Very memory hungry, picture quailty bad and slideshow does not run properly.

Extra Photo to Video Converter is a different product from Extra Slideshow.
Extra Photo to Video Converter is freeware which doesn't provide update version but Extra Slideshow is shareware which provide update version.So when Slideshow update,users can free download it and the register code is available.

I dumped this one then had to check my computer to see if it had changed more than the home page. Tried to but did not get it done.

This program is so poorly written I am surprised it works on any computer. Be aware that when you uninstall this it will attempt to get you to not uninstall parts by saying they are used by another program. Be sure they are and if not then get rid of them.

I hope GOTD waspaid torun this before they ran it.

Compared to Extra Photo Slideshow, I prefer Wondershare Photo Story Platnium.
.

FYI, Windows Movie Maker comes with windows XP & can do much the same thing. I took a class on a cruise last fall on how to do it. rather fun to do it.
For that matter there are many software packages that come with digital cameras af no extra charge. I might download this just to see how it differs

I had to give this one a thumbs down as (others have said in comments left here) there is nothing good on their own website about this...Plus I can do a slideshow with my already built-in Windows Movie Maker!
I've been coming to the site for quite some time and I fear it's either a good repeat or an obscure program we get from GOTD over the past few months.

Thankfully, I only go off the thumbs up/down rather than read the comments as there's always someone thinks the program is great whilst another thinks in belongs in the bin.
I prefer the freeware options posted most of the time so a big thank you to the people that post those :-)

I did install this (as I do most GOTD programs) but this was pretty untidy from the start and was'nt as good as Windows own Movie Maker.

The only thing I've kept from GOTD?? Starburn 10 (even though I have Nero)

I'm using another photo slideshow software that I got from GAOTD before. It's really great, does what I want. Everybody likes my work.
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/wondershare-movie-story-450/

Or you can find it on its official website:
http://www.ourpix.com/dvd-slide-show.html

Quite nice. Loaded up OK. But I'll stick to Pro Show Gold, much better and easier. Thanks anyway GAOTD. Keep up the good work

Vista Users,

Navigate to C:\Program Files\Extra Photo Slide Show\

Right Mouse Click PhotoSlideshow.exe, on Compatability Tab, Tick Disable Desktop Composition, Click OK,

Run the Program again, It Works.

I downloaded and installed without reading comments. I consider any software that changes my browser settings (like the home page) or system settings as rougue software. I'll uninstall and would never recommend anything from Extra Corporation. It's a trust issue and they crossed the line.

i couldnt get it to make an avi file, says runtime error. Then it doesnt open after the error even after reboot. Uninstalled, don't have time for temperamental installations.

George

Thank,s for the program GAOTD, & all you guys that give good information about what is offered.
I tried this one & I will uninstall it ,it seems like a troublesome time-waster to me & could be full of spy ware the way it changes your home page also very unclear registration.

Nice software. I was looking for a good program to creative my photo sildeshow. With Extra Photo SlideShow, really simplified three-step workflow enables to easily build slide shows to view. store and share my pictures.

Thanks GAOTD Team. Thumbs UP.

Hi all,
I want a program like this but after reading Ashrafs' report ( Com.23). Evan though he/she uses crapsta(vista) i'm XP SP3 I take this persons comments like gold as i have been using his commnets for as long as i'd been using GOTD & they havn't lead me astry yet! ignored his comment oneday & screwed my computer up so now I check percentages & scroll down to see what Ash. has to say before I decide to download. So if Ashraf cans I can & that's the bottom line cuase Ash say's so!! (a little WWE pun.)
ooo xxx
Phlan-Michelle

Not worth the money. There are too many freeware programs which can do slideshows. IrfanView, Windows Movie Maker or PhotoStory 3 can create slideshows for free.
Thumbs down.

In addition to my previous comment:

It also made another change in my settings:

I have Firefox as my default browser and have IE set to NOT ASK if it should be the default browser.

WELL IT CHANGED THIS. When I launched IE to check changes in settings it popped up the box and asked me if I wanted it to be the default browser.

NOTE TO SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS:
DO NOT CHANGE SETTINGS ON THE END USERS MACHINE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

GRRRR...as Firefox user I didn't know about the tampering this does. I launced IE and sure enough it changed my default homepage, which is a custom html file that I made containing links to sites I visit regularly.

Not only that, but it added 'Favorites'. As a Firefox user I keep NOTHING in IE Favorites.

STRIKE ONE & TWO - You went in and messed with my personal settings without permission and without my knowledge.

I un-intsalled it pretty quickly. It's way too simple all the way around.

The UI is too simple, and the slideshow creation is too simple.

You get what you pay for...use one of the other Free alternatives out there...heck even PhotoStory is better than this.

If you *really* want excellent slideshow software spent the money for ProShow Gold or ProShow Producer.

Nowhere near as good as Microsoft PhotoStory3 (which is totally FREE). My first requirement of a slideshow program is the ability to do motion effects while a slide is displaying, i.e. nominate a start and end position on the slide and the program should give a motion effect from one to the other as specified. Any slideshow program that can't do that is automatically not as good as PhotoStory3. This offering also seems to be very CPU intensive. The previews I tried were jumpy as if my CPU couldn't keep up. Wow - I have a pretty powerful machine and other slideshows don't have this problem. That's enough for me, This offering is not a keeper. Thumbs down, but thanks GAOTD as always.

Tried on Vista. Doesn't work! I keep getting something like ___dll something has stopped working. Odd..... And now I closed with Task Manager and started the program it says "Start error"

Why not use Windows Movie Maker.it does the exact same thing without all the headaches this software obviously has.Ive made a lot of videos with WMM.

http://www.dvdcopyrip.com/extra-photo-slideshow.html
I clicked the link and it shows the software and the download on their site, it's a little bit confusing but it is the same program.

I am not sure but it seems that this program was possibly renamed on here improperly.
If you read the Extra photo to video converter it seems to be what is also described here on GOTD. I could be wrong, so don't attack me but I am going to confirm this with the company issuing it today.
Here is the link to that to compare.

http://www.dvdcopyrip.com/extra-photo-to-video-converter.html

Note: To register it, you simply click on the little man saying homepage which then pops up the menu to put in the code.
You can put any user name that you wish or your real name.

This program has a drop down menu to get the various effects all 100 plus of them so that is the reason I believe that it is renamed wrongly on this site.

It has no spy ware as I received no notices of spy ware upon doing a scan and it does seem to have the option to play it on media.
So it is probably the above program.

Disclaimer! I am not a member of this company but I believe in fairness and for something free we should consider things aren't always going to be top notch, but I see where it is useful and for the price isn't asking more then others would. Yet many seem to thumbs down before even really figuring out how to register it etc.
Thanks GOTD. This will come in handy for me even though there are many programs that are more elaborate. Hugs Tylicia

The one week Slideshow search

The bottom line is that Microsoft's Photostory 3 (PS3) was the best I could find. It played music and had the Ken Burn's effect. I was able to take the PS3 output (a .wmv file) and burn DVD slideshows with the Cyberlink DVD package (Power Producer) that came free with my LG DVD burner. There is an open source DVD burner called DVD Flick that can also burn a PS3 slideshow.

I just spent the second week in 2009 looking for a slideshow program that could include music and be internet playable and also be burned to DVD to make a slideshow of the Christmas gathering. I searched using Google and didn't find anything. Here's my story.

Music
I thought including music in a slideshow would be easy.
Imagematic's program Stillmotion 1.7 produces great Ken Burns effect but I couldn't get the music to play in the .swf or .avi file.
Ulead's Photo Explorer 8.5 plays music for each photo, I couldn't find where the background music would play for the entire show.
Adobe's Photoshop Album didn't seem to include music in it's pdf slideshow.
So much for big name products.

Internet playable
This was the biggest stumbling block. The slideshow's file format must match a player on your audience's computer. There is no standard so each program picks what works for them.
The easiest and most reliable slideshow programs produce a slideshow as a program, ie .exe file format. I was not interested in passing on a program because of the big threat of virus's.
Three programs that worked great (but produced .exe files) were NeroPhotoShow, Faststone Photo Album and xatshowi.

Corel PhotoAlbum 6 which comes free with Dell computers produces a .mov slideshow. I had an older version of itunes and it didn't play the show at all. I tried playing the .mov show with VLC player and the colors were all wrong.
Ulead's Photo Explorer 8.5 produces a .mpg file with great results but I couldn't overcome the presentation limitation of playing a musical selection per picture.

The best internet slideshow programs with music were .swf files.
They were Gallerymanager and Flash Slideshow Maker.
The only problem was I didn't know how to burn .swf files to DVD.

I tried Photodex Pro Producer. It can do everything. I didn't like it though because the slideshow seemed so busy with loading and setting up and fullscreen seems to mean fullscreen background with shrunken image. It's like a fancy European sports car and I'm just trying to buy a loaf of bread.

This is how I ended up using Microsoft Photo Story 3 and Power Producer (both free).

I'm on dial-up so downloading each program took a long time. I would install and give the program 10 minutes to see I if I could make it work. I may have been wrong in my assessment. I'd like to hear any feedback and suggestions.


The winner
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
http://www.dvdflick.net/

Runners up
http://www.gallerymanager.de/gmfreeware_e.html
http://flash.dvd-photo-slideshow.com/download/

I have WordPerfect Presentations that I occasionally use, but I think I'd be interested in something new. If for no other reason then the experience that a new program offers.

ikeup - comment #29
How can you convert your PowerPoint shows to WMV like you can with Photostory?

Tested on AMD64 3400 w/2GBram>
It was sloooowwwww while creating an 800x600 AVI (cinepak codec) from (12) 150kb .jpg images. Like 15 min. to produce 2% ?!! Canceled operation, which created an incomplete but playable 64mb(!) .avi.

Tried same image set with MS PS3, creating a .wmv, and...pffttt...done. Resulting file was small (6mb) and excellent! Same random transition set as with EPSS, btw.

Tried EPSS again, creating a similiar-as-above .wmv (similar 6mb size), and and its speed came in second-place. Playback Quality was horrid, though, really.

Coulda played with IPSS's Settings (rudimentary as they are!), but chose to UnInstall instead. Ugh....

What is needed in ANY new Slideshow Makers is the PAN-WITHIN-AN-IMAGE FUNCTION, as old pokey PS3 has always had. At tip about the previously-mentioned SSMM...its not been updated since '04! Nice pioneering SW gone to "programmer-Hades", obviously!

There REALLY is a need for such a freeware "category-killer", as there's none...yet. MS PS3 should be(!), considering the source, yes? :-)

A simple check on the website shows much by offering little. If you look for their geolocation, there is none. If you look for their corporate address, there is none. If you look for their techsupport, there are only email addresses given that are disposable, like the hotmail address they list for their support site. GOTD, you are slipping. Bring back the honest programs that entice the public to buy a product from a real company.

Installed this on a Vista Home Premium machine and it did try and change my browser homepage. When the program tried to start after install, it just hung up and did nothing. I stopped it with task manager, then the program would not start again. It showed it was running in the task manager,but no program seemed to run on the desktop. I uninstalled it and never looked back...

Would have at least like to give it a go, but oh well.

Thanks anyway!


SS

Doesn't this do the same thing as Windows Movie Maker, which ships free with Windows XP, and I think with Vista too?

This software is NOT LISTED anywhere on their website if you were to list thru their product link. So why use a software when even the vendor does not want to list on their own website!

What's the difference between this and Windows Movie Maker? Besides PowerPoint destroys the competition.And from what I heard of the installation changing your browser's home page, I don't think I'm gonna use this.

URGENT...Help please....how do you back up these free programs and their special keys(?) so if Windows needs to be reinstalled I don't lose them. Also can you download from site if registered? If you have program installed but forgot to register can you still do it? Thanks for your help in advance.

SAME WARNING as #9 and others above, by my Antivirus software:

This program changes your Internet Homepage and Search Bar Settings to theirs.

Could be spyware.

FWIW, Extra Photo SlideShow is a 3 MB program that also includes 20 MB in 99 files/5 folders that it'd like to put in your Windows System32 folder. Most of those are in a RMBin folder, & have to do with Real audio/video encoding -- if you've already got a version of Real Producer installed, or a program that uses this common file set, it could possibly break. Direct Show media filters (ActiveX files) from NCT are included for the System32 folder -- most are the same files used by maybe 1/2 dozen earlier GOTD offers, though maybe in different version numbers. Personally I haven't experienced any problems with those installed by earlier GOTD apps, but their functions can potentially conflict, taking over jobs previously done by filters installed with other programs, & this could break programs &/or playback... that's not to single out *any* program as misbehaving, since this is a common problem with media software in Windows [Google on Direct Show Filter Merit to get an idea of what's going on]. If you have other software that relies on/uses the Lame MP3 encoder, as Fubar pointed out the old version included could possiby cause problems. The same with the older version of gdiplus, usually stored by other software in the Windows WinSxS folder in several different versions.

If you're into slide shows give Extra Photo SlideShow a try, by IMHO backup first.

PROS:
- Easy to use
- Allows you to clip/ crop selected parts of audio files
- Allows you to add subtitles to photos
- Good range of input/ output formats, also creates DVD-compatible files

CONS:
- Transition effects were not as sophisticated as I hoped
- "142 effects" actually includes variations (e.g. wipe left-right / right-left)
- Some bugs encountered when saving final video, had to restart the entire program
- Window is not resizable, filenames may be difficult to see, especially if you want to reorder photos
- Subtitles are single-lined only
- Transitions appeared slightly jerky

SUMMARY:
Extra Photo Slide Show does well when it comes to its ease of use, but suffers slightly in the features department. I had hoped for smoother and more professional looking effects. Today’s giveaway wouldn’t be a bad option if all you want is to create a simple slideshow with background music.

RATING: 3/ 5

FREE ALTERNATIVES:
Picasa 3 – A photo organiser with a simple slideshow maker built-in. Transitional effects are nice, though limited.

Slide Show Movie Maker – Supports only wav files for audio, and not too user friendly. Transition effects appear smooth.

Microsoft Photo Story - Thanks Ashraf for this suggestion
-

FULL REVIEW

When I tried adding audio, it only recognized a few of my MP3 files. Often popup stating, no audio in this track. The final output stops the music unfinished at end of slideshow and rough on the special effects.

hey guys
something unrelated over here

but Microsoft Research has produced something new
SONGSMITH

a fun and homely tool for your family and kids.
please do not make this a grown up issue.

easy and good cheap 2.
link as below.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/songsmith-project/download.aspx

if anyone wants to know how to combine photostory 3 and producer 2007 for power point do post your comments here. I will let you know how to combine the two.

I do not mean to sound disrespectful to all of the experienced professionals but i try to tinker and break any software in any possible way to find out how it works by screwing around their internals. :P

But the combination of the above two software is a big

LADYKILLER...;)

u gys take care..

@28: Thanks for the heads-up about Photostory3, but all CAPITAL LETTERS equates to shouting at us. Please don't.

I was thinking the same thing as #29. Powerpoint and Windows movie maker if I ever need to do a slide show.

yOU GUYS CAN ALSO GO FOR MICROSOFT PRODUCER 2007 FOR POWERPOINT AND COMBINE MICRSOFT PHOTOSTORY AND PRODUCER TO CREATE SUPER AMAZING EFFECTS. i HAVE DONE IT AND THE RESULTS ARE WAY TOO COOL.

MAMMA MIA......


THE PRODUCER DOWNLOAD LINK IS AS BELOW.

http://blogs.msdn.com/powerpoint/archive/2008/06/06/the-return-of-producer-for-powerpoint.aspx

I AM A GREEDY FREEBIE SO I BROWSE THE NET JUST TO SUCK UP ANY FREE SOFTWARE THAT I CAN FIND.

BUT THE PHOTOSTORY AND PRODUCER FREE ARE GOOD.

THANKS

Hi,

Free and GAOTD version is the same?

GAOTD Version:
Extra Photo SlideShow
http://www.dvdcopyrip.com/extra-photo-slideshow.html

Free version:
Extra Photo to Video Converter
http://www.dvdcopyrip.com/extra-photo-to-video-converter.html

Installed okay on my vista laptop, but would not open. Tried to reboot and still would not open. It's already uninstalled. Didn't have the homepage issue though.

Naaah....
Have PowerPoint.

hey all of you guys out there, there is an even better free alternative.

Microsoft Photostory 3
find the link below to access and download it. Simple and better

AND IT RUNS ON WINDOWS XP-ME-2000-VISTA-WINDOWS 7.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS LISTED AS ON XP IT RUNS COZ I HAVE CHECKED IT ON ALL THE ABOVE WITH MANY BUGS THROWN IN BY MYSELF.
I HAVE LIKED IT MAYBE YOU WOULD ALSO.
I AM A FAN OF MICROSOFT IN MANY THINGS THEY DO.

but remember only genuine windows copy can run this software.
priated ones cannot.

Link as below:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx


ENJOY.ITS FREE FULLY.

This software tampers with my settings a bit too much. Beside changing the homepage and crashes frequently in my 3GB Vista computer. Bad !

"Extra Global Creativity" appears to be the developer of this program.

Developer page - "Extra Global Creativity" at Softpedia.com has a free program with a very similar name along with other free programs.

http://www.softpedia.com/developer/Extra-Global-Creativity-8597.html

I found 33 Extra Global Creativity programs at following URL;

http://www.prem1on.com/index.php?company=50347&company_name=Extra+Global+Creativity

Hi,
I downloaded this, but have to agree, without any information it really makes it hard to work with. Disappointing from that point. Hopefully they will take time to update their website in the near future with some clues on how it all works.

This site never fails to amuse and entertain me, whether the beginning or end of my day I read through the comments to see what's up with the viewers/reviewers. The software company will be checking these comments and (hopefully) learning something about both their offer here and their general practices. FastStone is one of my current favorites for slideshow development.

Not sure what some people above are talking about: this works on Vista Home Premium 32-bit for me. My DEP settings are at default, which are to protect Windows programs/services.

The Good
* Works in a straightforward fashion/easy to understand what to do.
* Supports multiple input images formats.
* You can add background sound/music.
* You can choose from many transitional slide effects.
* You can add subtitles to each image.
* Supports multiple input sound formats for background sound.
* Will rip the sound off a video to use for background sound if you tell it to do so.
* You can output into AVI, MPG/MPEG, WMV and RM video formats.
* You can crop background sound files.

The Bad
* No proper text labels on some program buttons/tabs.
* Cumbersome resize of images.
* During installation it changes the default homepage of Internet Explorer to developer's website.
* There are no slide effects (I am not talking about transitional slide effects).
* You can't drag the subtitles around to place them in a certain location.
* No subtitle effects.
* Program crashes or freezes arbitrarily.
* Does not detect any AVI codecs for me.
* Output video is never exactly the size you specify.
* Sometimes the GUI messes up/does not display properly.
* Does not have the ability to output into a Flash format (SWF/FLV).

Registration and installation
Registration and installation went fine. However, there are two things to note:

* During installation, the program will change your Internet Explorer homepage to the developer's website. Good thing WinPatrol prompted me about it and I blocked it.
* The button that you must press to open the registration window where you must enter your registration information (that you attain from readme.txt) is not well labeled or obvious. It is located in the bottom right corner of the program

Free Alternatives
Windows Movie Maker
FastStone Image Viewer
Photo Story 3

Verdict
Today you will have to visit the full review for verdict =) However I can tell you I do not recommend Photo Slideshow.

Full Review: Click here please