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eZediaQTI

Mac Design Verdict
RATING

QuickTime is incredibly flexible, with the ability to interpret more than 200 media types-but the keys to unlock those capabilities have been inaccessible to the average user. Sure, Totally Hip's LiveStage Pro and Adobe GoLive's QuickTime editor let you tap into QuickTime's multimedia "wired atoms," but these programs require dedication to master. What interactive QuickTime has needed is an easy, inexpensive way to make it more accessible. With eZedia's introduction of eZediaQTI, we have it.

eZediaQTI provides a professional authoring environment without a complex learning curve or interface. It's powerful enough to provide commonly requested interactive features, such as custom controls, the ability to add audio and video components, and even to mix linear video with QTVR. Yet the drag-and-drop of the interface is simple enough that Caitlin, my 12-year old, used it right out of the box.

The program has a unique ability to add "frames," which are multiple movies within the same movie at different points on the Timeline. For example, you could have a QTVR with custom controls on Frame 1, add a Go-To button for Frame 2, which has a linear video with its own custom controls, background, and etc.

The pre-programmed interactive actions include controls for linear video and QTVR and work exactly as expected: Drag an object from the desktop to add it to the stage area; resize the stage to change the movie's size; click on the Toolbar to add a button or a control; double-click to edit the settings of an item on the stage. No manual required, although I watched the 10-minute QuickTime video introduction available at eZedia's Web site.

This program is perfect for what it is: a simple, accessible way to make interactive QuickTime movies. Overall, I've seldom had a better experience with new software, which proved very stable under testing.

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