Corel Corp. was defeated by Microsoft Corp. a few years back while competing for the PC software market. Now that it's relisted as a public company and has been reorganized, it faces a tough new rival in Google Inc.

Google is a tough brand to beat. It has a business model and a brand name that allows it to give away free software on the Web.

However, Ottowa-based Corel believes it can compete with Google with free Web-based services supported by ads.

Corel releases a new software managing digital audio and video on Tuesday. The program is called Snapfire and it will allow users to edit, organize and share its images. A more advanced version, Snapfire Plus will sell for $40 carrying more editing features.

Blaine Mathieu, general manager of Corel's digital imaging business unit, said in a phone interview from Corel offices in Minneapolis, that Snapfire differs from other photo software in that it sells modular components that allows users to buy additional software to suit customized storage and editing needs.

He adds,"We are very confident that we have a competitive product against the Microsofts and Googles of the world."

Mathieu told globeandmail.com, "In many cases they feel like they are losing control of their memories - who controls what, who sees what, and what gets backed up."

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