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Magic Desktop
- Company
- Easybits Software AS
- Version
- 8
- Devices supported
- Alternative Tool
- Operating system
- Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows Vista
Windows XP - Price *
- 39.00 €
- Language of interface
- danish, dutch, english, german, greek, hungarian, italian, japanese, norwegian, polish, portuguese, romanian, russian, spanish, swedish, turkish
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 2nd test cycle, Winter 13/14
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: The installation itself is quick and easy, so that the installation process was not tested with regards to usability.
Configuration of the tool: Magic Desktop changes the default windows user interface completely. It is adjusted especially for kids and offers also an own webbrowser. The configuration itself is rather hard to find and is mostly focused on design settings. Only some options can be adjusted, so consequently the user expectations are not fulfilled. The design is appealing and very child-friendly.
Usage of the tool: The alert message offers the options to allow access to a website or to go back to a safe ressource. It is designed appealingly. The reporting is rather functional and adequate but not substantial.
Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.9
Usability of the usage of the product: n/a
Overall score for usability: 2.5 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
Magic desktop creates its own user surface and works differently than the other tools.
It is possible to create several profiles and to set a time limit frame for them. A default white list can be used for browsing which is presented in the browser and contains only child-friendly game sites. The user can block the web, the E-mail/Webmail Client and certain applications, such as Skype and Windows Life Messenger.
DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY
| Area of need | Functionality | Specific issues | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | Management of User profiles | Create several profiles | Yes |
| Remote Management | Manage on various devices | No | |
| Monitoring | Remote access to monitoring | No | |
| Filtering Customisation | Topics | Customisation of Filtering Topics | No |
| URLs White List | Restrict Browsing to White List | Yes | |
| Default White List | Yes | ||
| Modification OR Creation | No | ||
| URLs Black List | Creation of User's own Black List | No | |
| Keywords | Keywords | Default Black List | No |
| Default White List | No | ||
| Creation of a User's Black List | No | ||
| Creation of a User's White List | No | ||
| Time | Time Limit Settings | Set a specific time frame or web access duration | Yes |
| Blocking Message | Type | Ask for unblocking by parents | No |
| Redirect to safe resources | No | ||
| Usage Restriction | Web | Block Access | Yes |
| Monitor Access | No | ||
| Safe search | Availability | Yes | |
| Social Networks | Block Access | No | |
| Monitor Usage | No | ||
| Personal data Provision | Block | No | |
| Streaming | Block Access | No | |
| Monitor Access | No | ||
| P2P | Block the application | No | |
| Monitor Downloads | No | ||
| Skype | Block chat | Yes | |
| Block video chat | Yes | ||
| Monitor | No | ||
| Prevent new Contact | No | ||
| Windows Life Messenger | Block chat | Yes | |
| Block video chat | Yes | ||
| Monitor | No | ||
| Prevent new Contact | No | ||
| Block email client and/or webmail access | Yes |
DETAILED USABILITY FINDINGS
| Yes / No | |
|---|---|
| I: installation in 3 steps or less | Yes |
| I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced users | n/a |
| C: different degrees of strength for the filtering | No |
| C: different content criteria for the filtering | No |
| C: option to transfer filter configurations between target users | Yes |
| C: option to transfer filter configurations between devices | No |
| C: overall comprehensible configuration | Yes |
| C: overall conformity with user expectations | Yes |
| C: overall easy to learn | No |
| U: alert message in a child friendly language | n/a |
| U: option to customise the reaction in case of blocking | n/a |
| U: overall easily operable and comprehensible reporting | n/a |
DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS
| The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by: | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Using the IP address instead of the URL | n/a |
| Using an alternative browser | n/a |
| Changing time and date settings* | n/a |
| Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password* | n/a |
| Closing the filtering tool trough the Task Manager | n/a |
| Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the Internet | n/a |
| Accessing the web-pages through the Google Cache | n/a |
| Reaching a website through translation sites | n/a |
| Renaming a blocked application | n/a |
| Using Safe Mode | n/a |
| Filtering Content personalised by user | n/a |
| Filtering Content evolving through time | n/a |
| Filtering Multimedia content | n/a |
| Filtering outbound content | n/a |
