It doesn't do any authoring at all. It's a means of enhancing your content with web links, pdf, graphics, etc. You can use it with probably most authoring apps out there. You build your audio_ts and video_ts folders and create the enhanced content files and folders based off of that. If you are looking to do this casually, then the sticker price definitely ain't worth it. I have and use it a fair amount. At least for me it's worth it, and once you have it, you find that there are more opportunities to use it. It's based on the same technology that most Hollywood dvd's use for added content--so most computers that play dvd's already have the Interactual player installed (although it's included if you have a customer/user who doesn't).

Jim

It doesn't do any authoring at all.

Which is why I'm saving that link. "You want Hollywood-like DVDs? Then you have to spend $600 just to put web links on them." <g>

I downloaded the trial and did a quick test. I created a basic project in DVDA -- inserted a link to a video, then copied it and changed the text for the second one to say "Website." Then I used eDVD to point the second link to a URL. Probabem: This link runs the video as well as visits the website. Solution that just occured to me this minute: Set the link in DVDA to refer back to the current menu.

Neat tool, but $600 is a lot for such a basic tool. I wonder if this functionality can be accomplished with MenuEdit, IFOEdit, or similar programs. Or do you need to have a software based program as part of the DVD? Personally, if I had to add the overhead of including a player on the disc, I'd at least want to be able to customize the look of the player, which I don't think eDVD does. ?

Rob

Set the action on the link to Pause (rather than pop-up or whatever the other option was) - works fine.

Yes, it's not a DVD Authoring program (which is why I used "authoring" in quotes - but you still do a level of authoring with it.

Anyway, with this solution it really depends on the player knowing whats going on. AFAIK, there's nothing you can do with VOBedit or IFOedit to accomplish the same thing. This is strictly a software program you put on the DVD.

Now, the DVD Forum has been woring on an enhanced DVD standard that will bring this capability to DVD players that have internet access (not just PC's), but regular DVD players. However, it should be noted that InterActual is driving this development in the DVD Forum - though I expect whatever format the forum adopts (or adopted) won't preclude other implementations because of potential anti-trust issues.

Stuff I've seen on the net seem to suggest that these players should have been on the market by now, but I've not seen any (maybe I'm just not looking in the right place).

Also, the interactual player does support skins, so that would give you some ability to control the look.

Rob,

Like I said above, it's certainly not going to be for everybody, and if you don't have a use for it, I can understand why one wouldn't pay $600 for essentially a novelty. You have to read the instruction manual to get it to work properly. You can only place a link at a chapter mark in a slideshow or video, and you would have to set it so your video will pause when the link is launched. You can set it to pause, stop, or continue to play. You won't be able to do this with ifoedit, menuedit, etc because it requires the additional functionality to be inserted on the front end, AND, a player that recognizes the added content (ie the Interactual player). You can change the 'look' of your own player with a number of different 'skins'. All of these types of apps are 'add-ons' to authoring, since they really are outside of the dvd specs. My reference about the authoring was to Scott, this app doesn't author. Spruce Technologies had a similar venture with Syzergy to add web linking and the like with their apps. On the lower end apps it only worked with dvd content on cd's. Pinnacle's Impression Pro did they same (web linking only on cd content). Apple's DVDSP has DVD@ccess which doesn't have the best track record in working, especially on a PC. eDVD does work, and fills a niche that nothing else does reliably. If you would like your viewer the option for launching and printing a high quality graphic (while viewing a portfolio), an instructional pdf manual, web link for additional information directing a viewer to resources available (via web) for work, etc--it works great. Links and a few pdf's, graphics files don't take up much space, but it definitely needs to be a part of the equation when bit budgeting. However, with the new DL discs it isn't as much of a potential issue (although I haven't had too many projects that need more than a DVD-5). I don't look at this as 'Hollywood' type authoring, more like business authoring. Hollywood uses the same Interactual technology for added content(albeit more advanced)--which in turn just about guarantees a large potential user base that already has the player installed (which Syzergy, Impression Pro, DVD@ccess can't claim).

Jim

Scott,

You and I must have been typing at the same time--said a lot of the same things, you just did it more efficiently with fewer words.

:)

Jim

PS I personally like the app. Now that I have it (as I posted B4), I find I use it more and more. I agree it seems like a lot ($600) for what you get, but it gives you an edge that others don't have presently. It's a far cry cheaper than the $1000 I paid for ReelDVD (now <$300) and $1000 for Impression Pro (now <$200) which are now collecting dust. Using the 'spend to save' theory, I think I'm ahead in the global scheme of things.

I was really surprised recently to see ReelDVD going for $250, 'cause I was sure I saw it for around $1000 just a year or so ago. What's up with that?

Rob

It's a dead end product. Sonic bought out Daikin (primarily for Scenarist) and got ReelDVD along with the deal. It really never fit very well with their own product line (and IMO was a better and more reliable app than DVDitPE or Producer which cost more). A bunch of sub-$1000 apps started coming out with a much richer feature list (DVD-A, Encore, DVDWS on a PC and DVDSP on a Mac). ReelDVD arguably had a very good track record for producing reliable discs, but it really was very restrictive and it required the user to have a fair amount of knowledge about the dvd spec and preparing assets because it simply authored--no file prep (other than audio trancoding to ac3) or menu creation tools. The last update (if you can call it that) was over 2 years ago. I think the next step is legacy.

Jim

Okay, did this product tank or what? Sonic is now selling eDVD for $200 instead of $600. Furthermore, I just got an offer to buy DVDit for $150 instead of its full price of $300; and if I do, they'll sell me eDVD for $100. Maybe they're cleaning house, making room for the Roxio products they took over.

Heck, I don't even want any of it, but I feel like I should get both just 'cause they're so much cheaper than they were just a bit ago.

Rob