TrueTheater bypasses GPU hardware acceleration, though, so the hardware requirements are extreme. PowerDVD 13 Ultra now provides its TrueTheater enhancements for 1920-by-1080p video. PowerDVD is also ready for Ultra Violet, the online movie storage/delivery service, and it already supports video streaming from most social networks (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) If the file name is explicit enough, it does okay.

There’s a new a movie library with art for video files (not just movies), though as with many players, it’s rather hit or miss on whether the art is correct. The last two versions of PowerDVD had the program morphing into a jack-of-all-trades media player, and version 13 continues that trend-albeit mildly. Upgrades from previous versions of PowerDVD start at $45. You’ll need to pay for all three apps if you buy the $60 Deluxe version, which subtracts both Blu-ray and 3D support. The Pro version drops support for 3D, 7.1-channel surround sound, and DLNA. The Android and iOS apps are also free with the $80 Pro version, but you’ll need to pay $20 for PowerDVD Mobile. PowerDVD 13 Ultra ($100) now supports every major video technology, including 2K/4K resolution, AVCHD 2.0 and 3D, and it comes with free players and remote-control apps for iOS and Android devices, plus PowerDVD Mobile for Windows tablets (both Windows 8 and RT).

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