Vista’s multimedia
Each new version of Windows has provided more sophisticated handling of photos, audio and video, and Vista is no exception. With Vista, Microsoft now provides applications for managing all types of multimedia: WMP 11 for music and video; Photo Gallery for images; Movie Maker for video editing; DVD Maker for burning audio and images.
WMP 11 has a far more pictorial and dynamic design than earlier versions and it has also been simplified. Unfortunately, it still uses Microsoft’s own music database, a woefully scanty resource, to update album information. If you’re into classical music, in particular, you’ll find yourself having to update album information manually much of the time.
The Photo Gallery is an all-new program. It provides a centralised way of viewing your photos and images, with photo management tools and simple editing capabilities. The Auto Adjust feature provides a one-click photo makeover and lets you see the new settings made to brightness, contrast, tint and colour temperature so you can tweak the settings further if you need to. If you’ve had any experience with Microsoft Digital Image Suite you’ll find a lot of familiar features in the Photo Gallery.
Vista’s integrated DVD burning is handy for creating menu-driven slideshows and video, but don’t throw away your third-party burning software. DVD Maker can’t burn data or disc images, nor can you use it to burn audio discs.
Despite the major change in version numbers, Vista’s Movie Maker 6 is a minor step up from XP’s Movie Maker 2. It includes new effects and transitions, streamlined Tasks list, integration with DVD Maker, and recorded TV support.
The real story with multimedia on Vista is the inclusion of Windows Media Center in the operating system. Media Center was formerly available as a standalone operating system, an extension of Windows XP Professional designed to turn a PC into an entertainment hub.
Now, Media Center is built into the operating system. It offers its own simplified full-screen interface providing access to your photos, audio, video, recorded TV programs (if your system includes a TV tuner) and online content. It’s designed to work either with a mouse or a remote control.