Microsoft Expression Encoder Video Editor for Windows
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 08:40 Written by Alan Tuesday, 31 January 2012 07:00
The built-in Windows video editor, known as Windows Movie Maker, used to be awful, but it has improved considerably over the years. With the launch of the Windows 7 and Windows Live Movie Maker the program became a useful app for the first time in its history. Microsoft have trumped their new Movie Maker with another video editing program that perhaps will become the next Windows Live movie editor but, for now, is a stand-alone program called Expression Encoder.
Perhaps more likely is that Movie Maker and Expression Encoder will eventually be rolled together because the functionality is slightly different. Movie Maker is heavy on the video editing, while Expression Encoder does only basic editing, but re-encodes video formats and capture screen activity – records screencasts.
The Expression Encoder for Windows 7 is available in four different versions – Windows Media Encoder, Expression Encoder 4, Expression Encoder 4 (without codecs), and Expression Encoder 4 (with codecs). The lower two versions are free to download and use, while the Pro version is $199. The free versions will work fine for most people, but most professional users will want Expression Encoder Pro, with or without codecs included.
“Expression Encoder Pro offers more advanced functionality and support for richer playback experiences. With this version, you can publish H.264 or VC-1 content, broadcast live events with live Smooth Streaming, and capture screencasts of any length. See the table below for a full comparison of features.”
You can get more information and download the app by visiting the Microsoft Expression web site.
Microsoft System Center 2012 Fan-Made Commercial
Last Updated on Sunday, 29 January 2012 03:24 Written by Alan Sunday, 29 January 2012 03:24
Microsoft System Center 2012 is IT technology that works with Windows Server to create cloud solutions for businesses. Not necessarily the most exciting topic for the average user, but for people who work in the field this is cool stuff. So cool, in fact, that someone created their own advertisement for the service. The new fan-made ad, which has been posted to YouTube, isn’t the most creative we have seen, but it’s still pretty cool that someone took the time, and felt strongly enough about System Center 2012, to put together an ad for the service.
The new cloud ad, which was put together with Avatar Kinect, runs one minute and twenty-nine seconds. Microsoft blogger Charles Joy created the ad and recently pointed it out in his TechNet web site post. You can view the video below and learn more about System Center 2012 by visiting by visiting this site.
Microsoft Xbox Video-On-Demand Wins 2012 TV Innovation Award
Last Updated on Monday, 16 January 2012 11:00 Written by Alan Monday, 16 January 2012 11:00
While most people think of the Microsoft gaming console, the Xbox, as a video game platform, Microsoft has worked hard to change that image. Aside from being able to play games with anyone in the world via the Xbox Live feature Microsoft also added the ability to access your media from any computer on your network, meaning you can instantly have pictures, video, and music on your TV along with great sound from your home theater system.
Recently Microsoft has been pushing the Xbox to it’s logical next-step, by working to integrate live TV and video-on-demand into the mix. They began with a big Metro style Dashboard update not long ago, and since that they have added Bing entertainment search and BBC programming. Now the software giant has partnered with more than 40 TV and entertainment providers to begin adding extensive TV content such as ESPN to their Xbox Dashboard.
Because of all of this Microsoft won two awards from IMSresearch, who give out the TV Innovation awards. Microsoft was awarded both the “On Demand” award and also the prize for ” Innovator of the Year”.
For a long time we have known that Microsoft had a goal of getting into people’s living rooms and we had always thought their means to do so would be Windows Media Center, but it turns out the Xbox is set to be the system which may succeed in taking control of our homes. With the addition of the Kinect, along with the services we just mentioned, and a lot more on the slate for 2012, it looks like another big year is in store for the Xbox.
