All articles on this site are by Harry Skevington unless otherwise noted with another byline

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Adesso Slim Touch Desktop
Keyboard (AKB-440UB)


Adesso Slim Touch Bluetooth
Touchpad Mini Keyboard
WKB-4000BB


Adesso SlimTouch Pro
TouchPad keyboard
 WBK-4200UB


AERIAL7 HEADPHONES

Adobe Acrobat 9
Pro Extended


Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Adobe PhotoShop Elements 6.0

Adobe Photoshop
 Elements 7


Adobe Premiere
 Elements 7


Adobe PhotoshopElements 8
 And
Adobe Premiere Elements 8


Adobe Photoshop Elements 9
and
premiere Elements 9


Aegis mini 120 Gig
Hard drive by Apricorn


Animoto.com
Free Video Creation


AT&T Impressions
by Samsung SGH-A877


AT&T SYNC by
Samsung SGH-A707


AT&T Blackberry Curve

AT&T Blackjack II
by Samsung


AT&T Nokia Surge
Cell Phone


AT&T Video Share Phones


Audible.com

AverTV Cardbus

AVG Security Internet
Suite Version 8.0


Backup-Pal Backup
 Cell phone Contacts


Blackberry Storm
from Verizon Wireless


Brookstone Earbuds

Buffalo DriveStation
Combo


Canon FS31 Flash Memory Camcorder

Canon PowerShot A495
10 MP digital Camera


CardScan Executive

Casio EX-FC100 10MP
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim Z22 - 7.2 MP
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z80
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim 10.1 MP Digital
Camera EX-Z1080


Casio Exilim EX-S10
10.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-FS10
Hi Speed Digital Camera


Casio EXimim EX-G1
12.1 MP Waterproof
and Shock Resistant
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-H10
12MP Digital 10X Zoom


Casio EX-FH100
10X Digital Camera
Hi-speed & Slow Motion


Casio Exilim Z300
10.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z29
10.1 MP digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z35
12.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z450
12.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z550
Digital Camera


Cingular 3125 Phone

Cingular Blackberry 8800

Clear Harmony Headphones
Ableplanet


CyberDefender
Service Call


Dexim P-Flip iPhone
Power Dock Charger


Dymo LabelWriter
400 Turbo


Digital FOCI
Photo Safe II


DISKGO 1 MINI HD

DiskGO 3.5 DRIVE

Diskeeper Pro Premier
2007


Diskeeper 2010
Professional


DocuPen RC800
Executive Kit


Droid X Motorola Verizon
Android Cell phone


Droid 3 by Motorla
 For Verizon


Duracell PowerSource
Mobile 100


Dymo Discpainter

diskGO 64GB USB
Flash Drive by Edge


Earbud YoY0

ETON Red Cross Radio
FR300


Energizer Energi To Go

Xperio X10 mini pro
Sony Ericsson for ATT


Sony Ericsson Xperia
PLAY 4G Phone


Franklin Speaking
Global Translator
TG-490


Franklin 12 Language
Translator TGA-485


Franklin USB Dictionary
& Thesaurus


Genius Bluetooth Stereo
Headset BT-03A


Genius eFace High-Def
Webcam 2050AF


Genius G-Shot HD-520
Video/Photo Camera


Genius Look 313 WebCam
5 in One


Genius 10 inch Photo
Frame PF-A01


Genius PenSketch
 9by12


Genius SW-T2.1 1800
Speaker System


Griffin Survivor Case
for iPhone


Griffin WindowSeat
HandsFree


Griffin iTrip Auto
HandsFree


Griffin PowerJolt Auto
Charger



H2 Handy Recorder
Samson


i2! Stream Two Pack

iClear Sketch Case
 From Griffin


iHarmonix Platinium
i-Series Headphones


iPhone P-Flip Foldable
Power Dock DEXIM


iStar HDD
Docking Station


iTrip FM for iPod nano
From Griffin


Jaybird HB-200
Bluetooth Stereo Headset


JVC GR-D750
Mini DV Camcorder


Kingston DataTraveler
Mini Thin Thumbdrive


Kingston DataTraveler
150 32 Gig USB Drive


Lenovo IBM ThinkPad

Lenovo IdeaPad
S10-3t Tablet


Lenovo IdeaPad vs a Table
BOTH GOOD depends on needs


Lenovo 22” Wide Monitor
 L220X


Lenovo IdeaPad
Tablet K1


Lenovo THINKPad
 REVISITED


Lenovo Thinkpad
R400


Lenovo ThinkPad
Bluetooth Laser Mouse


LG enV2 Phone For
Verizon Wireless


LG Dare Phone From
Verizon Wireless


LG Decoy Phone
Verizon Wireless


LG Incite Phone
AT&T


LG REVOLUTION
VERIZON


LG Voyager in Titanium
for Verizon Wireless


LG Solar Bluetooth
Car Kit HFB-500


LITE-ON LightScribe
External Drive


Logitech QuickCam
Ultra Vision SE


Logitech X-240 2.1
Speaker System


Love Hate Relationship

Luminex Screen Cleaner
by iFrogs


MagicCables From
Data Drive Thru


MagicJack
Phone Line


McAfee Internet Security

My New iPad 2

 My New Mac
Lion Edition


MoGo Talk XD2
Case and Bluetooth Headset
Package


Muvee Reveal

NETGEAR Travel Router

OPEN IT!
CUTTER TOOL


OtterBox iPod
Cases


OtterBox Cases HTC ERIS
Commuter Impact


Otterbox Defender
iPhone Case


Panasonic PV-GS31

Panda Security

Pantech Matrix Pro
For AT&T


Pictureal

PictureITPostage.com

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 11

Plustek Mobile Office D28
Corporate


Plustek OptiCard 821

Plustek Smartoffice
Pl1530 ADF Scanner


PowerDVD v7 Max

Proshow Gold

PUROSOL CLEANERS

RCA JETSTREAM
MP3 Player


REBIT EXTERNAL
Backup Appliance


REBIT 500 GIG EXTERNAL
Backup Appliance


NEW 2010
REBIT BACKUP
APPLIANCE


RoboForm

RoboForm Pro
2010


RoboForm 7

SAITEK

S. beat MP3 Swiss Knife

SandiskSansa Clip
MP3 Player


Sansa Clip 8GB
MP3 Player


SanDisk Mobile Ultra
& Card Reader


Sandisk Sansa Fuze
Mp3 Player


Sandisk Sansa
slotMusic Player


Sennheiser CX300

Sansung NV10
 Digital Camera


Samsung L77
Digital Camera


Samsung L830
Digital Camera


Samsung SL202
Digital Camera


Samsung Behold Touch
Phone For T-Mobile


Samsung Captivate
phone for AT&T


SANSUNG FASCINATE
PHONE FOR AT&T


Samsung Focus Windows 7
Phone for At&T


SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB
FOR T-Mobile


Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
For Verizon


Samsung Glyde SCH-u940
Touch Phone


Samsung SGH-339 Cell Phone
For T-Mobile


Samsung Intercept Android
Phone for Sprint


Samsung InFuse Smartphone
 for AT&T


Samsung Memoir Phone
For T-Mobile SGH-t929


Samsung Moment
Android Phone
For Sprint


Samsung Jack Phone
for AT&T


SAMSUNG GOOGLE
NEXUS S SMARTPHONE


Samsung Sunburst
SGH-A697 for AT&T


SanDisk Storage Cards
and Imagemate Multi Reader


Simply Audiobooks

Sleek Cell Phone Universal
Signal Booster by Wilson


SPRINT ACE PHONE
FROM SAMSUNG


StealthSurfer

SurroundX Portable
Speaker System


Super Talent 8GB
USB Flash Drive


Targus PR700 Easy
Roller Notebook Case


Targus WiFi Scanner
ACW20US


Targus Wireless
Laser Mouse


The Tornado
USB FILE TRANSFER


TruLink Wireless USB to VGA
 with integrated audio Kit
by Cables To Go

 
TuneJuice Universal
Charge by Griffin


Verbatim Store “n” Go
12 GB USB hard drive


Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless
 THE Blitz from PCD


Verizon Wireless
HTC Droid ERIS


Verizon Wireless
Motorola DEVOUR
Android


Verizon Wireless
Droid Pro by Motorola


Verizon Wireless FlipShot
by Samsung


Verizon Wireless
HTC DROID Incredible


ATT Wireless
Inspire 4G by HTC


Verizon Wireless
ThunderBolt by HTC


Verizon Wireless
Intrigue by Nokia


Verizon Wireless
Ozone by HTC


Victorinox
Swiss Flash 8GB


VideoStudio 10 Plus

Warranty Thoughts

WebEasy Pro 6.0

Western Digital
My Passport Elite 320 Gig


Western Digital
My Book Studio Edition II


WikiReader

Windows 7
Beta Test


Windows 7 Media Center

Windows 7
Release Candidate


YURBUDS Earphones

XPERIA X10 Phone
Sony Ericsson AT&T


ZONET USB Firewire
 

 

Muvee Reveal

Muvee Reveal
Easy For The First Time User

webmoveerevealboxI have worked with a number of Video/Photo programs that claim to be easy to learn and create snazzy but simple videos or slideshows. Some are very basic and others are not simple at all. When I received a message offering a tryout for Muvee Reveal I was leery. During these tests I found Muvee to be pretty true to its PR. It will create nice looking slideshows that include Photos and Video clips. Muvee Reveal is great for short photo slideshows and works well with a mix of photos and videos.

I installed Muvee Reveal on the Lenovo ThinkPad R400 for testing. Upon opening the program I found a very basic screen for easy creation of movies/slideshows. There are many good things built into Muvee Reveal. It will take a little time and study if you want to go deeper into Muvee Reveal’s capabilities.

websmallmuveescreen2

The layout is simple. The available help is easy to understand. First I set out to create what turned out to be a short nine minute slideshow that included only photos from my China trip. I collected 250 still shots. Loading them into the program required only a couple of clicks. I expanded the top panel to show all of the selected photos and then looked at them one at a time to see if any needed rotation, cleaning up, or, if they were really bad, removal from the work. I then arranged them by date with two clicks. All worked well. I ended up with 230 decent photos.

Next was picking a style. I chose Plain Vanilla. This gives some movements to the photos but is not too overwhelming. If you want really basic use the Ultra Plain Style. There are a number of styles available in the software and more on the Muvee site that can be purchased.

I decide not to add music as I did not have any Chinese Songs available. Music can be added to run the entire length of the completed video. This works well for photo shows. If you have a Photo and Video mix adding music will override any existing video sound you recorded on site. At least that is what happened to me in a later test. You can also add voiceover if you want.

Muvee Reveal special functions.
Pressing Personalize allows you to fine tune Duration, Title, Credits, Voice over, and additional settings like; Motion effects, full portrait photos, Slow Motion Videos, and cross fading of music.

websmallmuveetitlecreation2

I found that each time I made a change, no matter how minor, and then wanted to save the show, Muvee would do a complete recreation of the content. With the one hour long video test that included Photos and Videos that meant another long wait. It is best to do all of your Personalizing before creating the final video. When I wanted to burn a DVD Muvee there was another long wait while Muvee Reveal recreated and burned the DVD. Maybe I missed something.

If you want to upload your work to the web you will need to check your Muvee sizes as Facebook has a maximum of 1024 MB or 10 minutes and YouTube has a similar video limit. If oversized videos are sent they will not be displayed. I also liked the easy one-touch transfer capability for Cell Phones, Cameras, and Camcorders. Here is a link to the Muvee China Slideshow that I uploaded to YouTube using Muvee Reveal. It is the simple 230 photo one without Music or videos and runs a little over 9 minutes.

Some Test Times
230 photos using Ultra Plain with no music or special titles took 18 minutes to analyze and make the movie. To render and burn the same setup to a DVD took 20 minutes. To save it to the Lenovo ThinkPad R400 took 15 minutes.

230 photos and 52 minutes of video using Classic Vanilla took 1 hour to analyze and make the movie. The entire rendering and Burn-to-DVD process took 33 minutes. Saving to the ThinkPad was only a 30 minutes task. Results may be different depending on your equipment.

Supported Format Details:
Video:
WMV, Quicktime, MPEG4, H.264, MPEG2, MPEG1, DV-AVI, 3GPP, DVD Camcorder MPEG2, AVCHD, AVCHD Lite, HDV
Pictures: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIF
Music: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV
Supported output formats:
Video WMV, WMV-HD, Quicktime, MPEG4, H.264, MPEG2, MPEG1, AVI

If you want to do a quick basic photo Slideshow I suggest sticking with the home page of Muvee Reveal. Pick about 40 or 50 photos as a starter learning process. No videos at this point. Forget the music and other Personalize options. Paste your chosen photos in at the top. Expand that area and look at all of your choices. Rotate them if needed. Delete those that are repeats or are not acceptable. Sure you can use Muvee’s correction capabilities but that adds some time and needs a little study. Then use the basic menu and credits. Click Play and view what you have created. Remember this is your first time. You just want to see how the basics look. If you want to save your creation click on SAVE, and save it to your computer and/or to a DVD.

Muvee Reveal is an easy way to get started with movie creation. It also has enough capability to make your creation look better without spending big bucks. Muvee Reveal costs $109.00 but is going for $69.85 during a Christmas special offer on their site. If you are not sure about Muvee download a copy for their 15 Day FREE trial and give it a try.
 

Harry Skevington has been involved with electronics since 1981. He has taught, written for, and provided support to, computer users since 1985. Information that will help consumers with buying decisions is more important than ever due to the current convergence of computers and other consumer products .

Harry attends CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas on assignment as a working press writer each year to find and write about emerging technology that seems to fit the needs of his readers.

Contact Harry

 

 

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