Pinnacle Instant Videoalbum

Pinnacle has a habit of recycling its products by giving them a different name and pretending they're completely new. So, Instant Videoalbum is actually an updated version of Expression, a beginner's DVD authoring program that Pinnacle released a year or so ago. But this time, as well as the new name, Pinnacle has made some improvements and introduced some new features.

The program's interface is neat, uncluttered and presents you with four simple options: Import, Select Style, Preview and Burn. The first option is used to bring in video clips and photos from practically any source. Provided you have the right hardware you can import movies directly from a camcorder or VCR.

The Select Style option displays a series of template designs you can use to create menus for your DVD. You can also create customised menus of your own if none of the predefined templates live up to your expectations.

The Preview option then allows you to see how your project will look when played on a standalone DVD player. If everything's OK there you can advance to the Burn stage. This has preset compression options depending on whether you are writing onto a CD or DVD. This isn't exactly a must-have upgrade for existing owners of Expression, nor is it a fully fledged authoring application, but it's a good option for first-time users who want to start making their own DVDs. It's easy to use and far cheaper than its competition.

Contact: Pinnacle Systems 01895 424 228
www.pinnaclesys.com

System requirements:

• 700MHz processor
• Windows 98SE or later
• 128MB Ram
• 100MB of free hard disk space
• CD or DVD burner