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WinZip Pro's newest version offers a slew of featured aimed at Windows 7 integration, but it hasn't abandoned its core functions--nor does it leave users of older OSs out in the cold. WinZip 14 Pro still offers advanced tools, such as importing files directly into zip files from cameras, and backing up important folders.

Windows 7 users will be pleased to see that WinZip Standard ($30) and Pro take advantage of some of Windows 7's most useful new features, including integrating with Windows 7 Libraries and Jump Lists. Overall, WinZip now appears as if it were built directly into the operating system.

The Pro version of WinZip offers capabilities beyond those in the standard version. With Pro, you can import images directly from a camera into a zip archive on your PC, and you can also view images in archives without having to extract them first.

WinZip Pro also includes an FTP client, so that you can easily send zip archives via FTP. There's also built-in burning to CD and DVD, as well as a Job wizard that lets you automate repetitive tasks, such as defining a group of files to be archived at specific times. In addition, there are tools that let you use WinZip as a backup program--it will automatically zip and back up certain folders.

Like the standard version, WinZip Pro can harness the capabilities of Windows 7 Libraries. WinZip users can zip files in multiple folder together in a single action, no matter where they are located. This is not possible using WinZip in previous versions of Windows.

In addition, WinZip Pro 14, like the standard version, integrates with Windows 7 Jump Lists. Pin WinZip to the Taskbar, right-click its icon, and you can perform many zip-related tasks, including opening a zip archive and creating a new zip archive, among others.

WinZip 14 Pro will work with previous versions of Windows, not just Windows 7, and adds a new feature for all Windows users: improved security for encrypted files. It will automatically destroy temporary copies of encrypted files created for viewing. It also will work with Intel-based hardware that uses built-in AES encryption. (The Standard version has these capabilities as well.)

These features are added to an already powerful suite of zip archive tools, including the ability to easily zip and mail files, extracting files from .iso images, and overall zip archive management, also available in the standard version.

It also includes the .zipx compression standard introduced in a previous version, which increased greater compression than the standard .zip. That standard will even compress .jpg files, which themselves are already compressed. A PC World review of an earlier version found the .zipx standard can shrink .jpg files by as much as 20 percent (WinZip claims to have reached 25%, but PC World reviewers haven't seen that level of compression). That's about 200MB saved for every gigabyte of photos. Again, this is all available in the standard version as well.

Why buy WinZip Pro if zip support is already built into Windows? If you don't use zip archives frequently, then there's no reason to buy WinZip at all; Windows does simple jobs perfectly well. But if you want better compression ratios and better integration with Windows 7, WinZip 14 is worth the upgrade. The Standard version will give you those features. If you want camera import, backup capabilities, and more, you'll want to spring for the Pro version.

--Preston Gralla

WinZip is the world's most popular Zip utility for file compression, encryption, packaging, and data backup. Now supporting Windows 7, WinZip 14 makes it easy to zip and unzip files for quick, efficient, and secure file transfer, email transmission, and data storage. Compress files with WinZip 14 to save space and reduce transmission times. Create Zip files and new Zipx files - the smallest Zip files ever. Reduce JPEG image files by 20-25% without losing photo quality. Let WinZip select the best compression method to maximize efficiency. Create self-extracting Zip files, ideal for distribution to recipients that may not own WinZip. Open Zip, Zipx, RAR, 7Z, BZ2, CAB, JAR, IMG, and other compressed file types. Use WinZip 14 to secure confidential files with password-based AES encryption. It auto-wipes (shreds) temporary copies of encrypted files after viewing to prevent misuse. Define your own password policy for the utmost security. Bundle files into packages with WinZip 14, creating logical groups of related files. Zipped packages are perfect for organizing and securing email attachments, which also email faster thanks to smaller file sizes. View photos in Zip files - without extracting - using WinZip 14 s internal image viewer, and easily resize all images when emailing. Be prepared with WinZip 14 s automated data back-up facility. The Job Wizard will automatically back-up your important data files to prevent loss. Upload your back-ups to an off-site server using the internal FTP client, or burn back-ups to DVD and automatically split them over multiple discs, if necessary. Even receive automated email notifications upon job completion. WinZip integrates seamlessly with Windows. Use the award-winning, Explorer-style Classic view to navigate archives, or use the intuitive WinZip Wizard to make everyday zipping and unzipping tasks a snap. WinZip is available in Standard edition or the full-featured Pro edition. Download WinZip 14 today.