The UI has been upgraded with audio integration. For those who use equipment that lacks stabilization features, the software has a stabilization function built-in. Thanks to the power of hardware acceleration, this app can optimize and hasten the encoding and exporting processes. It is technically only a basic tool for editing video content, but this version comes with many upgrades and a plethora of helpful tools.

If you had to name the single best app in the suite, in terms of features and performance, it would have to be Windows Movie Maker. However, this software package includes Windows Live Mail, which is a great alternative for those who don't want to use Outlook or who don't have the option. Unlike Mac OS systems that natively come with the Apple Mail app, there is no default mail app that comes with Windows. It's basically Microsoft's version of Dropbox, and it sets up a folder on the cloud that can be accessed by multiple systems. While SkyDrive seems like it could be an exciting app in the suite, it's surprisingly boring considering that it actually does its job well. The controversial Ribbon interface from Microsoft is used in these apps, but it has been streamlined into near perfection.

They have been updated significantly from their previous versions, and they are optimized in this version for Windows 8 systems.

The two highlights of this software package are certainly Movie Maker and Photo Gallery. These include apps like Live Messenger and Live Writer. It also includes some apps that have less appeal, but Windows isn't about to give up the market in the areas where their apps are weak. Windows Essentials 2012 is that year's version of the Windows Essential software suite, which is a series of Windows apps that includes a number of highly useful apps like Photo Gallery, Live Mail, Movie Maker, and SkyDrive.

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