Trending December 2023 # 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Review # Suggested January 2024 # Top 21 Popular

You are reading the article 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Review updated in December 2023 on the website Daihoichemgio.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested January 2024 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Review

You’d be forgiven for having to Google what the old Corolla looked like in order to compare it to this latest version. Design extravagance was never exactly the car’s strength, something Toyota at least attempted to rectify this time around. The tapering headlamps with their hockey-stick DRLs, enlarged lower fascia, and bulging fenders help make a better first-impression, while at the rear the Corolla Hatchback is positively shapely. Black badging comes as part of the $293 blackout package and adds to the mood nicely, and Toyota has a selection of two-tone finishes with a contrast black roof.

Pricing starts from an affordable $20,565 (plus $995 destination), though my XSE trim review car pushed that to a heady $23,515. For your money you get 18-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, fog lamps, leather-trimmed sport seats with heating up front, an infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, the automaker’s suite of active assistance tech.

Perhaps most exciting, though, is the fact that you can have the Corolla Hatchback with a stick-shift. It’s fair to say that America’s generally waning interest in rowing its own gears means the writing is on the wall for the manual transmission, but for now the plucky little Toyota pairs its six-speed with front-wheel drive for some low-power fun.

Toyota’s 2.0-liter inline-4 is a perfect example of that. 168 horsepower arrives at 6,600 rpm, encouraging you to keep it in lower gears and push the engine hard. 151 lb-ft of torque hits at 4,800 rpm. Acceleration isn’t slow but at around 8 seconds 0-60 it’s not exactly going to light up your hair, either. If you want a hybrid, meanwhile, you’ll need to go for the Corolla sedan instead.

The manual isn’t as good as what Mazda offers, let’s just get that out of the way first. That’s not to say it’s bad, however, it just lacks that perfect-snick that has you downshifting almost for the sheer pleasure of it. The Corolla’s stick, in contrast, doesn’t feel floppy or vague, but it’s a little on the light side. You’ll get familiar with that, too, since keeping the 2.0-liter in the right spot for overtaking or similar usually requires dropping down a ratio.

Underneath everything is Toyota’s TNGA platform, one of the primary goals of which was to drag the automaker’s cars out of the “worthy but dull” category. Certainly, the Corolla Hatchback is more entertaining in this generation than in any previous. Again, I’d rather have a Mazda3 if you’re judging solely on dynamics, but it’s poised in the corners and doesn’t leave you feeling isolated from the asphalt. Perhaps, when it comes to tire and wind noise, along with the not-entirely melodious engine drone when you’re keeping the engine spinning fast, there could be a little more isolation, for the ears at least.

As for the cabin, the XSE’s fancier seats are comfortable and supportive, and there’s a surprising amount of soft-touch plastic and generally clean design. Toyota interiors have had a tendency to feel dark and a little too sober, but while the Corolla Hatchback isn’t exactly Jazz Hands it’s not Death March either. It feels solid and like it’ll last as long as Toyota fans expect their cars to.

The 8-inch touchscreen runs Entune 3.0, which is still not my favorite infotainment platform, and I’m not a fan of the twin columns of little buttons flanking the display. They’re meant to be easy shortcuts but I had to take my eyes off the road far too long each time to read the tiny labels. At least the screen itself is large, and you get SiriusXM on the XSE trim too.

Larger still is the 18 cu-ft trunk, with a 60/40 split rear bench. Sadly the rear seats lack in legroom, though headroom is fine. As for economy, the EPA says you should get 28 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined; it didn’t prove too difficult to exceed those numbers.

You're reading 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Review

2023 Toyota Sienna Revealed: A Hybrid Minivan You’Ll Actually Want

2023 Toyota Sienna revealed: A hybrid minivan you’ll actually want

Toyota has pulled the wraps off the new 2023 Sienna, and if you thought minivans couldn’t be striking – and fuel efficient – then think again. All-new in its fourth-generation, the revamped van will only be offered as a hybrid, with Toyota estimating a whopping 33 mpg is possible.

That’s a huge step up from the current 2023 Sienna, which is rated for just 22 mpg combined. To do it, Toyota turned to its TNGA-K platform and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. To that, it added two electric motors.

It’s not a plug-in hybrid, unlike the Chrysler Pacifica, and which Toyota is counting on being a plus with busy families. The powertrain is rated for 243 horsepower, with extra low-end torque from the electric motors. It’ll offer EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport modes, running the gamut from maximum frugality, electric-only driving, and the most performance.

A new sequential shifting feature will replicate downshifting with a traditional gearbox, loading up on regenerative braking for when you’re cruising downhill or generally slowing. All-wheel drive will be optional, using an electronic system. Unlike the previous, mechanical Sienna AWD, this 2023 version will ditch the transfer case and driveshaft to the rear wheels. It’ll be replaced with a separate independent electric motor dedicated to the rear wheels, a system which allows the Sienna hybrid to do AWD whereas the 2023 Pacifica AWD can’t use Chrysler’s hybrid system.

Torque will be adjustable, from 100-percent at the front normally, to 80-percent rear bias depending on traction needs. Toyota says the system will also cut down on overseer, and automatically push more power to the rear wheels when pulling away from a standstill to prevent front wheel slip. The Sienna is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Outside, there’s a distinct change in style. Toyota says the 2023 Sienna is inspired by the Shinkansen Japanese Bullet Train, with flared wheel arches and heavy sculpting to the bodywork. The lights are mounted higher than on the outgoing minivan, and stretch around to the sides as though swept by speedy driving. LED fog lamps are included, too, as are LED rear lights.

There’ll be a 2023 Sienna XSE trim, with 20-inch split 5 spoke wheels with a dark finish, along with exclusive front and rear bumper styling.

Inside, there’s a new “Bridge Console” mounted high up between the front seats. That raises the transmission shifter, as well as the cup holders and a storage bin. It’s also where the optional Qi wireless charger is found.

Super Long Slide second-row captain chairs are optional too, with a 25-inch adjustable slide. Sienna LE and select XLE trims get eight seats as standard; some XLE, along with XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims get seven seats, with the Super Long Slide seats. Limited and Platinum FWD trims get ottomans, and every trim beyond LE has heated front seats as standard.

There are seven USB ports and up to 18 cup holders. WiFi is available, as is a JBL 1,200 watt audio system and a Drive Easy Speak in-car PA system to communicate with the third row. Privacy glass is standard from the rear windows back, and there’s an optional camera-based rear view mirror, and an optional 360-degree camera with curb view. The 2023 Sienna Platinum gets a 10-inch color head-up display, while all trims have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) is standard across all trims, with features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure alerts with steering assistance, and pre-collusion with pedestrian detection. Blind spot monitoring is also standard on all trims. There are ten airbags, and lane trace assistant.

Power sliding doors are standard across the range, with XLE trim and above getting hands-free opening and a power tailgate. Three-zone climate control is standard on the LE; XLE and above upgrades that to four-zone. Limited and Platinum trims get leather front seats with ventilation, power, and memory.

A vacuum is standard on the Limited and Platinum, and the latter also gets a refrigerator too. A power moonroof is optional on the LE and standard on trims above that. XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims get front and rear parking sensors; the Platinum adds the bird’s eye view camera.

Sales of the 2023 Toyota Sienna will kick off toward the end of 2023. Toyota hasn’t announced pricing yet; that will follow on, closer to the minivan’s arrival in US dealerships.

Review Del Dell Xps 13 2 En 1 (2023)

Pros

Diseño desmontable decente

Pantalla táctil IPS de alta calidad

Suficiente potencia para tareas diarias

Buen teclado y buenas cámaras

Contras

Más lento que muchos rivales

Puertos limitados

Batería mediocre

Nuestro veredicto

En lo que a las tablets Windows se refiere, el Dell XPS 13 2 en 1 es una opción decente por varios motivos. Su pantalla desmontable ofrece una buena calidad, tiene la potencia suficiente para una carga de tareas diarias, y el teclado funciona bien. Pero muchos de sus rivales son mejores por varios motivos.

Existen muchas razones para comprar un híbrido, entre ellas, la posibilidad de alternar entre una tablet y un portátil. Y con el Dell XPS 13 9315 2 en 1, el gigante informático estadounidense espera convencer a la gente de que deje atrás los portátiles normales.

El desmontable de Dell causa una buena primera impresión al combinar una elegante carcasa tipo folio con aluminio reciclado fresado mediante CNC, y en su interior encontrarás un eficiente procesador Intel.

El precio también resulta adecuado. El Dell XPS 13 2 en 1 más barato utiliza un procesador Core i5 y cuesta 1.698,82 € / US$1,149. Si quieres un modelo con Core i7, el precio sube hasta los 1.898,82 € / US$1,449.

Este dispositivo tiene muchas cosas a su favor, también mucha competencia. Uno de nuestros portátiles convertibles favoritos es el Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360, y portátiles como el Dell XPS 13 Plus, el MacBook Air con M2 de Apple y el Asus ZenBook S 13 OLED siguen siendo tentadores si no necesitas un modelo híbrido.

Diseño y calidad de fabricación

Un diseño desmontable robusto y atractivo

Otros portátiles e híbridos ofrecen más versatilidad

Buenas cámaras, pero pocos puertos

El dispositivo convertible XPS 13 tiene un muy buen aspecto gracias a los bordes de aluminio fresado mediante CNC y a la carcasa tipo folio en bronce de cañón. Ambas partes son robustas. La tablet es resistente y la funda Folio protege muy bien ambos lados.

La funda Folio se une a la tablet con una sólida conexión magnética en la parte inferior del panel. Una vez hecho esto, la funda magnética coloca la tablet en posición de portátil en ángulos de 100, 110,5 y 125 grados.

En la parte superior, hay un botón de encendido con lector de huellas integrado y un control de volumen. Las cámaras son excelentes: para las videollamadas, hay una lente de 5 MP con inicio de sesión Windows Hello, mientras que para los paisajes hay una cámara de 11 MP orientada hacia el exterior.

En su interior, tiene Wi-Fi 6E y Bluetooth 5.2.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Es un buen comienzo, pero el XPS tiene limitaciones. La propia funda Folio angular, por ejemplo. Cualquier portátil ofrece más versatilidad de posicionamiento de la pantalla. El Samsung gira 360 grados y el pie de apoyo del Microsoft Surface Pro 9 puede colocarse en casi cualquier ángulo.

Como la mayoría de los portátiles desmontables, el XPS 13 2 en 1 es incómodo de usar sobre la falda. Con un tamaño de 300 mm en modo portátil, es más largo que cualquier rival. Y aunque el peso y el grosor combinados de 1,3 kg y 17 mm están bien, todos los rivales son más delgados y ligeros.

Tampoco esperes mucho en términos de conectividad física. El borde izquierdo tiene dos puertos Thunderbolt 4, pero eso es todo y necesitarás uno de ellos para cargarlo.

Dell incluye adaptadores de auriculares y USB A en la caja, pero, en cambio, el MacBook Air tiene un puerto para auriculares y el Asus, tres puertos USB-C. El Samsung tiene conectores HDMI, USB A, microSD y auriculares.

Teclado y trackpad

Impresionante teclado de borde a borde

Buen trackpad

Retroiluminación, pero sin teclado numérico

El teclado utiliza el mismo diseño “sin ranuras” de borde a borde que el XPS 13 Plus. Puede sorprender al principio (un teclado sin huecos y sin apenas recorrido), pero es fácil cogerle el tranquillo.

Es mejor que el teclado del Surface Pro 9, más satisfactorio que el de Samsung, y no está muy lejos de la calidad del MacBook”

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Los botones son rápidos y sensibles, y la carcasa aporta resistencia. Es mejor que el teclado del Surface Pro 9, más satisfactorio que el de Samsung, y no está muy lejos de la calidad del MacBook.

La retroiluminación es decente, y el trackpad también es bueno: grande y cómodo, y con botones sensibles a los que solo les faltaría ser un poco más nítidos.

Pantalla y altavoces

Panel IPS de alto contraste y alta resolución

La pantalla táctil funciona bien con el lápiz XPS opcional

Los altavoces débiles y encontrarás mejores pantallas en otros dispositivos

Todas las versiones del Dell XPS 13 2 en 1 tienen la misma pantalla IPS. El panel 3:2 tiene una resolución de 2880 x 1920, por lo que ofrece muchos detalles. El cristal Gorilla Glass Victus de borde a borde protege bien el panel.

El brillo máximo del panel permite que sea usado fácilmente en interiores y exteriores, y la relación de contraste es de lo mejor que se puede conseguir en un panel IPS”

La pantalla es táctil y compatible con el lápiz XPS, que tiene 4.096 puntos de presión y es una opción excelente para el trabajo creativo. También se fija magnéticamente a la parte superior de la pantalla, una solución de almacenamiento muy práctica. Sin embargo, el lápiz óptico no viene incluido y cuesta 116,17 € / US$99.99 extra.

El brillo máximo del panel, de 528 nits, permite que sea usado fácilmente en interiores y exteriores, y la relación de contraste de 2.031:1 es de lo mejor que se puede conseguir en un panel IPS, por lo que los colores vivos van acompañados de una gran profundidad y muchos matices.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Los colores también son precisos gracias al Delta E de 1,1, aunque esta pantalla solo reproduce la gama sRGB: produce el 94,8 % de ese espacio, pero solo el 70 % de las gamas Adobe RGB y DCI-P3.

Esos resultados significan que el XPS es ideal para cargas de trabajo diarias y tareas creativas, pero no es adecuado para trabajos de diseño profesional o medios HDR.

Tanto el XPS 13 Plus como el ZenBook usan paneles OLED de alta resolución con mejor contraste y color. El convertible Samsung usa OLED, aunque a menor resolución, y la tasa de refresco de 120 Hz del Surface Pro 9 dobla la cifra de los 60 Hz del Dell, lo que hace que la experiencia sea más fluida.

Los dos altavoces de 2 W son un poco flojos, pero funcionan bien para escuchar música de fondo y ver vídeos en YouTube. La oferta de Apple es mucho mejor.

Especificaciones y rendimiento

Intel Core i5-1230U o i7-1250U

8 GB o 16 GB de memoria DDR4

SSD de 512 GB o 1 TB

Las dos variantes 2 en 1 del XPS 13 utilizan los procesadores de bajo consumo Core i5-1230U y Core i7-1250U de Intel, que tienen dos núcleos de rendimiento multihilo con velocidades máximas respectivas de 4,4 y 4,7 GHz.

La versión i5 tiene 8 GB de memoria, mientras que el equipo con Core i7 duplica esa cifra, pero ambas son solo una RAM DDR4, cuando la mayoría de los rivales utilizan ya DDR5. La unidad SSD de 512 GB que he probado tiene unas velocidades de lectura y escritura razonables, de 4.988 MB/s y 3.586 MB/s.

No tendrás ningún problema ejecutando aplicaciones ofimáticas, teniendo muchas pestañas abiertas en el navegador o reproduciendo música o vídeos en streaming“

No hay nada que destacar sobre el papel, y los benchmarks tampoco son muy alegres. En el test multinúcleo de Geekbench 5, la puntuación de 6.898 está varios cientos de puntos por detrás del chip AMD del Asus, y todavía más lejos del i7-1260P del XPS 13 Plus y del chip M2 de Apple.

PCMark 10 no dio tregua. El resultado del XPS 13 2-en-1 de 4.969 se queda por detrás del Asus y el Dell XPS 13 Plus. En nuestras pruebas, el XPS 13 2 en 1 solo consiguió superar al Samsung, que usa un Core i5-1235U.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

No esperes mucha potencia del chip gráfico Iris Xe de Intel. Su resultado en la prueba 3DMark Night Raid de 11.151 está muy por detrás del núcleo Radeon integrado en el Asus y también por detrás del mismo chip Iris en el i7-1260P.

No tendrás ningún problema ejecutando aplicaciones ofimáticas, teniendo muchas pestañas abiertas en el navegador o reproduciendo música o vídeos en streaming. Además, el XPS puede manejar algunas herramientas básicas de edición de fotos y vídeo.

Si intentas hacer algo más exigente, empezará a fallar y se verá superado por los chips de la serie P, Ryzen o Apple que encontramos en otros modelos. Definitivamente, recomiendo apostar por el modelo con 16 GB si eliges el modelo con Core i5.

Al menos, no tendrás que lidiar con el ruido del ventilador, pues este Dell se enfría pasivamente. Eso va bien para trabajar en silencio, pero significa que la parte superior de la tablet se calentará un poco con un uso más exigente. Lo notarás, pero no es peligroso.

Batería y carga

Batería de 49,5 Wh

Carga de 45 W

La duración de la batería es mediocre. La batería de 49,5 Wh duró 9 horas y 25 minutos en una prueba de reproducción de vídeo con la pantalla a brillo reducido, pero solo 8 horas y 27 minutos en una prueba de trabajo diario con el mismo nivel de brillo.

Si aumentas el brillo de la pantalla o exiges más de los componentes, obtendrás unas siete horas, y podrás cargar hasta un decente 37 % de la batería en 30 minutos.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

En algunos casos, el XPS no aguantará un día de trabajo, y algunos rivales son mejores en este aspecto. Conseguirás el doble de batería con el Asus y casi tanta con el MacBook y el Galaxy Book.

Precio y disponibilidad

En España, el XPS 13 2 en 1 más barato incluye un i5-1230U con 16 GB de memoria y 512 de almacenamiento, y cuesta 1.698,82 €. En Estados Unidos, hay la opción de comprarlo con una memoria de 8 GB, con un precio de US$1,149.

La versión Core i7-1250U viene también con 16 GB de memoria por defecto, y cuesta 1.898,82 € / US$1,449. Pasar de una SSD de 512 GB a una unidad de 1 TB solo está disponible en el modelo Core i7 y sube el precio a los 2.098,82 € / US$1,599.

Como es habitual, puedes comprar el XPS directamente desde la web de Dell.

Comprar XPS 13 2 en 1 (2023)

El mejor modelo es la versión Core i7 con 16 GB de memoria. Pero si estás dispuesto a prescindir del elemento desmontable que ofrece este Dell, es fácil encontrar un portátil potente asequible, como el Asus ZenBook o el Dell XPS 13 Plus.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Si te conformas con un chip de la serie U, puedes optar por el XPS 13. El Galaxy Book 2 360 cuesta 851 € / US$799.99, y el Galaxy Book 3 360 cuesta 1.699 € / US$1,049.99. Varios de estos tienen mejores pantallas que el XPS, aunque no todos sean híbridos.

El MacBook también tiene una buena relación calidad-precio (más en Estados Unidos que en España), pues parte de los 1.519 € / US$1,199, aunque los precios suben si optas por el chip M2 más potente y 16 GB de memoria.

Echa un vistazo a nuestro ranking de los mejores portátiles y los mejores portátiles 2 en 1 si quieres ver todas las opciones.

Veredicto

Si nos fijamos en el precio, estamos ante una opción de gama media cuanto al precio, aunque también es bastante estándar en otros departamentos.

El procesador puede ejecutar tareas ofimáticas y creativas cotidianas, pero nada más exigente, y la pantalla es táctil, brillante y atrevida, pero sin la amplitud de color necesaria para las situaciones de diseño profesionales. La batería apenas dura todo el día.

Por lo demás, el XPS tiene un buen teclado, pero es más pesado, más grueso y posiblemente menos versátil que sus rivales, y la pantalla es robusta y está bien equipada con cámaras, pero apenas tiene puertos.

Es difícil de recomendar. El XPS 13 2 en 1 es una buena opción si quieres un dispositivo desmontable para el día a día en lugar de un híbrido con bisagra de 360º. Pero sea cual tu motivo por querer comprar un nuevo convertible o portátil, probablemente encontrarás una opción mejor en otro sitio.

Lista de especificaciones

Sistema operativo: Windows 11 Home

Pantalla: Panel IPS de 13″, 2880 x 1920, 60 Hz

CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U

Memoria: 16 GB

Gráficos: Intel Iris Xe

Almacenamiento: SSD NVMe M.2 de 512 GB

Cámara web: 5 MP, Windows Hello / 11 MP

Conectividad:

2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB 3.2 Gen 2 tipo C

DisplayPort

Power Delivery

Redes: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2

Cargador: 45 W

Dimensiones: 201 x 300 x 17 mm

Peso: 1,3 kg

Garantía: 1 año

Cyberlink Photodirector Review: Is It Worth It In 2023?

CyberLink PhotoDirector

Thomas Boldt

Features: Good library management, RAW editing tools, and automatic tools

Pricing: Affordably priced, and it provides better value than the competition

Ease of Use: Easy to use automatic and step-by-step edits, but some technical glitches and strange UI choices

Support: Tech support is easy to find, but there are few tutorials available

PhotoDirector is Cyberlink’s photo editing software intended for casual photographers. It’s designed to be user-friendly and contains a wide range of tools aimed at bringing professional-level editing to the non-professional.

Yes, PhotoDirector is perfectly safe to use, and both the installer and the installed app files themselves pass checks by Malwarebytes AntiMalware and Windows Defender.

This is a hard question to answer because they’re intended for two different types of users. Photoshop is the reliable industry standard used by professional image editors around the world, while PhotoDirector is intended to be user-friendly for casual beginners and enthusiasts who want easier ways to explore photo editing tools.

Why Trust Me for This Review

Hi, my name is Thomas Boldt, and I’ve worked with a wide range of image editing programs over the course of my work as a graphic designer and professional photographer. I first started working with digital imagery in the early 2000s, and since then I’ve worked with everything from open-source editors to industry-standard software suites. I’m always interested in experimenting with new editing programs, and I bring all of that experience to these reviews to help you decide what’s worth your time.

Disclaimer: Cyberlink provided me with no compensation or consideration for the writing of this PhotoDirector review, and they have had no editorial control or review of the content before publishing.

Detailed Review of CyberLink PhotoDirector

PhotoDirector has a range of unique features that provide some interesting options for image editors, but we don’t have room in this review to explore each and every one. Instead, we’ll look at the overall user interface, then at each of the five app sections, and explore how well they function.

Cyberlink PhotoDirector is available for both Windows and Mac, but the screenshots below are from the Windows version. The Mac version should look similar, with only a few small interface variations.

User Interface

PhotoDirector is divided into two main workspaces: Organize and Adjust and Edit, as you can see in the screenshot below. Each workspace has a different interface tailored to the specific tasks you’ll be working on in each one, and you can switch back and forth between them as needed.

The Organize and Adjust workspace contains your photo library and management tools, such as flags, star ratings, and keywords, as well as the non-destructive adjustment tools typically used for RAW development. PhotoDirector allows you to use them with any image format, which is a nice touch. This section also contains additional tools for HDR and panorama images, as well as some unique video-to-photo options.

The Edit workspace allows you to work directly with the pixels of your image, whether you need to warp, clone, or replace an entire sky. It is subdivided into two modes: Guided, which provides automatic AI tools and step-by-step wizards for complex editing tasks, and Expert, which gives you all the manual editing tools you need to put the finishing touches on your image, including layer-based editing.

I’m not sure why CyberLink chose to split the app this way because it seems like it would make sense to simply merge everything into a single unified interface – except that was already how the app was designed in previous versions.

Aside from this confusing decision, the biggest problem I found with the way the app is organized is that switching between modes sometimes simply… fails to work at all.

During my testing, PhotoDirector would occasionally get stuck displaying a ‘Loading’ message while switching from the Organize and Adjust section to the Edit section and sometimes even while switching between Guided and Expert modes within the Edit section. The only way out was to close the app and restart it, which might force you to start your edit all over from the beginning.

My personal take: PhotoDirector used to have a more unified interface with five different modules, and I don’t recall experiencing any issues switching between them when I used previous versions. This new divided interface seems to create more problems than it solves, and I can’t really understand why CyberLink would choose to design it in this way.

Organize

PhotoDirector’s library management tools are excellent, providing responsive image display for everything from small JPEGs to high-resolution RAW files that feels fast enough to put some major competitors to shame (looking at you, Lightroom). Filters work smoothly and quickly, even on large photo collections.

All your library information is managed within ‘projects,’ which function in a similar way to catalogs in Lightroom, and they all store data independently from each other.

For example, you might have one project for your vacation photos, another for your best friend’s wedding photos, and so on. But if you want to manage your entire photo library, you need a dedicated project file for it because any tagging or sorting done in one project isn’t accessible from another project. That can be useful for separating client projects, but it makes it hard to look at your entire body of work as a whole.

Within each project, the organizational tools are good, allowing for the standard range of star ratings, pick or reject flags, and color coding. You can also tag files with specific keywords to enable quick searches across large projects if you have the time and patience to do so or sort your photos using face detection.

That doesn’t matter if you immediately view every new photo that you import, but if you import your existing photo collection or an entire day-long photoshoot at once, you will have to scroll through the entire thing slowly to allow PhotoDirector to generate thumbnails for everything.

My personal take: Responsive display is what I value most when browsing through my photo library, and PhotoDirector does a great job of keeping up with my high-resolution RAW files. The organizational tools are excellent, and the only thing lacking is a ‘generate thumbnails’ command.

Adjust

The Adjust section is where you’ll find all of PhotoDirector’s non-destructive editing tools. For the most part, they are quite good and nearly match the range of options that you can find in a professional-level program, with a few exceptions.

I did find that the automatic tone adjustment feature tends to create a washed-out image, as you can see below, although that’s partly because there is no way to adjust the RAW profile in PhotoDirector. All your images will display with whatever profile you set in-camera, so all of mine look a bit washed out at first, thanks to the Nikon Flat profile. You can correct this by hand, of course, but it requires some extra work.

Not what I would call a successful automatic tone adjustment

Standard global adjustments such as tonal range editing, color adjustments, and automatic lens correction profiles are all available, although the range of supported lenses is still quite small. You can download additional lens profiles created by the community, but there is no guarantee that they will be accurate.

This is a big drawback for anyone who uses a wide range of cameras and lenses, including me. There’s no profile for the popular Sigma 150-600mm lens, which is my latest favorite, but there are plenty of smartphone and tablet lens profiles – just not for the latest generation of devices.

Still some work to do, but setting the adjustments by hand provides a much better result

The masking tools for working with localized edits are decent, though I found that there was a significant input delay between the motion of my cursor and the actual drawing of the mask. Unfortunately, the brush-based tools in the Edit section also suffer from this issue, which makes it that much more annoying. It’s a huge problem, but it can definitely slow you down.

My personal take: Overall, the tools and options in this section are effective, with a few exceptions, like automatic tone adjustment, limited automatic lens correction profiles, and the lack of RAW profile adjustment. If you rely heavily on specific lenses, you may want to double-check that they are supported before purchasing.

Create

This section is a bit loosely-defined, but it allows you to create a range of different things, starting with slideshows, animated GIFs, and CyberLink’s trademarked ‘Motion Stills,’ which are essentially animated GIFs with a bit of masked animation. I’m not sure how practical it is, but it’s an interesting feature.

The most useful features in this section for photographers are the Photo Merge tools, which cover HDR bracketing, panoramas, and other ways to combine multiple exposures. The Panoramas tool was a bit slow to merge all 20 images for the Toronto skyline sunset below, but the final result was good.

Cyberlink is probably most famous for its range of video and DVD authoring tools, so it’s no surprise that video plays a role in some of the more unique add-on features of PhotoDirector. There is a range of ways to create photos from videos, but you’d have to be using 4K video sources to create photos that were of remotely good quality, and even then, they would only be equivalent to an 8-megapixel camera.

Some of these tools are interesting, but they really belong in a video editing program rather than an image editor. They seem to be solving problems that don’t really exist for photographers, with the possible exception of the ‘perfect group shot’ tool. Otherwise, you could do all of these with actual photos, and no need to bring video into it at all.

My personal take: Aside from the Photo Merge tools, most of these feel a bit gimmicky to me. I guess it’s nice to have so many features in a single app, but it feels like CyberLink should focus more on polishing the existing features before adding more.

Guided

The Guided section of the Edit workspace offers a set of helpful step-by-step wizards and AI-powered tools that are geared toward a wide range of photography tasks, covering everything from portrait retouching to sky replacement to AI-powered noise removal.

Automatic sky replacements don’t fool anyone, but they’re fun to play around with

Some of the automatic tools are more successful than others, although most of the really useful ones, such as content-aware object removal and AI-powered noise reduction, work well enough to produce decent results when used properly.

Just part of the huge random list of tools in the Guided section

The only issue that I experienced with the Guided section was that it was often quite hard to locate the tool you want to use in the huge list. The organization system is fairly confusing – why are photo effects different than lens effects? Why are some animation effects here and some in Create? Who knows –

One of the most interesting features in this section, AI Sticker Maker, seems like it would be better suited in the Create section, but it’s still cool to play around with. It is CyberLink’s first attempt at incorporating text-based generative AI into PhotoDirector, although I’m not sure why it belongs in a photo editing workflow at all. It allows you to type in a text description of the sticker you want to create, select a style, and the AI will generate the image for you.

My personal take: There are some great tools in here, although you’ll have to work a little bit to find them since the organizational system seems pretty random to me. CyberLink should probably re-evaluate its design decisions about why certain tools go where, but at least most of them work well.

Expert

Last but not least, we reach the Expert section of the Edit workspace, which is used for direct pixel editing. Unfortunately, this section of the app isn’t as successful as the rest of the features since CyberLink seems to have prioritized its non-destructive and automatic editing tools over its manual editing options.

Oops, I broke the adjustment layer system

You get access to basic tools for making selections, cropping, and adding text and shapes, but you won’t find expected popular tools like Clone or Heal, and the paintbrush options are almost non-existent. You can’t even modify the feathering at the brush edges!

You can apply non-destructive adjustment layers, and while layer-based editing is improved when compared to previous versions, it still needs some work. Copying a layer mask from one adjustment layer to another seems to break the adjustment layers so that they fail to display the results of their adjustment, which is an obvious and annoying flaw.

My personal take: This area feels almost like an afterthought when compared to the polished non-destructive tools in the Adjust section. If you’re just looking for the easy automated editing tools found in the rest of the app, this won’t bother you, but you probably won’t want to do much work in this section.

Reasons Behind My Ratings

Features: 4/5

The library organization system works well, and the non-destructive adjustments and editing tools are quite good, except for a few minor issues. Providing access to Getty Images for subscription-based users is an excellent touch, although it would be nice to be able to browse the main site instead of having to use the built-in downloader inside PhotoDirector.

Limited lens correction profiles are available, so you may want to make sure that your lenses are supported before making a purchase. You probably also won’t want to use PhotoDirector for layer-based editing projects like photocomposites since CyberLink has focused more on its automatic editing tools, and the Expert editing mode leaves a lot to be desired.

Price: 5/5

At less than $5 USD per month (billed annually as a subscription), PhotoDirector is priced more affordably than most other casual and enthusiast-level programs. It delivers a huge set of features that provide excellent value at this price point, including access to the Getty Images stock photo library.

You can also purchase PhotoDirector as a one-time purchase if you prefer not to deal with subscriptions, but this limits your access to updates and new features until you purchase the next version.

Ease of Use: 4/5

Since PhotoDirector is intended for the casual photographer, it does a fairly good job of staying user-friendly. Aside from the strange choice to divide the program into two workspaces, the interface is clear and uncluttered for the most part, and there are very helpful step-by-step instructions for more complex editing tasks found in the Guided section of the Edit workspace.

That being said, there are some technical issues that can make the program a bit frustrating to work with. Losing all your progress while working on an image edit is frustrating, and it’s all the more annoying to lose your work due to simple glitches caused by switching between modes.

Support: 4/5

Cyberlink provides an extensive range of technical support articles through its knowledge base, and there is a PDF user manual available on the website for download. The only downside to their tech support is that they give priority support to subscription users over those who have bought PhotoDirector as a one-time purchase.

There are also plenty of video tutorials available covering most of the PhotoDirector features, with links to them available on the home screen and in the Help menu. Unfortunately, there is very little third-party tutorial information available, so you’re mostly stuck with Cyberlink’s tutorials.

PhotoDirector Alternatives

Adobe Photoshop Elements (Windows / macOS)

Photoshop Elements is priced comparably to PhotoDirector, but does a much better job of handling editing. It’s not quite as easy to learn, but there are far more tutorials and guides available to help you learn the basics. It’s also far more effective when it comes to optimization, so if you’re looking for a relatively affordable image editor designed for the casual user, this is probably a better choice.

Corel PaintShop Pro (Windows)

PaintShop Pro isn’t quite aimed at the same market as PhotoDirector, but it does an excellent job of guiding new users through the editing process. It’s also priced very affordably compared to both Photoshop Elements and PhotoDirector, providing much better value for money if cost is a concern.

Luminar (Windows / macOS)

Skylum Luminar is another great image editor that provides a nice balance of powerful features and an easy-to-use interface. I haven’t had a chance to use it myself, but you can read our Luminar review to take a closer look at how it compares with PhotoDirector.

Final Verdict

Overall, CyberLink PhotoDirector is a great image editor that’s perfect for casual home users and enthusiasts who want to edit their photos without embracing the Adobe hegemony. It’s a bit unfortunate that there always seems to be a “but” hanging over each feature, such as ‘the editing tools are great, but…’.

If CyberLink takes the time to polish up its existing features alongside its rush to add more AI-powered tools, it might become the best image editor available for the beginner/enthusiast market.

Do you find this PhotoDirector review helpful? Share your thoughts below.

Imazing Review 2023: Does It Really Work? (See Tests)

Pricing: Affordable pricing at $39.99 for one device. You can also subscribe to a yearly plan for unlimited devices for $64.99/year. Business pricing is also available.

Ease of Use: Extremely easy to use with sleek interfaces.

Support: Quick email reply, comprehensive guides, and detailed FAQs on their website.

iMazing is an iOS device management app that helps iPhone/iPad users transfer, backup, and manage files between their mobile device and their personal computer without using iTunes or iCloud. Think of the iMazing app as iTunes without the media purchase function. It’s also much more powerful and convenient than iTunes.

Yes, iMazing is entirely safe and legitimate. The app was developed by DigiDNA, a company based in Geneva, Switzerland.

On the operational level, the app is very safe to use. When deleting or erasing content, there’s always a kind notification to make sure you understand what you are doing and offer a second-step confirmation. I’d recommend you backup your iOS device just in case.

iMazing is a third-party app that has no relationship with Apple. In fact, it was a competitor of Apple’s iTunes. There is no clue whether Apple recommends iMazing or not.

First, you need to download iMazing from the official website and install the app on your PC or Mac. Then, connect your Apple device to the computer via USB or Wi-Fi.

Note: If you’re using iMazing for the first time, you have to use a USB connection and pair your computer with the device. Once you “trust” the computer, it will then allow the computer to read the data on your device.

The answer is no. The app is free to download and run on your Mac or PC — as we are used to calling it, “free trial”. The free trial offers unlimited and automatic backups, but you’ll need to upgrade to the full version to restore files from the backups.

The trial also limits data transfer between your device and your computer. Once you exceed the limit, you will need to buy a license to unlock the full version.

The app costs two pricing models. You can buy it for $39.99 for one device (with tiered pricing for multiple devices) or a subscription of $64.99 per year for unlimited devices. Business pricing is also available.

When I heard about iMazing for the first time, I couldn’t help but relate the app name to the word “Amazing”. After testing the app for a few days with my iPhone 8 Plus and iPad Air on my MacBook Pro, I found it a truly amazing iPhone manager software. Simply put, iMazing is an app like iTunes, but way more powerful and convenient to use.

Why Trust Me for This Review

Hi, my name is Christine. I’m a geek girl who loves exploring and testing all kinds of mobile apps and software that can make my life more productive. I used to write feedback about UX and usability for a friend who was responsible for the design part of an eCommerce product.

I got my first Apple product in 2010; it was an iPod Touch. Since then, I’ve been hooked on the beauty of Apple products. Now I use an iPhone 8 Plus and iPad Air (both running iOS 11) and a 13″ early-2023 MacBook Pro (with High Sierra 10.13.2).

Since 2013, I’ve been an avid iCloud and iTunes user, and backing up iOS devices is a must-do task on my to-do list every month. This is all because of a terrible lesson learned the hard way — I lost my phone twice within two years!

As you know, iCloud only offers 5GB of storage for free, and I didn’t pay much attention to buying more space and backup my data in the cloud. I still remember the feeling when I lost my iPhone. The device itself didn’t upset me that much, but the pictures, notes, messages, and other information I lost were painful.

In testing iMazing, I’ve tried my best to explore every feature of the app and see what it has to offer. To evaluate the quality of iMazing’s customer service, I reached out to their support team via email, asking a question related to iMazing’s license. You can read more details in the “Reasons behind My Ratings” section below.

Disclaimer: DigiDNA, the maker of iMazing, has had no influence or editorial input on the content of this article. I was able to access all the features of iMazing thanks to Setapp, a Mac app subscription service that also includes the iMazing app as part of a 7-day free trial.

The History of iMazing and Its Maker

iMazing was originally called DiskAid. It was developed by DigiDNA, an independent software developer incorporated in 2008 under the name DigiDNA Sàrl in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here’s a screenshot I took while searching for DigiDNA in SOGC (Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce). Based on the preliminary research, DigiDNA is definitely a legit corporation.

It’s worth noting that in 2014, the DigiDNA team rebranded their flagship product, DiskAid, into ‘iMazing’. Again, I can’t help but think of “amazing”. 🙂 Later, they released iMazing 2 with a list of new features, including compatibility with the latest iOS.

Detailed Review of iMazing

As the app is mainly for backing up, transferring data, exporting & importing, and restoring backups, I’m going to list these features by putting them into the following four sections. In each sub-section, I’ll explore what the app offers and how it can help you better manage your iOS device.

Please note: iMazing supports both PC and Mac. Thus, you can run it under Windows and macOS. I tested the Mac version on my MacBook Pro, and the findings below are based on that version. I haven’t tried the PC version, but I imagine the core functions are quite similar, though minor UX/UI differences will exist.

1. Backing up iOS Devices

One thing that surprises me is that iMazing claims the app can back up Books. That feature didn’t work in my case. I tested it on my iPhone and iPad, and both showed the same error.

Here’s a warning that says Books isn’t included in backups

Backup Options: Once you connect and “trust your iOS device”, you will see a screen like this. It gives you the choice to back up your device now or later.

“Automatic Backup”, for example, allows you to set how often you want the app to back up. You can also set the minimum battery level required to do so. The backup schedule can be set on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. For me, Automatic Backup is a killer feature, and I ended up setting it for monthly, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, when the battery is over 50%.

It’s worth noting, though, that the automatic backup feature requires iMazing Mini to run. iMazing Mini is a menu bar app that backs up your iOS device automatically, wirelessly, and privately. When you open the iMazing app, iMazing Mini will automatically show up in your Mac’s menu bar. Even if you close the app, iMazing Mini will still run in the background unless you choose to close it.

Here’s what iMazing Mini looks like on my Mac.

From iMazing Mini, you can see connected devices and how they are connected (e.g. by USB or Wi-Fi). If they’re connected via Wi-Fi, your iOS device’s icon will only show up, provided that the device and computer are on the same network.

There are a few other backup options available. For the sake of time and your reading experience, I’m not going to cover them one by one. Instead, I’ll briefly list what they can do for you:

Backup Encryption: An Apple security feature that protects your data. You can check out this article to learn more. You can enable Encrypt Backup for the first time when backing up your device via iTunes. It’s not the default option in iMazing; you’ll need to turn it on. After that, all future device backups will be encrypted, regardless of the software you use–including iTunes. As this was my first iPhone backup, I enabled this feature and set it up. The whole process was pretty smooth.

Backup Location: This option allows you to choose where you want to save your backups. You can choose the internal computer drive by default or an external drive. I chose the latter. When I connected my Seagate drive to the Mac, it showed up like this in iMazing:

Backup Archiving: We all know iTunes only maintains one backup per device, meaning your last backup file will be overwritten each time you back up your iPhone or iPad. The drawback of this mechanism is obvious: potential data loss. iMazing 2 does it differently by archiving your backups automatically, a smart solution that can prevent data loss.

Wi-Fi Connection: This feature is turned on by default. When your devices and computer are connected to the same WiFi network, backup is enabled automatically, allowing your computer to browse or transfer data to your iPhone or iPad. I’d recommend you stay with the default setting if you don’t want to bring a cable every time.

2. Restore Files from Backups

iCloud and iTunes both allow you to restore from the last backup. But let’s face it, how many times do you need all your device’s data? That’s why we call iCloud or iTunes backups “Blind Restore” — you can’t customize the restoration, e.g., choose what type of data and which apps would be restored.

My Personal Take: That’s where iMazing really shines, in my opinion. iMazing offers you customized data restore options. You can choose to restore the entire backup and extract all files back to your iOS device or selectively choose the datasets or apps you’d like to restore. The best part? You can also recover a backup to several iOS devices in one go. According to iMazing, here are the types of data that can be transferred: Photos, Contacts, Messages, Call History, Voicemail, Notes, Accounts, Keychain, Calendars, Voice Memos, Apps Data, Safari Bookmarks, and others. Please note that restoring backups will erase all current data on your target iOS device.

Quick Note: iMazing also allows you to view and extract specific types of data from your iPhone or iPad backups saved on your PC or Mac, even if the iTunes backup files are encrypted (you have to know the password, though). In this sense, iMazing can be a lifesaver (i.e., iPhone data recovery solution) if your device is damaged or lost.

3. Transfer Data from One Device to The Other

This is absolutely a productivity booster for those of you who just got a new iPhone X or 8. You want to transfer all the data saved on your old device to the new phone–what do you do? iMazing is the answer. It allows you to quickly copy the content from your old iOS device to a new one. You simply choose which types of data and apps to keep, and the iMazing app will take care of the rest.

Quick tip: It’s recommended that you back up your old device just in case because the process will wipe out all the data on your old device and then transfer the data you specify.

My Personal Take: What kind of data can be transferred? Pretty much the same as the database for Backup and Restore features. iMazing offers flexible customizations so you can choose to transfer files that are worth transferring. This saves me time and can help you get more free storage on your new device.

Note: The transfer process requires the latest iOS system installed on both devices. After it’s all set up, you will go to the “Confirm Transfer” stage. Read that warning carefully, as once again, the transfer will erase all current data on your target device. Make sure you have backed it up, just in case.

4. Move Files between iOS Devices and Computer

You know how to sync files (especially newly created media items) from your iPhone or iPad to a computer, or vice versa, right? Via iTunes or iCloud!

But how do you like the process? Probably not much! There are circumstances where you may only want to import several new photos from your PC or your iPhone or the other way around– but it ends up taking you 15 minutes. What a waste of time!

That’s why I really like this feature. You can freely transfer almost any type of data between an iPhone/iPad/iTouch and your personal computer. The best part? You don’t have to use iCloud and iTunes at all.

My Personal Take: However, I have to admit that iMazing isn’t perfect in this area (I’ll explain more below). Still, it’s definitely a time saver when it comes to importing or exporting files between your mobile device and computer. Below are my detailed findings:

Photos: Can be exported but not imported. You’ll see this “Not Writable” warning.

Music & Video: Can be exported or imported from/to iCloud or iTunes (or a folder of your choice). The best part is that you can move the songs from an iPad or iPhone to your PC/Mac. That’s not even possible with iTunes, but it’s easy with iMazing.

Messages: Can only be exported. iTunes can’t do this, either. If you want to print iMessages for a court case, for instance, this feature is very handy.

Call History & Voicemail: Both can be exported. Note: call history can be exported to CSV format.

Contacts & Books: Can be exported and imported.

Notes: Can only be exported and printed. PDF and text formats are available.

Voice Memos: Can only be exported.

Apps: Can be backed up, uninstalled, or added. Note: if you want to add new apps in iMazing, you can only add those apps you have installed before with your current Apple ID. Please note that all apps can be backed up and restored via iMazing, and iMazing will warn you when the app backup should not be used for important data.

The Reasons Behind My Ratings

Features: 4.5/5

iMazing delivers most of what it claims to offer, or I should say 99% of the features. It’s a powerful iOS device management solution that puts iCloud and iTunes to shame. iMazing does offer a number of features that look similar to what iTunes/iCloud offers. Still, they’re actually way more powerful and convenient to use than iTunes/iCloud — and include several killer features that no other apps do.

I’d be happy to give this app a 5-star rating. However, given that I had a few minor unpleasant using experiences with the app, e.g., the app randomly crashed once during a backup process, I knocked it down a half star. Overall, iMazing is solid in what it has to offer.

Pricing: 4/5

I’m not being critical of shareware or freemium apps. My principle is as long as an app offers value to the users, I have no problem paying for it, just like any other product I buy on a regular basis. iMazing offers tons of value and convenience to us iOS device users. It’s quite reasonable for the team to get paid and grow to make their app even better.

Here is the pricing:

Number of DevicesTypePrice1Personal$39.99 (one time)2Personal$49.99 (one time)3Personal$59.99 (one time)5Personal$74.99 (one time)10Personal$129.99 (one time)UnlimitedPersonal$64.99/yearBusiness Business$60.00/seat/yearStationBusiness$200.00/seat/yearPhone EvidenceBusiness$150 for 3 devicesConfigurator Business$500/seat/yearCLIBusiness$400/seat/year

As you can see, it is definitely a steal in terms of the value it offers. However, I want to point out that based on an email I received from the developer, I learned the DigiDNA team isn’t ready to offer a free lifetime upgrade — meaning if iMazing 3 is out, current users will still need to pay a fee to upgrade.

Personally, I’m okay with that, but I think we’d appreciate it if their team would make that clear on their purchase page about the pricing, especially the hidden cost in the future.

Ease of Use: 5/5

The iMazing app is also an extremely intuitive app with a sleek interface and well-written instructions. Best of all, the app has so many features that it’s hard to put them together in an organized manner — but the DigiDNA team did so wonderfully well.

From an average iOS and Mac user’s perspective, I have no problem navigating the app and understanding what each feature means. Frankly, it’s hard for me to find a Mac app that could beat iMazing in UX/UI.

Support: 5/5

The iMazing app is already very intuitive to use. If you have any technical questions regarding the app, the iMazing team has created lots of great tutorials and troubleshooting articles on their official site. I read quite a few and found the information comprehensive. Plus, they support 11 languages on both the app and the website. You can also contact their support team.

I reached out to them via email and got a quick response (less than 24 hours), which is pretty impressive considering that we’re in a different time zone (an 8-hour time difference). I’m quite happy with the content of their response, so I can’t see any reason not to give them a 5-star rating. Amazing job, iMazing!

By the way, the maker of the iMazing app is DigiDNA, so their support team is shown as “DigiDNA Support”.

iMazing Alternatives

AnyTrans (macOS & Windows)

As the name indicates, AnyTrans is file management software that supports not only iOS devices but Android phones/tablets too. The software is more focused on transferring & exporting/importing files, but it also allows you to copy files to and from your other devices. You can view and manage your backup files; it even integrates with iCloud for easy management.

WALTR PRO (macOS & Windows)

Made by Softorino, WALTR Pro is a Mac app that can help you transfer all kinds of media files from your PC or Mac to your iOS device without using iCloud and iTunes, or any other third-party apps. The best part is that even if the media files aren’t compatible with your iPhone or iPad, WALTR will automatically convert them to usable formats so you can view or play them without hassle. It supports music, videos, ringtones, PDFs, ePubs, and a few more.

Final Verdict

If you’re not a fan of iTunes or iCloud when it comes to managing your iPhone and iPad data, go with iMazing. I spent days testing the app and interacting with the DigiDNA team (which takes customer queries). Overall, I’m very impressed by what the app has to offer.

iMazing is a fantastic app that offers solid data moving capabilities, a sleek user interface, and a plethora of comprehensive troubleshooting guides available on their website, it’s hard to find a better app that offers so much value.

Priced at just $39.99 for one device (a bit less if you apply the iMazing coupon), you can’t find a better deal. I’ve no problem keeping iMazing on my Mac. It will save my time, and nerves in case of a data disaster strike on my iPhone or iPad. And I think you should keep it on your Mac, too.

Fake Review Detection In 2023: Overview, Methods & Case Studies

How are fake reviews generated?

Source: Which?

Figure 1. Examples of fake reviews on the Internet

Fake reviews are mainly written in two ways: human-generated and machine-generated.

Human-generated fake reviews

Content creators get paid to create fake online reviews, and they promote or depreciate certain products in their reviews. In general, there exist two patterns:

The owner of the products can pay content creators to write feedback to obtain higher ratings or impress potential customers

Or, competitors may hire spammers to demonize the products of other brands and try to direct customers to alternatives, in that case, their products.

Machine-generated fake reviews

Creating reviews manually is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Therefore, automated algorithms (e.g., Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) methods) are applied to create fake reviews. Contrary to human-generated reviews, machine-generated reviews are produced through text generation, which can generate reviews on a large scale.

Watch how fake reviews on Google can affect local businesses.

Fake review detection methods Manual detection

It is the most basic way of detecting fake reviews, and annotators manually decide whether a review is fake. Although it can be a promising approach, research shows that humans have 57% accuracy in a fake review detection task.

Algorithm-based detection

The number of online reviews on TripAdvisor has increased from 200 million to 1 billion from 2014 to 2023.

Algorithms can also monitor the behavioral pattern of reviewers, such as the user’s total number of reviews, review dates, and user profile details. These metrics allow ML models to classify suspicious reviews and help determine fake review characteristics.