In
this Issue:
As
hinted in recent newsletters we are working on a major update to DVD
PixPlay. This update will add the single most requested feature to the
program (if you spend much time on our user
forum
then you can probably guess which one), plus many smaller
improvements. It has been a major undertaking, but we are close to a beta
release (we need testers; see below if you are interested). The
upgrade will be free for all purchasers in 2008 (and earlier too, depending on
when it is finally released). So you can purchase now for the v3 price
and you will also receive v4 for free: www.xequte.com/order/buydpp.html We've
also issued a big update for MailList King. Details follow… As always, please email us if you have any questions
or comments, or visit our forum to talk with other users:
MailList
King allows you to easily manage and send to an email mailing list from your
own computer. We have now released v7.10, an important update all
v7 users of MailList King. In v7.02 we introduced code to address an
incompatibility with Outlook 2007. A side effect of this change was that
when sending via certain versions of Outlook the message may have gone out
in Outlook RTF format (with the result that any embedded images may show
as attachments in non-Outlook email clients). V7.10 also introduces some big
enhancements: 1. Can now directly open Microsoft Word files into
the Send Message dialog Complete
change list: www.xequte.com/maillistking/changes.html#710 More
Info and Evaluation download: http://www.xequte.com/maillistking/download.html Registered Users: If we have your correct details a
download link will already have been sent to you. If you did not
receive the link, please complete the following form: http://www.xequte.com/support/serial/
We are currently working on a major update of DVD
PixPlay (will be a free upgrade to all purchasers in 2008) and are seeking
registered and experienced DVD PixPlay users to trial it and advise us of
any problems encountered. If you are interested in participating please visit
the following page and specify your e-mail address: We anticipate releasing the beta towards the end of
April. * Freeware Spotlight: Xanorama Panoramic Photo Screen Saver There are many sites on the Internet with fantastic
panoramic photos, such as the 360 degree photos of Paris at night.
Xanorama displays a selection of panoramic photos whenever your computer
is idle, slowly panning the entire width of the photo across your
screen. Xanorama is freeware and can be downloaded
from: * Program
Tips - DVD PixPlay: Using Music from a CD as Slideshow
Background Music Music tracks on a CD are not actually files that
Windows (or software such as DVD PixPlay) can use directly (though, of
course, Windows can play the files). So to use them you need to use CD ripping software to
convert the CD music into an MP3 file. There are many products that
can do this, including free ones: http://www.dailymp3.com/cdrippers.html Newer versions of Windows Media Player also allow
you to rip your CD music, however you need to change the copy format to
MP3 (under Tools > Options, Copy Music) <
BR> Naturally you should ensure the music tracks you are
ripping are not copyright! - MailList King: New Message Creation
Tools In V7.10 we've added two new tools to improve your
creation of compelling Newsletters: - Image reduction and enlargement When you select an image that you have embedded into
your message, two button will appear on the toolbar so you can easily
enlarge and reduce the image size - You can now insert and edit tables One of the key tools for good layout in HTML is
tables; hidden rows and columns of data. You can now easily insert
and modify tables in your messages by clicking the Table button on the
Message Sending toolbar - Smart Pix Manager: Sharing Descriptions and
Keywords using IPTC Many photo applications, such as Picasa, Amaze, and PhotoShop,
allow you to edit and view keywords and descriptions stored within image fields
(IPTC). Smart Pix Manager allows you to automatically use the keywords
and descriptions that are embedded in images when adding them to your
collection. This means that it can rapidly search and filter your
collection based on that data. You can even embed the keywords and descriptions that
you create in Smart Pix into the image. Then when you share those
images with other people, they will also receive the
information. - To import embedded keywords and descriptions
when adding images: Enable the relevant option under File > Options, Database,
Automatic Keyword Generation<
BR>
- To automatically store keywords and descriptions
to images when you add/edit them in Smart Pix: Under File > Options, Other,
Advanced enable "Store Descriptions in IPTC Fields"<
BR>
- To manually embed your Smart Pix
keywords and descriptions within your images:Select Database>Import
andExport>Save Descriptions to IPTC - MegaView (also in Smart Pix): Adding a date based
name to your files Images that are retrieved from a digital camera
typically have meaningless names such as DCM000432.jpg. When you
retrieve images from your camera using Smart Pix or MegaView it will offer
to give a more meaning full name, including the batch insertion of the
date and time the image was taken (using the date embedded in the camera
fields of the image). However if you are new to Smart Pix/MegaView or use
your camera software to retrieve images you may have many images that
still have unmemorable names. For these you can use the batch
renaming functionality to add a better name: 1.
Select the files that you want to rename (using Ctrl or Shift to select
multiple files) 2. Click File > Rename on the menu 3.
Select the "Batch Rename" tab 4.
Specify how the files should be rename (optionally choosing text, date, time,
number, etc) 5. Click OK -
Amaze: Displaying IPTC Descriptions over your
Photos When you specify a description for your images in
many applications (such as Picasa, MegaView and PhotoShop) the data (IPTC)
is embedded into the image file itself allowing you to use it in other
applications. With Amaze you can automatically display any such
description when an image is displayed. To enable
this: 1. In the Amaze folder under your Start menu choose the
"Configure Amaze" 2. Click the Settings tab 3. In the Slideshow Captions box choose the
"Description" option |