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At our September meeting we were treated with a dynamic one man show, conducted by a master presenter Dave Whittle. Representing several companies he introduced to us to a diverse series of new products. Starting with a view of Intel’s new technology designed specifically for the mobile computer user, Intel’s Centrino technology, designed from the ground up for the notebook PC, Intel provides three components the “Intel Pentium M” processor, the “Intel 855 chipset” and “Intel’s pro wireless 210 network connection.” Together these components provide low power consumption and low operating temperature, high speed and intergrated 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless LAN capabilities. Dave stated that he had been using laptops as his primary computer while conducting his peripatetic travels. This is the first time he really felt the freedom of being untethered from both the powergrid and phone lines. His Centrino powered IBM PC provided him with over 6 hours of battery usage without the need to plug in, permitting him to remain in touch with his office network from the many hotspots now found in most of the larger cities and airports. A far cry from his previous mobile experience. “Intel Centrino” powered Laptops are rapidly reaching the market as I write this. Check with your favorite vendor for the latest prices. Switching gears, Dave quickly segued to the other products he represents. Starting with Micro Research Institute’s “3D Album” Photo Organizer, which can sort an unlimited number of photos and present them in sequence or random order in an amazing array of 23 styles of fades, wipes, dissolves, flips, turns and 3D effects. All of the transitions between each photo can be customized to change the speed, color, material or texture. Music text and narration can be synchronized with the photos. If that’s not enough, a rapidly growing number of presentation styles are available for free download at www.3d-album.com The albums can be saved to your computer, CD, DVD or zipped and transmitted over the Internet, permitting auto play on other computers. “3D Album” Internet priced at $59. A usergroup special includes Visviva’s “Animation Capture” (a $24.95 value) so you can save your slide show in various movie formats ready for DVD authoring. User group combined pricing is available from webworkingservices. com at $35.00. is an affordable way to add excitement and variety to your next slide presentation. Keeping in the photo
enhancement mode Dave presented several programs by “iSeeMedia,”
The product management team, from MGI Software which was acquired
by Roxio Inc. in 2002, recently formed the new Toronto based
software company “iSeeMedia” retaining its patented
key assets, Image Server, Web Imaging Tools and Digital Content
Management system, from Roxio The combined programs in “Virtual Tour” expands the above program it can creating hotspots to link panoramas together, zoom from a mountain top panoramia, to another of a beach, linking thru the front door of the hotel and then link thru the lobby, dining rooms, hallway panoramas then linking to each room. PV Virtual Tour is great for technically inclined amateurs and tourists as well as the professional, Travel Agencies, Realitors, Shopping Mall kiosk programers etc. A stand alone version of “Panorama 3.0” Is Internet priced at $59.95 The User group price available from webworking services.com is $35. The combined package “Virtual Tour” home version is Internet priced at $249. User group combined pricing is available from webworkingservices.com at $125; the commercial version, with additional features, is priced higher. The third program presented was, muvee Technologies’ “muvee autoProducer” switching from still photos to video editing with “muvee AutoProducer” The producers of this software call it artistic intelligence, and that, it seems to be. All you have to do, is select some video footage, add music of your choice, then choose from a section of 24 editing styles from a slick MTVstyle , wide screen, TV style, If you pick “Personal style” it automatically gives priority to facial closeups...or pick a silent film styles of the ’20’s. the program converts your color footage to a jerkey, grainy, black&white with added scratches. then add your own titles, sub titles, and captions, selecting from a variety of fonts. (Charley Chaplin, watch out.) Then just click on the “make muvee” icon and in a few seconds it’s done.The style you pick affects the content. copy your final cut to a cd and it’s ready to play. Muvee is used by numerous professionals to save time in producing superior results… It’s a great learning tool and a fun addition to have in your video tool box. but It won’t replace your primary video editing package. “Muvee autoProducer” internet price $59.95 User group Price from webworkingservices.com is 0nly $35.00. |
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