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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, french, german, greek, hungarian, italian, japanese, norwegian, polish, portuguese, romanian, russian, spanish, suomi, swedish, turkish
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 3rd test cycle, Summer 2014
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: Magic Desktop is delivered as an application which is installed nearly automatically. Therefore the installation process was not tested with regard to usability.
Configuration of the tool: The configuration starts with an obligatory assistant but the menu for the configuration is flexible. The software offers general default settings related to children’s age. The process has some inconsistencies that might confuse the user but the general handling is enjoyable.
Usage of the tool: The software seems to offer various functions, but there barely are possibilities for the user to influence or expand the filter functioning. But the options like time limits, remote control and safe search are provided.
Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.9
Usability of the usage of the product: 1.4
Overall score for usability: 2.2 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
Magic Desktop is a learning and entertainment program. With this software children learn how to use the computer and how to search in the internet. Parents decide what programs are allowed. To set up time limits for internet usage is possible also to configurate black and white lists.
DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY
| Area of need | Functionality | Specific issues | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | Management of User profiles | Create several profiles | Yes |
| Remote Management | Manage on various devices | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| Block video chat | No | ||
| Monitor | No | ||
| Prevent new Contact | No | ||
| Windows Life Messenger | Block chat | No | |
| Block video chat | No | ||
| Monitor | No | ||
| Prevent new Contact | No | ||
| Block email client and/or webmail access | No |
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 | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| U: alert message in a child friendly language | n/a |
| U: option to customise the reaction in case of blocking | No |
| U: overall easily operable and comprehensible reporting | Yes |
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 |
