Xequte July Newsletter: DVD PixPlay v5 released + MailList King update

1 July 2009

 

In this Issue:

 

  • DVD PixPlay V5.0 Released
  • V5.0 Upgrade Information and Offers
  • MailList King V8.55 Update
  • Program Tips
  • Removing yourself from this List

 

 

Dear Xequte Software User,

 

Sometimes with major releases you focus on adding several huge features that customers have been clamoring for.  DVD PixPlay v5 and our recent MailList King v8.50 have not been that type of release.  Rather, we have been focusing on making everything a little bit better, poring over every window and thinking hard about how we can make each one less complex and easier to use.  Sometimes this means small tweaks to wording or layout, but just as often it will result in big changes, such as using thumbnails instead of text descriptions for templates, clip art and effects, re-ordering the steps of wizards, etc.

 

We hope this will be an upgrade that makes users smile :-)  Quicker and easier access to the functions you use most, new tools to improve your slideshows, more templates, shapes and themes to make them look even better.

 

If you encounter any problems with the new releases please e-mail us at: sales@xequte.com

 

 

Regards

 

Nigel Cross

Xequte Software

nigel@xequte.com

www.xequte.com

 

P.S.  If you find this newsletter interesting please forward it to your friends :-) 

 

 

 

* DVD PixPlay V5.0 Released

 

DVD PixPlay allows you to create slideshow discs from your digital photos and videos for playback on DVD players and computers.  V5.0 is a huge upgrade with numerous improvements to help you create better slideshows.

 

Top Twenty Enhancements:

  1. Motion Effect and Transition selectors now include thumbnails
  2. Motion Effect and Transition selectors only show effects that you have enabled for the project
  3. "Tip of the Day" on start-up
  4. 50 new photo-based title page templates, 22 new transition effects, 30 new shapes and 16 new DVD menu themes
  5. Added "General" tab to Project Properties dialog to set default display time, background style and slideshow logo
  6. Added "General" tab to Frame Properties to set the frame caption, DVD chapter and edit the image
  7. Improved "Insert Clip Art" dialog which now shows thumbnails for all images and includes an "All Clip Art" folder
  8. Improved "Insert Shape" dialog offering thumbnails of all shapes and other improvements
  9. "Add from Camera" dialog is now much easier to use and remembers all your default settings
  10. Enhancements to more than 40 other dialogs to improve styling, comprehensibility and remember preferred settings
  11. Test button (when burning) can now display just a quick preview of the conversion
  12. Many improvements to printing including posters sized printing of your photos (Pro version)
  13. Title page templates can now be selected from a thumbnail list
  14. Enhanced "Align frames to music" function which can now re-time the entire slideshow and also adjust the default display time
  15. Captions can now be added to video files
  16. New "Move Frame" function to quickly relocate photos in your slideshow
  17. Keyboard control over volume during a slideshow, including muting
  18. Many improvements to PC Slideshow viewer including many keyboard shortcuts to pause and navigate the slideshow and a right-click menu with relevant functions
  19. Various improvements to logo display for the slideshow (Pro version)
  20. Windows 7 Compatibility

 

Complete Change List:  http://www.xequte.com/pixplay/changes.html

 

More info and download:  http://www.xequte.com/pixplay/

 

 

 

* V5.0 Upgrade Information and Offers

 

 V5.0 is a free upgrade to all users who purchased a license or upgrade after February 1, 2009.  Everyone who qualifies should already have been emailed a new serial number (let us know if you haven't).

 

Other registered users can upgrade at:

 

http://www.xequte.com/pixplay/upgrade.html

 


Also, to make upgrading easier we are providing an extra 20% off for seven days.  For details go to:

 

http://www.xequte.com/pixplay/dpp5.html

 

 Note: This offer is only available from this link and expires at midnight, July 7, 2009.

 

 

 

* MailList King V8.55 Released

 

MailList King allows you to manage and communicate with a mailing list from your own computer.  We have released some small updates since v8.50.

 

Top Five Enhancements since V8.50:


1. Improved "Processing Failure" dialog with categories errors and clipboard support
2. Now copes with common alternatives and misspellings of countries names, e.g. US, USA, United States
3. Further improvements to undeliverable message processing including native support for Gmail delivery failure messages
4. Various improvements and fixes related to importing
5. Transient Outlook connection errors can now be disabled

 

Complete Change List: http://www.xequte.com/maillistking/changes.html

 

More Info and Evaluation download: http://www.xequte.com/maillistking/download.html

 

Registered Users: An updated download link will be sent to you over the next 24 hours.  If you do not receive the link, please complete the following form:

 

http://www.xequte.com/support/serial/

 

 

 

* Program Tips

 

- DVD PixPlay: Tips for V5.0 Upgraders

 

Here are some tips to avoid any confusion when upgrading to v5:

 

  • The motion effect and transition selectors on the main screen and under Frame > Frame Properties now only show effects that you have enabled for the project under Edit > Slideshow Properties (I.e. any disabled effects are hidden)
  • Logo settings are now under Edit > Slideshow Properties, General (Pro version)
  • Slideshow background settings are now under Edit > Slideshow Properties, General
  • To add captions to videos select Edit > Slideshow Properties, Frame Captions and choose the Custom option.  You can now specify a frame caption at the bottom right of the main window
  • After upgrading make sure you also download the updated plug-in from: www.xequte.com/pixplay/plugins.html

 

 

- MailList King: Using Images in your Messages

 

MLK allows you to insert images into your messages by clicking the "Photo" button on the message sending toolbar.  Here are some tips on using images:

 

  • You can either embed the image (i.e. the images get sent with the message) or you can link to an image on the web (e.g. one that you have uploaded to your web site).  Embedding an image will increase the size of your message, so if you have a big mailing list it will take longer to deliver.  Conversely linked messages are typically disabled by default when recipients receive their message (i.e. Outlook, Gmail, etc, will show the images as an outline only with a message confirming whether to display them)
  • For widest compatibility it is recommended you use JPEG or GIF format images (JPEG for photos, GIF for logos, etc).
  • For fastest sending you should reduce the size of an image to its display size in an editor before you add it to your message.  However if you choose to ignore this advice you can change the display size of images in MLK's message editor using Ctrl+Plus/Ctrl+Minus (on your numeric keypad, optionally using the Shift key for bigger changes)
  • You can paste an image directly from an image editor using Ctrl+V

 

 

- Smart Pix Manager: Other Quick Ways to add Keywords to your Files

 

While I'm sure you know many quick ways to add keywords to your files in Smart Pix, here are few you probably don't know about:

 

  • Copying and Pasting: Select some keywords in the keyword toolbar, click Ctrl+C.  Select the destination files and click Ctrl+V
  • Keyword Dragging: Drag a selection of keywords from the keyword toolbar and drop them onto destination files
  • Quick Addition:  Click Alt+K to display the Add Keywords dialog, press the first letter of keyword until your desired keyword is selected and click Enter

 

 

- MegaView (also Smart Pix): Random File Display

 

If you quickly bore of your images, try displaying them in a totally random order.  Click "*" or "?" on your keyboard to display a file at random from the current folder/list.