Software/Add-Ins Archives - Page 21 of 24

Google and PowerPoint

This week Google made an integrated PowerPoint viewer option to its online tools. Basically if you receive a PowerPoint presentation in a gmail account, there are a few options for the attachment; view as HTML, view as Slideshow, and download. Of course the key new option is VIEW AS SLIDESHOW.

Clicking View as Slideshow opens a new window and the presentation is displayed in a Flash based application. It does not handle everything perfect (I tested with an animation heavy presentation) and it is only a viewer. So there are no editing capabilities – yet. In reading others news feeds I noted that Google said edit & create slideshow tools would come by this summer…

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T16:06:10-07:00June 14th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

Mosaic Images

This is a nifty online (and free) application. I recently used it for an awards show image where the first photo of the recipient was a mosaic and then the ‘real’ photo faded in to reveal who won the award. I did this sample of my daughter for the blog.

Here is a close-up that shows how the original image is converted to 1,000s of images that recreate the photo as a mosaic.

Give it a try at the “Image Mosaic Generator” here.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T16:03:57-07:00June 4th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

PFC Pro 2007

I have been fortunate enough to beta test and enjoy using the PFC Media add-ins since their inception. For those unfamiliar PFC stands for “Plays For Certain”. If you look at my top 10 recommended PPT add-ins on the TLC Creative website you will see PFC Media listed. The developer goes to enormous effort to assure this software works!

Just a few weeks ago the official 2007 compatible version of PFC Pro was released. If you add movies to presentations, I definitely endorse this as the best solution available. Click here for the PFC website.

Kathy Jacobs’ full review of PFC Pro 2007 is posted here.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:59:51-07:00May 19th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

PointClips.com = Great PPT Images

Jeff Koke of PointClips recently emailed me a few samples of their PowerPoint images. Pointclips offers “hand-crafted artwork and icons, built in PowerPoint.”

What impressed me was that not only did I see good quality, but that all were made of grouped vector images (autoshapes) and could be resized and even re-colored as needed! Sure you could (maybe) create all of these images yourself, but why spend hours doing so…

The left image is from PointClips free downloadable sample. On the right is a number of the elements ungrouped – all editable autoshapes!

Individual images for $5 and collections of 50 images for $99. Check them out here.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:59:28-07:00May 17th, 2007|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Solving PPT 2003 & Vista Problems

Here are the steps to solve the two usability problems with Vista and PPT 2003 described in the previous two posts:

1. Locate the actual .exe for PowerPoint 2003 (C: >> Program Files >> Microsoft Office >> Office 11)

2. Right click the POWERPNT.EXE

3. Go to the COMPATABILITY tab

4. Check the DISABLE VISUAL THEMES option

5. Click OKAY and launch PowerPoint 2003

So I can pass along others experiences with Vista, send me an email (link is on the right) letting me know if things do, or do not, work on your computer – or if things work with earlier versions (PPT 2000, XP, etc.).

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-05-11T11:25:02-07:00May 15th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

PPT 2003 to 2007 Commands

If you have installed PowerPoint 2007, you know the User Interface with its new Ribbon layout is very different! Keep this Microsoft website handy as you begin to relearn how to do everything.

This interactive Flash page allows you to click and choose almost any feature in a PPT 2003 simulation and then it shows where to find the same command in PPT 2007. Click here to try it.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:56:05-07:00April 12th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

Vista and PowerPoint Add-Ins

I am grappling with Vista and its new file structure and security ‘features.’ One thing I have discovered, and this affects several add-ins for PowerPoint, PhotoShop and Dreamweaver so far is the permissions settings for the PROGRAM FILES folder. It looks like Vista has made these default to read only, or non-accessible for many add-ins. Of course this is only a problem is the add-in installs itself in the Program Files folder (which almost all do).

I can offer two recommendations:
1. Give all users full permissions on the Program Files folder (Note: this may lead to other security issues as Microsoft has seen fit to change this globally)
2. Change where the add-in is installed. Create your own folder like C:Add-Ins (Note: the application will need to know to look for add-ins here)

Ah the joys of new technology… Maybe I will be able to get back to designing presentations soon.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:50:46-07:00March 26th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

Side-by-Side Comparison of Streaming Movie Formats

This may not appeal to everyone, but with all of the PowerPoint-to-Webcast and streaming video projects this website really got my attention!

Select a movie clip, then select any of the main Flash streaming formats and see a side-by-side comparison of the quality. A really good example is On 2 Flix Flash 7 (first real streaming encoding software I used) with the newer On 2 Flix Flash 8 (which I use extensively and Camtasia Studio uses as its encoding engine).

A bit geeky, but very interesting! Click here to go to the Flash Video FAQ.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:40:59-07:00February 19th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

Pictures of Earth, or your house, in Presentations

I have seen a huge increase in the use of aerial photography in presentations. Of course this is from the availability of services such as Google Earth, Microsoft VE and others.

Here is a great website that lets you find a spot on earth and then move between a number of online mapping systems to see how each looks. Check out Flash Earth by clicking here.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:40:08-07:00February 17th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|

The Online Presentations Are Coming!

There is a growing demand for online presentations. I have been very busy over the past year converting PowerPoint presentations to Flash and streaming movie formats for online use. This is great stuff, but definitely not the solution for the average user. Well here is a hint that the average user may be getting some tools to make their own online presentations in the near future. Click here to read about it.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T15:38:06-07:00February 9th, 2007|Software/Add-Ins|