It's now much easier to embed videos in your presentations, for instance, either local files or from sites like YouTube - and that's just the start. The program also has many editing options available. You're able to correct brightness, contrast, colour issues and more, apply borders, add shadows, perform 3D rotations and more.

If you're happy with 2D images then you may appreciate the new screen capture tool, or the background removal option, that automatically removes unwanted portions of a picture. Animation options are clearer, and there are now more slide transitions than ever, all the splits, cuts, fades, slides, wipes and dissolves that you're likely to need.

A new Sections option helps to organise your slides into sections, perhaps useful in a lengthy presentation.

Tools from other Office components have made their way into PowerPoint, so for example Word and Excel's Equation Editor now provides an easy way to insert mathematical equations into your PowerPoint presentations, too.

A range of usability improvements include a clearer, simpler Ribbon, which is now also customisable.

And if you're tired of wondering whether a recipient will be able to view your presentation, then PowerPoint 2010 offers a new and very simple solution. As well as converting your work into a PDF or XPS document, the program can now save it as a video in just a few clicks.

Please note, the link will take you to the Microsoft Office Online site. Click the "TRY IT FREE" link, create an account if you don't have one already, and you'll be given the link and product key necessary to activate the trial software.

And don't worry, you can install and run PowerPoint 2010 alongside previous versions without their being affected. Although if you want to protect yourself further then you could always install it into something other than the default Program FilesMicrosoft Office folder. Launch the Setup program and choose a Custom installation for the options you need.

Verdict:

PowerPoint 2010 has a range of useful improvements, but the highlights are the new video and image capture and editing features. If you'll make use of these then the program looks like a very worthy upgrade