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May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
June 24, 2005
/ 17 Sivan, 5765
Photo program picture perfect
By
Mark Kellner
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006, being rolled out today, will likely bring joy to tens of thousands of Windows users who will now have a photo-management program that easily rivals, and in some ways surpasses, Apple Computer's IPhoto software.
The $99.95 suite version of the program for which a $30 rebate is offered, with an extra $10 back if you buy a digital camera offers tools for organizing, editing, sharing and transforming photos. It will also turn those grainy snapshots from your camera phone into something more useful. Plus, there are a lot of features that make this software practical both for the home user or someone who depends on photography in a small business or classroom situation.
Some of these features have been available on previous versions of the Microsoft program, but this year's edition offers greater organizational and editing capabilities. You can "stack" keywords and labels to help identify photos more easily, and cross-reference pictures, such as all the photos of the kids, the dog and the kids with the dog. Hover your mouse pointer over a thumbnail image of a photo, and the photo will enlarge and provide details such as date taken, file type, size, resolution and assigned labels.
New this year are features such as black-and-white "effects" that not only transform color snapshots into monochrome images but allow various filtering and other effects to create something truly artistic. There's an "intuitive" cropping feature that suggests the best possible way to trim a large picture, while a "photo story" feature lets you combine photos with narration, music, pan and zoom effects.
One of the more breathtaking features I actually gasped the first time I saw it in action is the ability to take a series of photos and stitch them into a "panorama" view. Yes, other programs do that, but Microsoft Digital Imaging Suite lets you select the final size, which helps put every "stitched" image into perspective. Additional tools can correct and adjust alignment. The result is something to behold.
I was also impressed with a "smart erase" feature that will cut out an unwanted item or person in a photo and replace it with what ought to be behind the person or thing.
One of my favorite features, however, is the cell phone photo fixer. No, it's not perfect and not even the Microsoft software can correct every flaw in my Motorola phone's camera, which works far, far better outside than inside. But it sharpened up a bunch of photos in a hurry and made my cats more recognizable in the blink of an eye. The automated nature of the fixes click one button and you are done will appeal to those of us who aren't photo scientists.
There's a lot more here for users to discover. You can burn that multimedia photo show to a DVD or a video CD playable in most computers and many DVD players an excellent way to share pictures with grandma and grandpa. The program also lets you burn a "sharing" CD while keeping the archival settings you assign to pictures intact. That makes organizing more secure, a welcome feature when it's not hundreds, but thousands, of pictures you are organizing.
Bottom line: This is a very important and useful piece of software. I like it, and plan to keep it handy to use with my Windows systems. Information on this and other home products from Microsoft is at www.microsoft.com/discover.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
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© 2005, News World Communications, Inc. Reprinted with permission of The Washington Times. Visit the paper at http://www.washingtontimes.com
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