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Multimedia Center 8.5 and EASYLOOK |
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Style and Functional Elegance |
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Perhaps the most
impressive part of the All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro
package, is its Multimedia Center version 8.5, that ATi is
now shipping with All-In-Wonder solutions. This
software provides Cable and Antenna based TV Tuning, DVD,
Video CD and Audio CD players. There are also
customizable skins for each player but the assortment of
styles is a little sparse, with only three or so different
looks to choose from in the stock installation. There
are probably sources for downloadable ATi Player skins but
we aren't aware of any at this time. Finally, there is
a Multimedia Center tool bar that you can have load upon
start up, for easy one touch activation of any of these
players and features.
 
MMC Skins
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MMC Config DVD
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MMC Config
EasyLook |
ATi also bundles
in Gem Star Guide Plus for local TV programming guide
functionality. Upon initial start up the software asks
for your postal Zip Code and then goes out to a central
database and retrieves a channel line-up as well as detailed
information about each program in each time slot. This
is an excellent feature which makes browsing of channels
light years faster than channel surfing with a remote.
You can click on a program and catch a preview of it in a
window on the top left of the screen. Then, when you
decide what you want to watch, just click off the Guide and
it drops you right to that channel, in full screen or
windowed mode, which ever you prefer.
GemStar Guide
Plus And Media Library
Click For Larger View
EASYLOOK On
Screen Features
Volume Control |
Chapter
Selection |
Info Screen |
Library
Screen |
Media Info
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Aspect Ratio |
ATi's new
EASYLOOK feature within Multimedia Center 8.5, gives the
entire TV/DVD/Media player ensemble a leading edge Digital
TV feel. On screen control functions for Volume
Control, DVD Chapter Selection, Media Information, and
Screen Display Aspect Ratio settings, are just a few of the
niceties ATi has integrated into this software suite.
There are also three different color schemes you can select
for EASYLOOK. Once again, this level of functionality
and feel brings the PC one step closer to providing true
Home Entertainment Center features. ATi's
All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro, as well as their many other
All-In-Wonder products, are easily the most feature rich,
high quality TV, DVD and Media player products on the
market, that we have seen to date.
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Pinnacle Studio - ATi Version |
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Full Featured Video Editing Software |
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Pinnacle
Studio 8 - ATi Version
Click For Full View
The finishing
touch on this well rounded software bundle, is Pinnacle
Studio 8. This is a very powerful and user friendly
video capture and editing package which gives users the
ability to take in several video input sources via the AIW
9800 Pro, and then manipulate, convert to other video
formats, as well as add effects like screen fades,
transitions, credit and title screens and sound effects.
You can work in Story Board and Time Line mode and this
software is no amateur "light" package. It has many of
the capabilities of studio quality production software.
We didn't get a lot of time behind the wheel of Pinnacle
Studio 8 but what we did see impressed us for sure.
You can capture in AVI, MPEG1 or MPEG2 quality or select
customizable settings and CODECs. You can then convert
and output to various formats like AVI, Windows Media, Real
Player etc. All told, this is a great add on and
obviously a very useful tool for a card with the
capabilities of the All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro.
Cute kid, eh? ;)
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