Defying the consumer ratings services and the unreliable bloggers, our experts pick what they purchased, used, enjoyed and would recommend to our readers and viewers:

From the Digital Family Advisor staff: Livia Bergovoy, Barry Melemed, Katharine Czechowksi, Richard Macias, Mark Parrella, Matt Larose, Jan Jaben-Ailon, Yoab Ailon and Richard Michael Sherwin

Best Anti Virus

Many of our reporters use the free versions of PC and Mac antivirus software because they are usually as reliable and more easily managed and installed than fee based security software. We have found Microsoft’s to be none intrusive, while Avira does a decent job, too. Avast has become more popular than many branded antivirus software but has too many of its own pop-ups which are annoying. While Norton has made its entry level security software much easier to use and less system eating, (it doesn’t slow down your PC) we seem to get more calls now about McAfee problems. Forget about customer or tech support with any of the security software makers, there’s always a long wait. Our top choices are, in this order,

1. Webroot’s PC Security,
2. Kaspersky and
3. Trend Micro.

Best Consumer friendly multimedia software:

With the ease of use and super high quality of many low and mid priced camcorders and digital cameras enabling family’s to shoot home videos and very sharp digital stills, a lot of people now want to make complete montages or full length movies using their PCs. We found almost all the bundled software that comes with the top rated cameras and camcorders sufficient to satisfy the Scorsese in us. However, once you do get involved in home multimedia editing, and you want more features to mix your audio, music, movies, stills, animations, etc., here are our top choices. (One caveat: there is no really drop dead easy program, just some software but, with a little patience, the average non tecchie person can do a decent job.) For home movie editing, we still like Pinnacle over the more feature laden Sony ‘Vegas’ software, but we also found that with Adobe Photo Shop Premier Element and the much improved Nero 10 Multimedia Pack (more bang for your buck and CD and DVD copying and burning too) you could combine digital photos and digital video editing fairly easily. Some of us still use the free rudimentary photo editing that comes with online based Google Picasa software or arch rival Flickr and the free downloadable Gimp may be the best for many folks who just want to make themselves skinnier.

Best GPS Navigation:

TomTom, which helped create this category (which many experts said would be a fad) is seemingly regaining its leadership position from Garmin and Magellan with the TomTom Go 2405. All three GPS makers now offer some form of lifetime traffic monitoring and two of the three use the same maps (owned by TomTom) . However, the Garmin 3790T now features a quicker response time for changing locations or looking for points of interest. Magellan offers a few larger screen models for a lower advertised price than the other two GPS makers. …and TomTom (whose customer service has dropped because it may have too many customers) has fixed one of its biggest problems: it now has a decent magnetic mount.

Best Educational Software:

For the umpteenth time, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is still the best and easiest to use for novices and for people just boning up on their typing. The” Learn to Speak “ software (Spanish, French etc.) series is also a perennial best seller with few complaints. The Learning Company’s website has some pretty cool Apps for younger kids; Reader Rabbit’s line of children’s software takes you from preschool through 6th grade cheaply, effectively and easily.

Best Video Game Software and hardware accessory:

So try getting a Kinect from Microsoft at any retailer online or or brick and mortar and you don’t need DFA to realize how popular this add-on controller is. This highly anticipated and truly first and only runaway hit consumer product from Microsoft, ever has even made the third ranked PC gaming system the Xbox 360 a new star platform. Motion gaming, pioneered by Nintendo, was never so true to life as this body controlling Microsoft accessory. Sony will have to add better software to its Move controller to compete with Kinect and, of course, everyone is waiting for the Nintendo 3D Wii to help the now struggling video game company recapture its lead. But that introduction has been shelved for now.

Best Video Game Software:

A difficult choice here because action adventure is always driving the business for Play Station 3, Xbox and Nintendo Wii. Since wholesale clubs have stolen the pricing and variety from video game only stores like Gamestop, we followed their hot list from Costco and BJs along with what our reporters and editors are buying and using. The Biggest Loser (available for all systems is based on the hit NBC show, and features the expertise of personal trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. As the ad says, The Biggest Loser releases are more than just exercise games, they are complete personalized health and fitness programs.

Call of Duty: Black Ops (available for all systems) is the follow-up to last year’s blockbuster Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops is the newest installment in the biggest action series of all time.Big Brain Academy features 15 activities that test your brain power in areas like logic, memory, math and analysis. Up to eight people can play with a single game card, and each activity takes less than a minute to complete. The latest edition has 15 new activities and the capability to challenge brains in five categories: memory, analysis, number crunching, visual recognition and quick thinking. Activities are designed around the Wii Remote, so players can have fun learning with one Wii Remote, or using two for group competitions. Players can exchange training data wirelessly with other players and compete against their saved data.

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game is the official video game based on James Cameron’s movie Avatar. The video game will take you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination. Gamers will encounter the Na’vi, Pandora’s indigenous people and discover other life forms the likes of which have never been seen in the world of video games before. When conflict erupts between the RDA Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the Na’vi, gamers will find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilization.

Robert Ludlum’s best-selling spy novels and blockbuster film adaptations have thrilled millions. Now comes Ludlum’s most famous spy Jason Bourne, going deeper than ever into his world of espionage and conspiracy available for PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. The Bourne Video Game Series lets you go deeper into the Bourne myths than ever before, experiencing Bourne as both ruthless agent and wanted assassin on the run from his own agency. Move from firefights to fistfights in sequences that seamlessly blend shooting with hand-to-hand combat. Employ signature Bourne techniques to weaponize, improvise, always survive — pull off heart-pounding escapes, memorable fight moves, acrobatic gun play, and devastating takedowns.

Brunswick Pro Bowling for PS3 only and compatible with the Sony Move Controller, offers an entirely new way to bowl! One of the few bowling games that features a realistic and authentic bowling experience while showcasing jaw-dropping ball and pin physics. Strap on the wrist guard and roll on accurate lane feeling hardware, earn tons of trophies and unlock hidden items on your way to winning the world championship. Whether you’re a first timer or a pro bowler, Brunswick Pro Bowling is fun for all ages and provides hours of entertainment for the whole family!

The follow-up to the award-winning, #1 new video game accessory of 2009, DJ Hero 2 from Activision, transforms living rooms into nightclubs with an entirely new music gaming experience. Friends and families can become mix masters and singing sensations, experiencing hit music like they’ve never heard it before. With a host of new DJ and vocal multiplayer modes, including innovative DJ battles, and 70+ mixes featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits, DJ Hero 2 delivers a new standard in music and rhythm gaming and includes turntable controller.

Best Blackberry, Android, IPhone Application:

Fox Mobile Group’s on-demand mobile TV subscription service, dubbed Bitbop gets you a range of free or low cost TV programs and movies and is the easiest and sharpest of the video content Apps for Android, IPhone and Blackberry.

Tune in Radio: Our favorite AP (not for Blackberry yet) gives you a choice of almost all the AM and FM and HD radio channels for your mobile phone. With only a tiny advertising crawl, this App really does away with having to carry a radio on the bus or train or in airports. And so far the online feed DOESN’T black out your favorite sports team’s play by play, the way most online radio Apps do. Since Hulu is not on Android phones yet, TV.com offers up some of the programming on Bitbop, mostly CBS and Viacom TV shows.

Pandora: While advertising has snuck its inevitable way into Pandora and Slacker does a better job on certain music categories, Pandora’s free version is still the best all around and easy to use music collection system.

Coming Next: Our new toy and game section.