Synopses & Reviews
So lets go—its time to have some fun and amaze yourself with all you can do with your PC! This friendly, fast-paced guide highlights dozens of activities and experiences—and shares the straightforward how-tos for trying everything out right away. So go ahead, dive in and explore the interesting, amusing, and impressive things you can do everyday with Microsoft Windows Media Player 9, Windows Movie Maker 2, Windows XP PowerToys, Plus! Digital Media Edition, and other features and tools for Windows XP!
- Share Your Fabulous Photos
- Easily transfer photos from a digital camera or scanner
- Organize, resize, and print your pictures in a snap
- Create narrated photo stories, slide shows, and online albumsRock the House
- Be the DJ—and mix awesome custom CDs
- Turn your PC into a jukebox, karaoke machine, or party central!
- Take your favorite songs to goGet Ready for Your Close-Up!
- Weave Hollywood magic into your digital video and stills
- Use simple drag-and-drop moves to create and edit your movie
- Screen your production online, on disc, or on your PCCommunicate in Real Time
- Instant message your friends on their PDAs
- Chat with voice or video
- Help protect your PC and your privacy
PLUS! Use the enclosed Do Amazing Things DVD on your PC or TV to bring these experiences to life, learn the easy how-tos, and get free software, demos, and more!Can you do amazing things? Yes you can!
A Note Regarding the CD or DVD
The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [email protected].
Synopsis
About the Technology: Windows XP, Windows Movie Maker 2, Windows Media Player 9, Plus! Digital Media Edition, Windows Power Toys, Internet Explorer
About the Author
BIO technical: Joli Ballew, 2007 Windows aShell/User MVP, is a technical author, a technology trainer, and Web site manager in the Dallas area. She holds several certifications including MCSE, A], and MCDST. In addition to writing, she occasionally teaches computer classes at the local junior college, and works as a network administrator and Web designer for North Texas Graphics. She's written almost two dozen books, including Degunking Windows (awarded the IPPY award for best computer book of the year in 2005), Degunking Your Home, CNet's Do It Yourself 24 Mac projects, PC Magazine's Office 2007 Solutions, Breakthrough Windows Vista with Microsoft Press, and the upcoming Windows Home Networking, MS Press. Joli also writes for Microsoft's XP Expert Zone and the Vista Community Web site, writes and gives Microsoft Webcasts, and is an occasional Microsoft blogger Joli has also written a textbook for Microsoft's MCDST certification. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, yard work, working on her home (painting, organizing, remodeling), exercising at the local gym, and teaching her cat, Pico, tricks.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments; Introduction; Whats in Store; Getting Ready; How to Download and Install Virtually Anything; Whats on the DVD; Support; Part I: Photographs and Images; Chapter 1: Liberating Your Pictures; Whats in Store; Go Digital!; Making the Old New Again; Glossary; Chapter 2: Picturing the Possibilities; Whats in Store; View Pictures in Windows XP; Create a Picture Library; Print and Save Pictures; Share Experiences Through Pictures; Customize Your Computer with Pictures; Share Pictures over the Internet; Glossary; Part II: Music and Visuals; Chapter 3: Losing Yourself in the Music; Whats in Store; Stay Fresh; Get to Know Windows Media Player; Set the Mood (I Mean Mode); Now Playing!; Command Media Player with Your Voice; Keep in Touch with the World; Glossary; Chapter 4: Amassing a Multitude of Music and Videos; Whats in Store; Build Your Collection; Download Music with MusicNow; License and Registration, Please!; Pan for Gold; Personalize Your Titles; Create Soundtracks to Your Life; Glossary; Chapter 5: Fine-Tuning Your Media Experience; Whats in Store; Express Yourself Through Hardware; Fine-Tune Audio and Video Settings; Manage Privacy and Security; Send Media Player to the System Tray; Glossary; Chapter 6: Making the Music Your Own; Whats in Store; Save the Music; I Want My MP3; Preserve Your LPs, Cassette Tapes, and Eight-Track Tapes; Create Your Own CD Montage; Take Your Music with YouAnywhere!; Glossary; Part III: Moving Pictures; Chapter 7: Capturing Moments in Time; Whats in Store; A Look at the Big Picture; Download the Latest Version of Windows Movie Maker; Introductions All Around!; Capture the Moment with a DV Camera; Import Still Pictures; Import Video Clips; Be a Part of the Action!; Lets Make a Movie!; Stay Organized; Glossary; Chapter 8: Crafting Compelling Movies; Whats in Store; Setting the Stage; Clips Are the Key Ingredient; Editing as Storytelling; Make the Video Speak to You; Now Its Time to Rock and Roll!; Glossary; Chapter 9: Coming to a Screen Near You; Whats in Store; Turn Your Project into a Movie; Watch Your Movie on a Computer; Share and Share Alike; Share Your Movies on the Web; You Can Take It with You!; Glossary; Part IV: Interactions and Explorations; Chapter 10: Reaching Across the Globe with a Message; Whats in Store; Dont Get Left Behind; Passport, Please; Log on and Make Contact; Take Control; IM Me!; Messenger E-Mail; Upgrade to a Newer Version; Share Experiences in Real Time; Add Voice and Video to Messenger; Collaborate Near or Far; Solve Problems with Remote Assistance; Glossary; Chapter 11: Working Faster and Smarter; Whats in Store; Enhance Your IE Experience; Cut to the Chase; Secure Surfing in the Zone; Protect the Kids; Where to Go from Here?; Glossary; Appendix : About the Author;