What new in version 5.1

[Igor]

New version 5.1 will be intermediate release.

We plan to release v5.1 in late 2007.

The first beta will be most likely in a month.

We decided release 5.1 earlier than scheduled and leave some features for future version 5.2 (Spring of 2008).

Because "Masks" (version 5.2 or 5.3) and "Run Application" issues (v5.2) require more time of developing and not ready yet at this moment. So it would be better release 5.1 now without waiting of these two features which already in developement and will be inserted immediatelly when its ready.

Because 5.1 is an intermediate release, there will be no major new features in the main program of PicturesToExe. But some new features, visual improvements are added. I still working with Ideas and Suggestions list for main program of PicturesToExe

A pleasant sursprise with VideoBuilder.

My colleague Sergey (who developes the code of VideoBuilder) and Artem, with my help prepared the next new features and improvements:

> Encoding of DVD-Video disc (and AVI) works in 2 or 3 times faster now due to optimization for dual-core CPUs and using of hardware acceleration for video post-processing (if modern video card installed). Exactly same video quality as in previous version.

> You can choose a number of items per page in DVD menu.

> MPEG2 files can be added to a project. For example, you can encode your slideshow(s) to MPEG2 video file(s) and then use it again in new projects without re-encoding of it again.

> Music for DVD menu (with "Fade in" and "Fade out" parameters).

> Color adjusting of DVD menu (Hue, Saturation and Lightness). It allows very quickly modify a view of DVD menu and find your own individual style.

> Adjusting of a background image parameters (Tile, Stretch, Fit)

> Support of all kinds of AVI files imported to a project (including AVS video file scripts).

For example, modern Intel Core 2 Duo based PC with ATI Radeon 1900XT encodes DVD with slideshows in 2 times faster than realtime. For example 2 minute's slideshow will take 1 minute of encoding.

[mightec]

Igor

Thank you very much for the release of this information, it all sound very exciting with a number of important developments. May I thank you for adding the feature to add music to the DVD menu. I am interested in your comments about importing AVI files, does this mean that we can add a video to a PTE slideshow? If so how will that affect the quality of the still photographs. cannot wait, thanks again.

[Igor]

Sorry, PTE still can't handle video in slideshow.

We worked support of AVI files in VideoBuilder.

[ADB]

The inclusion of MPEG files is fantastic! I send DVD's to my family and friends and incorporate PTE Mpeg files and Camcorder Mpeg rendered files via an elaborate DVD Authoring program which is way to complex for my needs.

It sounds like PTE VideoBuilder will be able to also be used as a very stable, simple to use, high quality DVD authoring program able to offer menu selection to both PTE and externally produced Mpeg files - great!

[jfa]

New version 5.1 will be intermediate release.

We plan to release v5.1 in late 2007.

The first beta will be most likely in a month.

...<snip>...

Thanks Igor.

[Igor]

New version 5.1 also will allow seting of individual colors for normal, hover and pressed states of Text object with assigned Action.

[nobeefstu]

Igor,

New version 5.1 also will allow seting of individual colors for normal, hover and pressed states of Text object with assigned Action.

Nice touch. Can you easily include Button Objects to react in the same manner?

Example: Pressed state changes from normal Blue to show as normal Red.