Roxio's Creator suite has been many people's digital media creation and authoring tool of choice for some time now, and is regularly updated to stay in touch with new developments.

The 2009 edition has undergone a visual overhaul and has a few new strings to its bow, but the core of the software follows the typical array of applications. This includes Videowave to edit and author video and photo discs and files, Photosuite for retouching your favourite pictures, a sound editor, myDVD for playback, a disc label creator and a media manager to catalogue your files for easy access.

The functionality of these will be familiar to those who have used previous versions of the software and, so as not to cover too much old ground, it's enough to say that each is extremely capable in terms of usability, while the wide range of features on offer should suit both beginners and advanced users.

Get the latest Dell Coupons and other computer coupons at CheapStingyBargains.com.

What we're really interested in here is what Roxio has brought to the table with the latest edition of the software and, although there aren't many widespread changes, there are some powerful new tools for those who will use them.

The Creator interface has undergone a revamp and a new-look start page collects the most frequently used applications in one place for easy access. The rest of the suite is split up into data, video, music, photo and online categories and inside each of these you're offered plain English prompts to help you browse the various tasks you might want to complete.

Previous versions of the software were criticised for integrated applications being slow to load and for appearing a little disjointed from the main interface. This has now been improved and we noticed both faster start times and a better feeling of integration from the package on the whole.

One of the headline features of the new version is the AVCHD compatibility, along with the fact that the software can both capture HD video from a camcorder and burn it in HD format onto a standard DVD for playback on a Blu-ray player such as the Playstation 3.

You'll find an audiobook creator that allows you build M4B format files with chapters and cover art, plus a ‘beatmatching' feature for audio files that will effectively mix tracks in a playlist together for you. This feature is a little rough and ready, and although you're given some control over the weight and type of transition it may leave aspiring DJs cringing over their discs. Still, as a quick way to make a CD of dance music for a party in the home, for instance, it would suffice for most users and we found it quite fun to use.

Roxio online will let you share content with others using a secure account and, while it is fairly basic, this is a necessary addition in today's world of blogging, online video and media sharing.

Finally, a new dedicated desktop gadget called SyncIt! allows you to automatically convert video, audio and photo files to specific formats, resolutions and bitrates for playback or viewing on specific devices. We found this rather sluggish, though, and the limited range of supported formats means that it's not a patch on free tools available to download.

Roxio's Creator 2009 follows the tried and tested formula that has brought it so much success in the past. We were impressed by the added level of integration and the responsiveness of the various applications, but it's worth bearing in mind that the suite demands a fairly high specification machine if you want to avoid lengthy waits, plus it can be very resource-hungry during operation.

Savvy media types will also point out that a good deal of the functionality of the software is available with either Windows Media Player or free tools downloadable from the Internet, and in some cases these are faster and easier to use.

The strengths of the software therefore come with its media editing tools, to help create video and photo-based CDs and DVDs, and the way everything is integrated into a single suite. Beginners will be pleased by the straightforward and helpful approach to media creation with plenty of tutorials and guides available throughout, while those with an artistic streak should find their needs well catered for by the range and versatility of tools on offer.

Roxio has added a few extra tools and additional format support to its new suite, and those who have ventured into HD video creation will benefit from the AVCHD compatibility. Aside from this, though, there aren't a lot of reasons to upgrade. However, if you're a first-time buyer looking for a solid all-in-one solution, the Creator suite is still up there with the best around.