It's rather a manic time of the year in publishing. Whilst everyone else is winding down for Christmas (yes, we realise that you might be reading this in...February), we're running around trying to get various elements in place so we can go to press early January. We're pleased with the results this issue and particularly the full apps we've got lined up on this DVD.

In early 2006 we gave you the full version of PC Tools Registry Mechanic 5.0. This was extremely popular and PC Tools gave us permission to offer the latest Registry Mechanic 5.2, full version worth £20, when Registry Mechanic 6.0 was released. Registry Mechanic 5.2 does offer a number of new features over and above 5.0. We've also got a Microsoft Office compatible office suite, Ashampoo Office 2005. Everyone likes to experiment with music, so we've given you MAGIX Music Maker 12 silver. In addition these these fantastic tools, you can show other users how to use software through BB Flashback Express 1.5.3, whilst you can rescue a faulty computer using O&O BlueCon XXL.

If you've bought the DVD edition, you'll find Serif Panorama Plus , which will enable you to turn your digital photos in to panoramic images. You'll also find a new selection of game demos and Linux software, as well as our extensive DVD Resources, containing full applications such as Paragon Partition Manager 2005, eXpert PDF 3, Style Master 4.03 and Registry Mechanic 5.0, amongst others.

Spam Filters (local and server-side spam filters)
Over the last few months, we've noticed that readers have had problems obtaining serial codes from online registration pages. This isn't always a problem with the online registration page, but a problem with anti-spam filters, which filter out the incoming email (containing the serial code). If you have an internal anti-spam filter installed on your computer, check your 'junk mail' or 'spam' folder, to see if the email has accidentally been classed as spam.

Alternatively, you may find that you're Internet service provider (ISP) has implemented a server-side anti-spam filter. A server-side anti-spam filter filters email at the ISP...so you don't even see the spam. However, the downside is that any email that your ISP classes as 'spam' means that it gets filtered, by your ISP. Our advice would be to turn off your ISP server-side anti-spam filter and use a filter on your system, which means that spam is filtered by your own preferences (ie what you regard as spam).