Authoritative authoring: software that makes multimedia happen

Article Abstract:

A review of seven mid-to-high end multimedia authoring software packages rates mFactory's $1,195 mTropolis 1.1 and Macromedia's $1,199 Director 5.0 as being 'awesome.' Advanced Media's $1,495 Media Master Pro 3.0 and Looking Glass Software's $799 MediaVerse 2.0, both rated 'does the job.' Director is commended for being a feature-loaded industry standard while Apple Media Tool is recommended for cross-platform use and ease-of-use. Innovus Multimedia is oriented towards business applications. MediaVerse works best in text applications and provides top-notch indexing, searching and linking but poor media editing. mTropolis' niche is CD-ROM and game development. Media Master Pro is an integrated authoring package with a variety of media editors. The package does a decent job of authoring without scripting, but this feature limits its capabilities.

Multimedia authoring software, Macromedia Inc. (San Francisco, California), MACR, Looking Glass Inc., Advanced Media Inc., Macromedia Director 5.0 (Multimedia authoring software), mFactory Inc., Advanced Media Media Master Pro 3.0 (Multimedia authoring software), MediaVerse 2.0 (Multimedia authoring software), mTropolis 1.1 (Multimedia authoring software)

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QuickTime 3.0: truly cross-platform authoring

Article Abstract:

Apple's QuickTime 3.0 is the first version of the company's mature multimedia technology ported for both the Windows and Mac platforms. This new version comes with many enhancements to existing QuickTime features and a new video-effects architecture that provides a large number of real-time filters and wipes. Formats that version 3.0 support now include AVI, DV and MPEG, as well as OpenDML and most M-JPEG flavors. QuickTime 3.0 incorporates graphics, animation and 3D sprites; a vector graphics and animation track; and such third-party software as Lari Software's Electrifier Pro. The product also offers support for third-party codecs for streaming audio and video. It is available in a free version for just playback, and for $29.99 for QuickTime Pro, which adds the editing capabilities to MoviePlayer.

Product description/specification, AAPL, Design and construction, Apple Inc., QuickTime 3.0 (Desktop video software)

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Brave new worlds: Creating 3D Web environments

Article Abstract:

Among panoramic software tools, Live Picture's $399 Reality Studio 1.0 Web authoring software was considered the best overall value of the nine panoramic authoring packages tested. It comes bundled with the PhotoVista stitcher, an object modeler, a version of the Live Picture Image Server customized for single users, the FlashPix Photoshop plug-in and Live Picture Viewer. Reality Studio lets users add movies and 3D models to their panoramas. Panorama Software's $395 Apple QuickTime VR Authoring Studio supports building objects. QuickTime's Stitcher produced the best panoramic image; panoramic QuickTime movies are built from the panorama.

Three dimensional displays, 3D technology, Web authoring software, Internet server software, Live Picture Corp., Metropolitan Entertainment Corporation of America Inc., Reality Studio (Web authoring software), QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite (Desktop video software)

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