CyberLink Corporation has unveiled PowerDirector 11, the latest version of its feature-packed consumer video editor.

And our favourite addition so far has to be its content-aware editing, a time-saving tool which sees the program automatically identify the major scenes in a movie, so that you can then import them in a flash.

When you’re presented with a new video, then, there’s no longer any need to manually browse through it to identify the key moments. The Content-Aware Editor will instead analyze the footage on your behalf, picking out significant scenes – anything with faces, motion, pans or zooms – and highlighting them for you. Select the ones you need, import them with a click, and they’ll appear on the regular project timeline for further editing.

Core editing performance also sees a significant improvement with this release, in particular thanks to the inclusion of CyberLink’s TrueVelocity 3.0. This now includes multi-GPGPU support, which allows the program to make use of the GPU’s available from multiple graphics cards – an integrated and external card, say – to deliver the best possible editing speeds.

The latest PowerDirector is faster, smarter and easier to use than ever

And there are plenty of smaller, but still worthwhile improvements everywhere you look.

A more flexible interface sees users able to adjust the media room thumbnails and timeline track height, for instance.

It’s now possible to customise PowerDirector’s various hotkeys to suit your needs.

And you can now create titles, menus, particle and picture-in-picture effects in a full-screen editor for a more accurate look at exactly what you’re doing.

As with previous releases, PowerDirector 11 comes in multiple editions.

PowerDirector 11 Deluxe ($69.95) is the base version, and excludes 64-bit support, content-aware editing, 3D editing, full HD preview, BD/ BDXL and AVCHD disc burning, amongst other features.

PowerDirector 11 Ultra ($99.95) restores all those missing features, and adds CyberLink’s Content Pack Premium, making it the sensible budget choice.

PowerDirector 11 Ultimate ($129.95) has the same core editing engine, but adds motion and paint effects from NewBlueFX, as well as multiple creative design packs from CyberLink.

PowerDirector 11 Ultimate Suite ($249.95) takes the Ultimate feature set, and extends it with two professional addons. ColorDirector makes it easy to correct colours with advanced motion tracking, while AudioDirector can help you record and mix your soundtrack, remove unwanted noises and add special effects.

CyberLink’s Director Suite ($299.95) extends the franchise still further by integrating a copy of PhotoDirector 4, a powerful tool for creating polished, professional photos.

And if you want to sample PowerDirector’s new goodies for yourself then a trial version of PowerDirector 11 Ultimate is available now. PowerDirector 11 Ultra is available from the Downloadcrew Software Store at a special launch price of $79.95, 20% off MSRP.