Resco Picture Viewer v4.0
Resco (http://www.resco-net.com)
for AXIMUSERS.COM
By RommelS
The Dell Axim and Resco Picture Viewer seems to be a match made in heaven. As for anyone who browsed the CD that came with the device, you’ve probably noticed that the previous version was included, but now comes version 4.0 - which gives you added features like viewing mpeg videos, PowerPoint files, and its main feature as a digital photo album viewer all in a single package.
Installation:
Installation is through your PC, and a two-step process. The installer installs Desktop Album Generator first on your PC, and then the Picture Viewer to your device via ActivSync.
Resco Picture Viewer:
Picture Viewer is now an all in one package digital image management application. It supports camera image formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, and other native format like BMP, CFX, PSD, PCX, GIF, RAB, RAW, PGM, and PPM files. Picture Viewer is now also digital video player that supports MPEG II and I, and a business presentation tool.
A Business Presentation Tool
PowerPoint Presentation can be view on the device screen or to a monitor or projector, thanks to the built-in support for Colorgraphic’s Voyager VGA CF connector. Although the application can view PowerPoint slides, you cannot edit slides like the way you can with the actual PowerPoint application.
Built-in support for Voyager VGA CF card
Actual PowerPoint Slide Show
Viewing MPEGs
MPEG II and I now supported in Picture Viewer. This is a great feature especially if your presentation has mpeg videos, or if you just want to watch a full-length movie. I find the player good enough that I can dump my Pocket TV – maybe. The video can be view in landscape mode (full view).
Killer Bean in regular screen mode with video controlers
Killer Bean in Widescreen (Full Screen)
Other Features:
Of course, as any imaging software, you can zoom in and out, manupilate the colors, change gamma seetings, rotate images, and attach sound (WAV, MP3) and graphic annotations on individual images or slides.
For most part, when viewing an album or presentation with your device, Resco Picture Viewer’s Desktop Album Generator made all of these possible.
Resco Desktop Album Generator:
The Desktop Album Generator is a three step Wizard (loading images, image optimization, and output location) that will guide you on create an album. This feature was absent from the previous version, hence making an album from the device itself was extremely difficult.
Load Images is where you install locate the files to be optimize. It can be multiple image files or a PowerPoint file (PPT).
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Optimize Images is the second step to the process. You can change the image resolution to 240x320 (device), 460x640 (VGA), and 800x600 (SVGA), rotate the image, and change the contrast and brightness. The “Change Color Depth” feature is a nice feature if you’re using an older Pocket PC device that has 4096 colors.
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Store Images is the final step is in the process. Save it to your PC or directly to your device. It will also give you the option to save it to a RAB file or individual JPEG files.
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Optimizing a PowerPoint Presentation follows the same process, but I would highly recommend using the “Change Image Resolution” feature, and set it to an SVGA Output if you plan of using your device for a presentation.
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Wish List:
One thing that I would like to see added in the next version is the ability to resize the text annotation from the image itself, and better MPEG support. Other than that, I think the software is near perfection.
Conclusion:
Resco Picture Viewer is an application with great features, and adding Album Generator made this product easier and enticing to use. The product has evolved from a digital imaging management to a business tool, and if you have a CF VGA card, you might incline to leave your laptop behind. I’m very please with this application, and I highly recommend it.