Of the five iLife ’ 05 covering , iDVD sometimes number across as a hearty relief ewer . It is n’t as versatile as iMovie or iPhoto , and it certainly lack the superstar rookie quality of GarageBand . Instead , iDVD often comes off the work bench at the conclusion of the secret plan , after you ’ve composed your medicine and edit your video . It ’s become a veteran “ closer ” that is capable of performing its most of import job well : wrap up the secret plan for a successful winnings .
Animated Drop Zones
If you wish your multimedia whizzy , most of the 15 new themes in iDVD 5 feature animated drop zones that move photos or motion picture around a computer menu screen door or else of just play in one property ( see the Baby Mobile theme at right ) . As with the old version of iDVD , simply drag images from the Media pane onto the drop curtain zona to live them .
Burn Ban Lifted
To me , one of the most important change in iDVD is its newfound ability to write to multiple DVD medium : DVD - R and DVD+R , as well as rewriteable DVD - RW and DVD+RW format . Newer Macs with SuperDrives can also write to DVD±R and DVD±RW , too .
iDVD 5 does a much better job of display the burn advancement . Instead of a serial of progress bar , the unexampled Burn dialogue includes the inclination of steps at the left side of the dialogue , as well as a thumbnail of the encoding progress , so you could see where you are in the cognitive operation . This is a big step up from the eternal Asset Encoding measure in iDVD 4 ( , May 2004 ) which devote no indicant of how far along the encoding was , or even if iDVD had hung .
What could be better than cauterise to multiple DVD formats ? How about not requiring a SuperDrive at all ? iDVD 5 now have you lay aside the encoded project to a saucer epitome , which you could use to combust a disk on a third - party external DVD burner .
And in the small - but - helpful - betterment section , you only need to click the Burn button once to get the process started . Apparently the two - click , unuttered “ Do you really want to do this ? ” approaching of earlier translation was too subtle .
HD Support
Although iMovie HD can import and edit HD footage ( see “ First Look : iMovie HD ” ) , iDVD 5 ca n’t encode the footage for high - definition playback — but do n’t blame iDVD . Currently , there ’s no HD - DVD format that ’s been accept by the entertainment and engineering industriousness ( though two contend formats are endeavor to make it to the home stretch ) . What this mean is that any HD footage you get in from iMovie HD is treated as DV footage in the 16:9 widescreen panorama ratio . You do n’t get the higher settlement , but the DVD will play back properly on widescreen television receiver . ( The same utilise to DV footage shot in 16:9 , too . )
OneStep DVD
Sometimes you just want to take hold of telecasting from your camcorder and burn it to a videodisc — no editing , no transitions , nothing but the raw picture . With the new OneStep DVD feature , for deterrent example , a wedding videographer can present the bride and groom with a rough prevue of the ceremony before they head off to Aruba . Similar to iMovie ’s Magic iMovie characteristic , OneStep DVD grabs video from your camcorder , encode it , and glow it to a DVD — all you need to do is get it start . The footage on the burned disc starts immediately ; there ’s no menu .
Improved Map View
at long last , the Map sentiment introduced in iDVD 4 can now do more than but display your undertaking ’s structure . Two view options switch between the horizontal flow chart and a new top - down org chart , and you may soar up in or out to outfit more detail into the windowpane .
The Map is also a warm method of applying themes : select one or more menus and choose a fresh look from the Themes Zen , without wait for iDVD to charge all of the elements ( they get loaded when you flip back to the main card view ) . you may also tangle iMovie undertaking files from either the Finder or the Media pane to add picture to your undertaking ; if you ’ve specify chapter markers in them , you end up with the familiar Play Movie and Scene Selection buttons , versus a individual button that plays the entire moving picture .
Home Run
When it ’s time to create a videodisc containing your movies or photo slideshows , the latest version of iDVD should get the job done . iDVD 5 adds a bit of courteous ocular issue , but more important , it lets you burn project to lots of DVD disc media , whether from a built - in SuperDrive or a third - party burner .
