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Review
iVideo
Issue: 5.3 (March/April 2007)
Author: Toby Rush
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 3,635
Starting Page Number: 10
RBD Number: 5307
Resource File(s): None
Related Web Link(s):
http://www.waterfallsw.com/ivideo/
Known Limitations: None
Full text of article...
With iTunes' recently-enhanced capability to play and organize video files, one might question the usefulness of a standalone video organization tool. With that in mind, though, Waterfall Software's iVideo has an impeccable interface and provides the look, feel and functionality of iPhoto to your library of video files.
The interface mimics iPhoto's interface; the main window consists of a large area containing poster frames of each video in the selected folder, while a list to the left displays libraries and subfolders. An information area appears in the lower left-hand corner, giving information such as video length, graphic dimensions, and file size, as well as modification date and a place for comments.
The poster frames in the main area are shown with a badge displaying the length of the movie, and clicking on the movie highlights it and allows the movie to be rated with an iTunes-like "star rating." Double-clicking on a movie image causes the video to be played in that area, and movies can be reordered by dragging them to a new position. The size of the poster frames can be dynamically changed using a slider beneath the display area.
By default, video playback occurs in the main video area, but clicking a button in the upper left-hand corner of the window causes playback to switch to fullscreen, even during playback. The fullscreen playback features a transparent control area that disappears after a few seconds of non-use. Clicking elsewhere on the screen returns the program to windowed playback mode.
iVideo supports the creation of smart playlists that match their counterparts in iTunes and iPhoto exactly -- in both capability and interface. Unlike iPhoto, iVideo allows multiple movie libraries, and allows you to specify how video files are dealt with: you can have iVideo copy or move video files into its database folder, or you can instruct it to leave the original files alone and use aliases in the database folder as a means of saving hard disk space.
Upon the initial launch of the application, iVideo also provides a setup assistant that again matches those included in iTunes and iPhoto, allowing you to define some initial settings and preferences. Videos are also shared automatically to other computers on the local network running iVideo, matching iTunes' music sharing capabilities
It is apparent that an incredible amount of attention went into the tiny details of the interface, but the result is that the program works exactly as you'd expect after using a tool like iTunes or iPhoto. iVideo is very clearly meant to stand alongside Apple's iTunes and iPhoto, and while most of its functionality is being added into iTunes, iVideo matches the venerable Apple tools in every regard.
IN BRIEF Product iVideo 3.0 Manufacturer Waterfall Software Price $19.95 Contact Info http://www.waterfallsw.com/ivideo/ Pros Interface matches iPhoto Powerful searching tools
Full-screen playback
Cons None Rating (1.0-5.0): 5.0
End of article.
Article copyrighted by REALbasic Developer magazine. All rights reserved.
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