, as we blame our daily activities (work, kids and even the dog!) for our laziness and lack of discipline.

Well guess what, being too busy is not an excuse anymore.

Take Denise Austin for example. With her own television show, more than 20 exercise videos and a family, this 43-year-old fitness guru certainly has her share of responsibilities to juggle.

Promoting health and fitness for over 25 years, she launched the Denise Austin Fit Forever program for diet service centered on improving your fitness levels.

So before you say you don’t have the time to exercise, take two minutes out of your busy schedule to read the following online diet review of Denise Austin’s Fit Forever by 6StarReviews.

What’s new?

  • Denise’s newest book “Tone your tummy type”, and two DVD’s “Fat burning dance mix” and “Boot Camp: Total body blast
  • For a limited time, enter the Nature made sweepstake and win free vitamins, DVD’s and a subscription to the online diet service.

Reasons to choose Denise Austin’s Fit Forever

  • Exercises Routines: You don’t have the time to go to the gym? Get rid of the excuses, as Denise hit you with daily exercises plans so you can get fit from the comfort of your living room!
  • Online Tools: Get access to more than 12 online diet tools, from weight loss diet tracker, online journal and message boards!
  • Meal Plan: Find recipes for lunches, dinners and even snacks! You can also download a customized shopping list, making grocery shopping more fun! (Now if only someone could watch the kids while you are at the supermarket…)
  • Online Experts: This online diet service presents a panel of fitness and nutrition experts available for consultation. Even Denise herself is ready to take your questions!

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature:

Fit for Kids: That’s right, for kids! Obesity has become a problem in our schools, where cafeteria dinners are made up of fries, pizza and other fattening items. Denise Austin gets our Kudos for acknowledging this problem through her videos and articles.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

How Does PCTattletale Compare to the Best Parental Control Softwares?

When you send your child into cyberspace, you want to make sure they go in protected. After all, there are predators of all types lurking on the web each and every day and it's a parent's responsibility to make sure those predators don't have access to their children.

It's just not possible for most parents to sit next to their children, monitoring each and every keystroke, deleting all unsolicited emails and blocking access to all inappropriate sites. Thankfully, parental Internet control programs can effectively do all of this and more for parents who are concerned about the online activity of their children.

6StarReviews tested a number of different parental Internet control products. PC Tattletale is one of the products we tested. The results of our experience with PC Tattletale are outlined below.

What's New?

  • PC Tattletale pricing allows installation on two separate computers with each purchase.
  • Full-featured 7-day demo version allows you to try the product before you buy it.
  • PC Tattletale is now offering "competitive upgrades" that allow people who have purchased under-performing parental Internet control software to switch over to PC Tattletale at a reduced price.

User Interface and Product Application:

The Installation of PC Tattletale was a bit more complicated than we usually like to see. Because the software tracks activity and transmits data, many anti-virus programs block the download and interfere with installation. We had to temporarily deactivate our antivirus protection to install and use the product.

Once downloaded and installed, the product is fairly easy to use and it may very well be the "big guns" of parental Internet control software.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

Not only does this product perform keystroke logging as well as chat room and IM monitoring, but it also takes actual screen shots of your child's Internet activity.

PC Tattletale Features:

  • Monitoring and reporting of chat room and email activities.
  • Monitoring and reporting of Internet activities.
  • Keylogger recording.
  • Screen shot captures.
  • The program is able to operate in "stealth" mode.
  • Filtering of restricted websites.
  • Blocking of restricted content.
NetNanny Compared to Other Parental Internet Control Software

Any parent who has been on the Internet for any period of time shouldn't be surprised by the fact that it can be a shady place for children to venture into. Between unsolicited "adult-orientated" ads to predators lurking in chat rooms, the Internet can be quite the hostile territory. Thankfully, parental Internet control software like Net Nanny enables parents to allow their children the benefits of the Web while avoiding the dangers.

6StarReviews has downloaded and tested a variety of different parental control software products to see just how well they delivered on their promises. Net Nanny is one of the many parental Internet control products we tested. Our findings are outlined in this detailed review.

What's New?

  • Net Nanny now prevents time tampering by synchronizing with an Internet atomic clock, ensuring you have full control of time limits and are getting an accurate report of time spent online.
  • Net Nanny is offering a free 15-day trial.
  • The new version can block Internet-based games and is able to run in stealth mode so the computer user doesn't have to know their activity is being monitored.

User Interface and Product Application:

The Installation of Net Nanny was fairly easy, although getting the products free trial did involve registering at the website and then waiting for an email with a link to the download center. The entire installation process did take a bit longer than others, but only by a minute or two.

The operation of the program is rather intuitive and it was fairly easy to implement our setting preferences and run reports and check logs with the software.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The fact that this product can block Internet games, pop-up ads and can even omit search results is pretty impressive. It seems that Net Nanny offers one of the most comprehensive protection suites available.

Net Nanny Features:

  • Web filtering with monthly updates.
  • The ability to know exactly what your children can and can not see.
  • The ability to view and edit all "blocked" lists.
  • Customizable keyword filters.
  • The option to block access to chat rooms and instant messenger programs.
  • The ability to block access to Internet games and news groups.
  • Allows you to limit the amount of time spent online per day.
  • Allows you to set up different settings for different family members.
  • Allows you to block Internet access during certain time periods (late at night or when not at home).
  • Tracks chat activity and IM logs.
  • Alerts sent when a user tries to access a prohibited website or activity.
iProtect was one of our Parental Control Software Reviews

It's all too easy for a child to meander from a seemingly-innocent website to a domain where small eyes shouldn't be allowed. On that same token, it's all too easy for a predator to come across unprotected children online. It's no wonder parents are becoming increasingly interested in parental Internet control products.

6StarReviews downloaded some of the most popular parental Internet control software available and put it to the test. We looked for things like ease of download and installation, pricing and customer support. iProtectYou was one of the parental Internet products we looked into. The findings of our review are detailed below.

What's New?

  • iProtectYou is now compatible with Windows Vista.
  • All program upgrades (even major new releases) are free for one full year from purchase.
  • iProtectYou is currently offering a 30-day money-back guarantee.

User Interface and Product Application:

iProtectYou was one of the easier parental Internet control programs to download and install. With "push-button" prompts and a quick install process, we were on our way to configuring the software in just minutes.

Once we had iProtectYou downloaded and installed, we were easily able to run reports from the user-friendly interface. It is truly one of the most user-friendly products we tested.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

iProtectYou allows you to set different security levels for each member of the family and it also enables the administrator to block all email messages, chat sessions, IM conversations and P2P connections that contain foul and inappropriate language.

iProtectYou Features:

  • Comprehensive website and newsgroup filters.
  • Can restrict Internet time to a pre-determined schedule.
  • Choose which programs have access to the Internet and which do not.
  • Block communications that contain inappropriate language.
  • Set different security levels for each family member.
  • Retrieve detailed activity logs.
Compare Parental Internet Control Software by looking at CyberPatrol.

The Internet can be a parent's best friend or worst nightmare. It can be a wonderful resource for childhood learning, but it can also be a less-than-ideal environment for young eyes and ears.

No one ever said the Internet was a innocent wonderland. Quite the contrary, the Internet can be a dark and dangerous place for those who are too young and naive to fend for themselves. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take and tools parents can use to protect their children while online. Parental Internet control software is one such tool.

6StarReviews researched and reviewed a variety of Parental Internet control software products to determine which ones work best and what will effectively protect your children during online activities. CyberPatrol is one of the parental internet control programs we researched and reviewed. The findings of our research are outlined below.

What's New?

  • Version 7.6 has just been released.
  • Parents can now choose between password protection or the warning-only option when blocked sites or pages are being accessed.
  • User profile creation wizards have been implemented into the software.
  • CyberPatrol is offering a free 14-day trial of their product.

User Interface and Product Application:

The installation of CyberPatrol was seamless with easy-to-follow prompts. The entire install process took less than five minutes, including download time.

When you install CyberPatrol, the system asks you to select a password. This is the password that is used to administer the settings and create user profiles with the CyberPatrol program. This password is required when changing CyberPatrol settings or accessing blocked web pages.

The CyberPatrol HQ Toolbar interface makes use of the program's features easy and convenient and you can close the toolbar with the click of a mouse if you don't want it up on the screen. Using the HQ Toolbar, we were able to create profiles, administer settings and run reports.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The HQ Toolbar really does make use of CyberPatrol easy and the user-friendly interface will prove to be convenient for parents who aren't technologically inclined.

Cyber Patrol Features:

  • Time-management features that allow you to restrict the amount of time your child spends on the Web.
  • Download blocks ensure that no programs can be downloaded without parent permission.
  • Customizable easy-to-set-up filtering allows you to decide where your child can and can not go on the Web.
  • Real-time activity monitoring.
  • Easy-to-access monitoring reports.
  • A time-out feature that sets the program to the default profile when the system has been idle for a set period of time.
  • Free technical support online and via email.
Content Protect is One of the Best Parental Control Softwares

We've all been there... We enter a seemingly-innocent search string into our favorite search engine and before we know it we're being bombarded with adult-orientated search results, pop-up ads and even browser redirects that would make even the crudest of sailors blush.

It's no secret that the Internet isn't exactly a "family-friendly" environment. Each and every day, children are exposed to unsolicited adult content via email, browser redirects and pop-up advertisements. Fortunately, there is parental control software available that allows parents to protect their children from content they shouldn't see. Content Protect is one of the products that allow parents to control and protect their child's Internet experience and monitor their Internet use.

6StarReviews decided to study and compare parental Internet control software and Content Protect is one of the parental control software reviews we conducted. We downloaded, installed and used Content Protect to see just how well this parental control software works and how easy it is to use. The results of our findings are outlined in the following review.

What's New?

  • The price for the Content Protect Home Suite has been reduced from $74.98 to $49.99.

  • Right now if you buy and additional license seat for Content Protect, you will get another one free.

  • Content Protect is offering a free 14-day trial of the software.

User Interface and Product Application:

The installation of the Content Protect was very easy. The process involved a simple online download, followed by user-friendly installation prompts.

The Content Protect parental Internet control software runs in the background and is very easy to configure. When you install the software, you select a password. To configure the parental Internet control software and to run the Content Protect reports, a user simply needs to log into the software's interface using the password that was created during the installation process. The interface is very intuitive and the system provides easy-to-follow prompts when configuring settings and running reports.

We were able to configure the settings to prevent access to certain games and websites and were able to run reports seeing exactly how long a user was online and which sites were filtered. The report functions also allowed us to review all instant messaging activity for the computer it was installed on.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

What parent wouldn't love to know exactly what was being said in online instant message sessions with their child? We love the fact that you can review logs of all instant messages sent to and from the computer the software is installed on.

Content Protect Features:

  • Blocks pornography and other questionable content when your child is on the computer.

  • Protects children and families from unsolicited adult advertisements.

  • Customizable restriction levels for each family member.

  • Allows parents to manage and observe their child's Internet activity from anywhere at any time.

  • Content Protect integrates with Safe Search features in popular search engines.

  • Allows you to review reports of your child's Internet activity and instant message communications.

  • Password-protected access for parents so children cannot adjust the protection settings.

  • Blocks bad content from Peer-to-Peer networks.

  • Automatic updates at no additional cost.

  • Unlimited technical support reachable via a toll-free number.
AFA Filter Parental Control Software Review

Most parents would love to filter out some of the things their children are exposed to. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to block your child's access to "adult-orientated" materials. Fortunately, thanks to parental internet control software, the Web is one of the places we can protect our children by filtering out the darker things in life.

Parental Internet control software has proven to be priceless to parents whose children access the Web on a regular basis. Because of the increasing need for this type of product, 6StarReviews decided to test a number of different parental Internet control products and review our findings for parents interested in purchasing comprehensive Internet control. American Family Filter is one of the products we tested. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

What's New?

  • New all-in-one security suite is now available in addition to the basic filter technology.

  • The company is now offering a 10-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • The software now implements tamper-proof reporting options.

User Interface and Product Application:

We downloaded and installed both the Internet filter and the all-in-one security suite. While neither of the programs were exactly difficult to install, they did take more time than some of the other products we tested. The complete download and install process took approximately 8 minutes, as opposed to the 5 minute download and install time experienced with the other parental Internet control programs.

Once installed, the program was quite effective, doing what it promised it would do. However, for comprehensive filtering and protection, the Internet filter may not have what it takes and the more-expensive all-in-one suite is probably the better option. In addition to better functionality, the all-in-one suite also offered a better Interface and seemed to be more intuitive.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

We really liked the tamper-proof reporting option, which ensures that older children won't be able to tamper with the product's performance.

American Family Filter Features:

  • Comprehensive filtering technology.

  • Tamper-proof reporting.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Game Rental Reviews of RedOctane

RedOctane is a web-based video game rental service offering a selection ofover 2,500 titles supported by 8 game platforms. Their online game rental service is simple and so is their site. No parental controls – but they do have Dance Pad products and Guitar Hero 11. You may be looking for a service that has Xbox game rentals or PSP game rentals. If so, RedOctance is straight forward and supports a wide variety of the most recent gaming systems. “RedOctane is a leading video game rental subscription service offering over 2,500 video game titles for rental”. We have found other stores that offer a larger selection but 2,500 is pretty good!

Game systems supported:

  • PSP

  • Xbox

  • Xbox 360

  • PlayStation 1, 2

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Dreamcast

  • Anime DVDs

Get started with RedOctane - start your online game rental service, login to your online account through their website and select all of the video game titles you wish to rent. Depending upon the game rental membership level you have chosen, the pre-set number of games will be sent to you from your list, according to your priority order and game availability. Keep the rental games as long as you want; when you're finished playing, return them in the postage-paid envelopes, and they'll send new games from your list for you to enjoy.

Membership options include three membership levels. There are no due dates, no late fees and no shipping fees. All memberships are billed on the 27th of each month, and you must cancel by that date or be charged for the next full month. Your first month's fee will be pro-rated depending upon the date you signup.

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users!

Parental controls – None to be found.

Numb Thumb has a Game Rental Review.

NumbThumb is an online game rental service that offers over 2,000 rental game titles for a variety of game systems. The best thing about this site is the ability to really manage games ordered based on ratings. If the parental password is not entered it will not ship! They support the recent game systems and have a decent selection of titles. They are based in Texas so shipping time depends on how far away your home is from their warehouse. There are no charges for shipping!

Game systems supported are for the most recent game systems. There is not a great deal of support for legacy systems. But the list will meet most current systems in the market!

Game systems supported:

  • Xbox

  • PSP (including movies!)

  • PlayStation 2

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Nintendo DS

  • Game Boy Advance

Getting started with NumbThumb is simple. Create an account, sign in and add as many game rentals as you like. Rank your choices in the order you'd like to receive them. They'll send the selected game rental titles on your list in the order you've requested them- based on availability. Your queue lets you know what the approximate delivery time is for your next Xbox game rental! Plus you can view the manuals for the games you have throughout their website!

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users! Additionally, like all online game rental services they include free shipping both ways.

  • Trial – 14 day trial for new users

  • 1 Game Rental - $13.95 first month and $14.95 thereafter

  • 2 Game Rentals - $19.95 a month

  • 3 Game Rentals - NA

Parental controls are great on this site! Parents can restrict which games their children can rent by ESRB ratings. All games, based on ratings, can be added to the queue. The key is that they can only be sent IF the parents input a secret password!

Game Rental Reviews for GPlay

GPlay (formerly GoVoJo) is an online game rental service that spans over 3,400 individual games. They have been featured in the New York Times, Oakland Tribune, the Electronic Gaming Monthly and ABC channel 7 News and more. GPlay keeps its online game rental members informed with thorough information for every game listed, critical reviews from all of the most popular gaming magazines, and even reviews from fellow users to help you decide which game rentals are better than others on the site. Screenshots and game guides have secrets, tips, and codes to help you enjoy every game to the fullest.

Game systems supported:

  • Xbox

  • PSP

  • PlayStation 2

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Nintendo Game Boy Advance

  • Nintendo DS

  • Nintendo Wii

Getting started with GPlay is easy. Create an account and login to browse their selection of games. They provide a game rental queue list where you can select titles, games systems and more. They even let you select games soon to be released. If there are certain games, such as Xbox game rentals, you can rank them higher in your preference list. GPlay ship you new games at no charge when you return your current rentals. You can even check your queue "status" listed so you know if the game is in-stock, not-yet-released, or out to another user.

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users! Additionally, like all game rental services they include shipping both ways.

  • Trial - A free 10-day trial - see rates below

  • 1 Game Rental - $9.95 first month and $14.95 thereafter

  • 2 Game Rentals - $14.95 first month trial – and $21.95 thereafter

  • 3 Game Rentals - NA

  • Special - Receive free one-year subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World, or SYNC Magazine for no extra charge for joining.

Parental controlsare managed by you. You can look for “Info” under “Childrens” category where they confirm the ratings. Unfortunately, you cannot search the entire database for a specific rating.

Does GottaPlay Offer the Best X Box Game Rentals?

GottaPlay is a web-based online game rental service. Browse their collection of games for a variety of the latest game systems. They also have a great selection of the latest releases! 6StarReviews loves that they have shipping centers all over the US so you will receive your order within 1 to 2 days in most cases! 6StarReviews also thought that this site has a very cool interface!

New releases for online game rentals include Xbox game rentals! Featured rental games coming soon are: The God Father- Xbox 360, Final Fantasy XII – PS2, Tom Clany’s Splinter Cell D- Xbox 360, Scarface: The World is Yours – PS2 and Scarface: The World is Yours – Xbox 360 and more!

Game systems supported are for the most recent game systems. There is not a great deal of support for legacy systems. But the list will meet most current systems in the market!

Game systems supported:

  • Xbox

  • Xbox 360

  • PSP (including movies!)

  • PlayStation 2

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Nintendo DS

To use GottaPlay simply create your account and login to your gamer "Q" and select the video game titles you ultimately want to rent. Rank them in priority order. They ship from all over the US so their games should arrive promptly. Their collection spans the categories of Action/Adventure, Driving/Racing, Kids/Family, Sports, Strategy/Sims, RPG, Fighting, and Shooter! GottaPlay claims to have every game from every publisher, including all new releases, available for online game rental. Used games are not available for purchase.

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users! Additionally, like all service they include shipping both ways.

  • 1 Game Rental - $12.95 first month and $14.95 thereafter

  • 2 Game Rentals - $20.95 a month

  • 3 Game Rentals - $28.95 a month

  • Special - Receive 12 FREE issues (one FREE year) of Gaming Magazine Play! Money back Guarantee.

The Order process involves you selecting the games you'd like to rent, and expect to see your first rentals in your mailbox soon - I mean with in ONE DAY! Keep each game rental as long as you like; once you're through, mail it back to receive your next rental. They tout multiple shipping centers across the continental United States, meaning faster shipping to more customers across the country.

Parental control is supported via a specific link for “Mom Approved” games! Additionally, all game ratings are displayed and parents are encouraged to monitor minors' selections.

GameZnFlix Made our Game Rental Reviews

GameZnFlix is an online game and movie rental service that allows you to a rent a combination of over 40,000 DVDs and video games through the mail with one account. GameZnFlix supports a variety of both game systems and movie systems. One good thing is that you can purchase most movies and games at low prices if you decide you want to keep what you've rented or buy direct without renting at all. Below are their supported systems:






Game systems supported:

Movie systems supported:


  • DVD

  • HD-DVD

  • BluRay

  • UMD

What’s “cool and happening” online at GameZnflix? The GameZnFlix RidgeRacer™ Challenge races. These are time trial events where you can compete against people in your region for a slot in the finals. The championship is in December and if you win you could take home a whopping $15,000! To enter you must be over 18, have the ability to travel and prove that you are a US citizen. There are no purchases necessary to enter the contest!

To use GameZnFlix, create or login to your online account. Then you can choose all of the movies and game rentals you are interested in playing. You will receive them in the mail from 2-4 days of your order – so order in advance! You can keep each rental for as long as you want. When you are finished renting you can either buy or send the game/movie back to GameZnflix. Note – your next item on the list will not ship until you whether return or buy the current rental(s).

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users!
* Note that there are no charges during the 14 day trial period for levels 1-3! If you cancel before the trial ends you are not charged. Also note the selection is limited during trial phases.

Parental controls are great if you have children! You can search for specific game or movie ratings to help you rent games that suit your family’s needs.

Compare Online Game Rentals By Checking out Gamerang

Gamerang is an online game rental service with a collection of over 3,500 online game rental titles. The selection for renting and purchasing online game rentals is huge and well categorized for easy selection. Parental controls are detailed and marked allowing users to assign them to their account selections. The navigation is excellent and their online support is dynamic and in-depth! 6StarsReviews also likes the fact that they have four distribution centers (California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Minnesota)! This means that your rental games are shipped faster than other online game rental services with only a single distribution warehouse.

Gamerang offers a wide variety of support for the latest in gaming experience. Not only do they have a large title selection but they also have excellent support for the more recent gaming systems! Not to mention that they also have support for Live online game play!

Game system supported:
  • Xbox

  • Xbox 360

  • PSP1, 2 and 3

  • NDS

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Game Boy Advance

To use Gamerang you signup for an account, login to your Queue via their website and select as many games as you'd like. Depending on your membership level you can order your games which will be sent via mail at no cost. They currently have a promotion to buy games as low as $9.95. However, most appear listed between $14.95 and $34.95. Check the website for exact offerings.

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users!

All membership levels include no late fees and no due dates.

Parental controls are offered through a category named “Kids Games”. The site provides game ratings based on ratings that are suitable for children or all users. Games in this category are rated with an “ESRB” rating. This rating is intended for use by everyone at all ages. Genres (categories) offered in this section are Action, Adventure, Racing, Sports, Puzzles/Arcades and so on. No bad language or violence.

Gamelender Rents Some of the Best X Box Game Rentals

Gamelender is an Internet-based online game rental service. They specialize in game rentals such as Xbox game rentals along with a broad game rental library of more than 7,000 titles! Additionally, Gamelender currently supports over 15 game systems – now that is flexible! They also have a great rating system for better parental control over games purchased.




Mobile
  • Game Boy DS
  • Game Boy Color
  • Nokia N-GAGE
  • PlayStation portable 1, 2

Legacy

  • Super Nintendo
  • Sega Genesis
  • SNS
  • SES
  • Dreamcast

Systems

  • Xbox

  • Xbox 360
  • PlayStation 1 & 2


Coming Soon

  • Nintendo revolution and PS3
To use Gamelender you need to select a membership level. Once you have selected a membership that supports your needs - login to your online account and select as many games as you'd like such as Xbox game rentals. Rank them in order of preference. Your top available online games. The games will generally ship in 24-48 hours via first-class mail arriving within 2-5 days at most locations. Play your Xbox games, or your systems selections, for as long as you'd like! If you like any game rental and you decide to buy it, simply let Gamelender know and they will charge you “used game” discount price. They will then mail the box and manual at no additional charge. Note that certain rare legacy system games cannot be purchased.

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users!

All membership levels include no late fees and no due dates.

Parental controls provide parents with the ability to specify which game ratings their children are and are not allowed to rent. You can also purchase almost any rented game at a low previously used price which is another plus associated with online game rentals.

  • E- EARLY CHILDHOOD - Content may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
  • M- MATURE - Content may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. May contain mature sexual themes or more intense
  • K/A- KIDS - Titles rated "Kids to Adult (K-A)" have content that may be suitable for persons ages six and older. These titles will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. They may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (for example, slapstick comedy), or some crude language.
  • A - ADULTS ONLY
    Content suitable only for adults. May include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Not intended for persons under the age of 18.
  • RP- Product has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating.
  • T-TEEN - Content may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/ or suggestive themes.

GameFly made our Online Game Rental Reviews

Gamefly is a subscription-based online game rental service. Choose the video games you want from their selection of over 4,000 titles spanning seven game systems! Also included in the online game rentals selection are PSP movies! One exciting thing with Gamefly is they just added PS3 and Nintendo MMI system support!

To use Gamefly create and account or login to your "GameQ" and select your choices of online games rentals. You can select multiple games for a variety of systems such as Xbox game rentals, Game Boy Advance and PS3! You can even select future releases in your game rental list queue. Assign each game rental a priority number, according to the order you'd like to receive them. Once you've rented a game, you have the option to keep the game rental by selecting it in your "GameQ" and paying a low previously- determined price. If you do buy it, your next game rental from your queue will be sent to you. There are no shipping fees associated with any of your orders! Also note that you can cancel your membership at any time.

Game systems supported:

  • Xbox

  • Xbox 360

  • PSP1, 2 and 3 (new)

  • PlayStation 2

  • Nintendo GameCube

  • Nintendo Mii (new)

  • Game Boy Advance

Membership options include a variety of options for all types of users!

  • Trial - Free 10-day trial subscription with two free game rentals

  • 1 Game Rental - $9.95 first month and $14.95 thereafter

  • 2 Game Rentals - $21.95 a month

  • 3 Game Rentals - $28.95 a month

  • Special - New users get one free one-year subscription to "PSM”, 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine" or "Official Xbox Magazine" when signing up for a paid membership.

Parental controls are available to prevent younger users from renting games of certain ratings levels. There is not a big emphasis about parental controls on the site so you need to take special note of who has access to order games with your account.