In our final look under the hood of Windows 7, Chapter 9 in our text discusses how to use Windows Digital Movie Maker. It is more powerful that the version that shipped with Windows XP, and seems much easier to use.
Using Windows Movie Maker, users can create complete movies from the components of digital video, audio and still images. You can use audio that was recorded along with the raw video, or use other audio that may be available from other sources.
You can split or trim video sequences to fit the movie, as well as add photos where you might wish.
It's easy to add titles and captions to the movie and its scenes. Also, you can change the size and aspect ratio of videos and still photos, and mix and fade audio inputs during the movie.
When you are ready to produce the movie, you can choose to publish it to YouTube, create a DVD to play in standard DVD players, or publish a video file to the computer.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
December 9, 2013 - Chapter 8: Mastering Digital Pictures and Music
Chapter 8 deals with how Windows 7 can produce and use files contained on the digital media of CD's and DVD's. Windows 7 accomplishes some of these tasks from within the Windows Media Player, but also depends on the downloadable Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live DVD Maker to get everything done.
Windows Live Photo Gallery can categorize and edit photos moved from digital cameras as well as photos downloaded online, from flash drives or other sources. The user can employ tags to store more information about a particular image as well as sort it into categories.
It is important to be able to edit imperfection out of images, and Windows Live Photo Gallery can do this with several tools. One tool that I found interesting was the Red Eye Removal tool that can be used.
Another useful feature is the ability to rename a series of files to a common name with an ascending number.
Windows Media Player can rip audio CD's and store them in digital format. While it is important for the user to obey all copyright laws, under certain circumstances the owner does have the legal right to make a copy of the audio CD media. Once the files have been digitized, then the user can change the file attributes to store data about the file such as title, artist, album information, and other pertinent information.
Windows 7 also uses Windows Media Player to play DVD's, and can add them to the user's media library if desired.
Windows Live DVD Maker can be used to produce "slideshow" DVD's of digital photos. The software is able to play one or more audio tracks during the photo slideshow.
Along with Windows Live DVD Maker's ability to produce DVD movies which is covered in the next chapter, this information makes a compelling argument for use of Microsoft's suite of CD and DVD editing tools. I just wish I didn't have to sign into Windows Live to get them.
Windows Live Photo Gallery can categorize and edit photos moved from digital cameras as well as photos downloaded online, from flash drives or other sources. The user can employ tags to store more information about a particular image as well as sort it into categories.
It is important to be able to edit imperfection out of images, and Windows Live Photo Gallery can do this with several tools. One tool that I found interesting was the Red Eye Removal tool that can be used.
Another useful feature is the ability to rename a series of files to a common name with an ascending number.
Windows Media Player can rip audio CD's and store them in digital format. While it is important for the user to obey all copyright laws, under certain circumstances the owner does have the legal right to make a copy of the audio CD media. Once the files have been digitized, then the user can change the file attributes to store data about the file such as title, artist, album information, and other pertinent information.
Windows 7 also uses Windows Media Player to play DVD's, and can add them to the user's media library if desired.
Windows Live DVD Maker can be used to produce "slideshow" DVD's of digital photos. The software is able to play one or more audio tracks during the photo slideshow.
Along with Windows Live DVD Maker's ability to produce DVD movies which is covered in the next chapter, this information makes a compelling argument for use of Microsoft's suite of CD and DVD editing tools. I just wish I didn't have to sign into Windows Live to get them.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Chapter 7 - Advanced file searching
Once again up against a deadline, so let me summarize the chapter quickly.
Windows 7 provides several ways to search information, and some of the most powerful ways to do so use advanced techniques.
These include using boolean expressions to increase or reduce the data set.
It is also possible to save and reuse searches, and to search for media files using specialized file properties, or "tags". Windows offers the ability to add and remove indexed location to reduce or expand the scope of the seach location.
Much more here, its a powerful search tool!
Windows 7 provides several ways to search information, and some of the most powerful ways to do so use advanced techniques.
These include using boolean expressions to increase or reduce the data set.
It is also possible to save and reuse searches, and to search for media files using specialized file properties, or "tags". Windows offers the ability to add and remove indexed location to reduce or expand the scope of the seach location.
Much more here, its a powerful search tool!
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