Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition - Old Version

by Microsoft

Product Features

• Aperture 3 helps you refine images, showcase your work, and manage massive libraries on your Mac
• Features new ways to organize your photos by the people in them and more robust GPS tools for mapping images
• Apply or remove adjustments and effects to selected parts of your images with nondestructive, edge-aware brushes
• Instantly give your images a custom look or emulate a variety of camera types and processing styles
• Create stunning slideshows that weave together photos and HD video clips, complete with text and soundtracks

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000085AHH
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 1, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,221 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #7 in Software > Video & Music > Digital Video > Compositing & Effects
  • #9 in Software > Video & Music > Software > Sound Editing
  • #10 in Software > Personal Finance > Investment Tools
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

Microsoft typically supplements its operating systems with a retail grab bag of utilities and entertainment-oriented applications called Microsoft Plus. For Windows XP, it has released not one but two such packages. The latest, Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition, sports nearly a dozen perks, toys and tools for those who use their PC as a multimedia companion. Though some will find the program packs its fair share of incidental "fluff", anyone into photos, video or music will undoubtedly find several components both useful and enjoyable.

Digital camera buffs will quickly take to Photo Story, wherein they can organize their favorite pictures in slideshow format, add narration, and create a dynamic sense of motion by manually or automatically zooming or panning across each shot. The end result is flowing and compelling and far less stagnant than a standard still presentation.

The program also has plenty of goodies for music fans, including Analog Recorder, a clever utility that transcribes audio in real time from traditional sources such as cassettes and 8-tracks (cables not included), organizes them into playlists, and efficiently removes pops and hiss via technology licensed from respected pro audio veteran Syntrillium Corp. Slightly less impressive is CD Label Maker, which offers a standard selection of CD labels and templates but unfortunately emblazons a Microsoft Plus logo onto each one. Party Mode stretches your Windows Media Player to fill the entire screen and displays customizable marquee announcements and animations, and the aptly named Audio Converter converts MP3 and WAV files to space-efficient WMA files.

Arguably Digital Media Edition’s most disposable feature is Plus Dancer, a selection of minuscule live action pop-up dancers who cavort on command across the desktop. Conversely, the practical Sync & Go allows users of pocket PCs to enjoy their favorite PC content on their portable. Microsoft rounds out this eclectic package with several tidbits and novelties, including a variable interval alarm clock, eight mediocre Windows Media Player skins, and fifty additional transitions and visual effects for Microsoft’s free downloadable video editor, Windows Movie Maker. --Gord Goble

Product Description

Microsoft typically supplements its operating systems with a retail grab bag of utilities and entertainment-oriented applications called Microsoft Plus. For Windows XP, it has released not one but two such packages. The latest, Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition, sports nearly a dozen perks, toys and tools for those who use their PC as a multimedia companion. Though some will find the program packs its fair share of incidental "fluff", anyone into photos, video or music will undoubtedly find several components both useful and enjoyable.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good bargain if you'll use it, March 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition - Old Version (Software)

I wouldn't say that this is the ULTIMATE add-on for Windows XP. It has its share of the usual Plus! fluff (Plus! Dancers?) but I use some things (Analog Recorder and Sync & Go) on a daily basis.

The Analog Recorder functions as a slightly fancier version of the windows sound recorder, but the added features make it useful. Besides simply recording the audio to a windows media audio file, it has options to automatically set the input level and, the feature I find most useful, separate it into tracks based on silent pauses in the audio. It can also try to take out pops and hiss if you want, but honestly I can't tell the difference.

The Sync & Go feature only works with a Pocket PC. I think it also requires a memory card (even if it doesn't, it requires enough storage space that you'll want one.) The content you want updated each time you sync your PDA is chosen from a list of windows media player playlists and a meager list of audio and video (~15 min of video from nbc nightly news, a short video of msnbc headlines, npr's hourly news update, clips from comedy central, etc) that is then downloaded from the internet to your PDA. The selection could be better (I do enjoy Tom Brokaaaw's daaaily dose, however.)

I haven't used the other programs included, but I use Analog Recorder and Sync and Go so much that I consider the money well spent. It's a bargain if you don't want to pay for a more full-featured version of one of these programs.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Deal for the Money, October 17, 2003

By 

T. R. Matheson "timwerx" (Takamatsu, Kagawa Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition - Old Version (Software)

If you keep in mind all that's included for the price, you really can't complain. XP's visual interfaces have always been appealing, and the components of Plus! DME are all nicely done and easy to use. I bought it mainly because I was interested in Photo Story, and now that there is a free online upgrade available (Photo Story 2), you can save projects to edit later. That makes this program much more sensible. It allows final saving in only two formats: "medium quality" (240x320) and "high quality" (480x640). There are also two quality choices for audio. Happily, saved "stories" (WMV format) can be imported into Movie Maker and rendered as full DV-AVI with good results.

The audio capture program is also simple, straightforward, and wizard-based. It lets you trim unnecessary parts before saving. I used it to capture audio in order to make CDs from language lesson tapes. It worked great. I haven't tried it on a wide variety of music, but it worked fine with the music I did digitize. You cannot do any fancy editing, but for importing analog music into your PC, it couldn't get simpler than this.

The Alarm Clock integrates nicely with XP, and I use it often. Plus! DME also came with many new transition effects for Movie Maker which are pretty cool.

There are other features, which are mainly just "toys" to me, but even without them, I feel that the price is fair enough for only the goodies I've mentioned above.

Although I confess that this will not satisfy those who prefer high "tweakability" and professional results, I feel that Plus! DME is worth its price for what it does and will please those who want a simple solution to a few digital media tasks.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More Plus! Fluff, March 16, 2003

By 

J.H.S. (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition - Old Version (Software)

OK, my major complaint with the last version of Plus! was that it gave you little to nothing; mostly demo and watered-down programs. Well, although this version seems to be heading in the right direction, it still offers little in the way of usable add-ons. First, I'll address Picture Story, since it seems to be the fan favorite. While I love it's ease of use, the truth of the matter is, you don't need it. Windows Movie Maker, (included in XP and ME), does the exact same thing and offers greater customization and more special effects options. Best of all, it's FREE, and offers ME users the opportunity to create "picture stories" as well (Plus! is now only available for XP). Plus! DME does offer some additional Movie Maker content, however it's only compatible with version 2 (another XP exclusive). Other than Picture Story, there is really very little of value here. The analog recorder seems like a good idea for cleaning up old LP's, however I haven't owned a turntable since the late 80's, so I really can't comment on it. The CD label maker is OK; comparable to the versions supplied with your average burner software. It's a good solution for those who opt to use Windows XP as their default CD-R/RW burning software. The media player add-ons are OK, mostly new skins and a few security features to keep others from listening to your music, (although the only use I can immediately think of is maybe keeping the children from listening to anything you might have containing questionable lyrics). I don't plan to convert my MP3's to WMA, so the converter is useless to me. The dancers and alarm clock lose their novelty after the first 5 minutes. I own a Pocket PC, so the synchronization tools are welcome. It makes converting media files easier and allows you to download media content from the web (although I haven't yet felt the need to do so). All in all, it's "ok". It's nowhere near a "must-have" item. I would only suggest it if you catch it on sale. P.S., like all MS products, it also requires activation and is limited to one computer. Just thought that was important enough to add.