When it ’s time to burn up euphony , photos , or flick to Cd and DVD , many Mac users grow to Toast , which has just undergone a major overhaul fromRoxio . sure as shooting , this latest version bears some resemblance to Toast 6 , but Toast 7 Titanium have some of the most substantial changes to the program in geezerhood .
Announced a month ago , Toast 7 began shipping August 31 . I ’ve expend the past two workweek playing around with the updated burning program , and I can tell you what to expect whether you ’re be after to promote or if you ’re new to Toast .
improvement for data backup and accession
If you have really bombastic filing cabinet or folders to index — hooey that would occupy more than a single CD or DVD — Toast can carry off it with the ability to traverse multiple discs . Toast set up a small-scale restore utility on each disc , so you’re able to restore file without needing Toast . Just as with Toast 6 , Roxio includes the full interpretation of Deja Vu , a public utility fromPropaganda Softwarethat can facilitate manage automated backups as well . And Deja Vu does n’t just work with Toast — it can also automate backups to mounted web mass .
you may now personalize data discs with usance icons and backgrounds , particularly utile if you ’re planning on sending those filing cabinet to a client and desire a professional look to the magnetic disc . Toast 7 gain it possible to create a intercrossed CD or DVD that shows platform - specific cognitive content , so you not only can tailor-make how your disc will wait but also what software program and data point will be seeable to Windows and Mac drug user likewise .
There ’s now an iLife internet browser built in to Toast 7 Titanium , so when you ’re make your own picture , audio , or slideshow undertaking , you have instant access to the file , projects , playlists , and albums you ’ve got store in iPhoto , iMovie , iTunes , and iDVD .
you’re able to also access VIDEO_TS pamphlet ( created if you rip the contents of videodisk to disc ) and EyeTV archives — Elgato ’s PVR solution for the Mac . And if you have a videodisc camcorder or a DVD - roentgen fructify top box that records in DVD - VR , Toast 7 Titanium can now spell or copy that format .
build - in Popcorn
Roxio ’s Zea mays everta usefulness has been integrate into Toast 7 Titanium . Zea mays everta lets you duplicate unencrypted DVDs , like those you create yourself using iDVD , or commercial-grade ones that you ’ve ripped using software such as Mac the Ripper .
Zea mays everta make it easy to replicate disk — it can even compress the video contents of twofold - layer discs to fit on a less expensive individual - layer recordable DVD . The quality of soundtracks and voice tracks remains pristine . you’re able to ignore extra lyric tracks to save some space .
This feature makes goner corrode staggering total of phonograph recording distance , at least temporarily . Roxio recommends having 15 GB free in order of magnitude for the program to have enough caching space for compact the contents of your magnetic disk . The software ’s secure about cleaning up after itself once it ’s done , too .
DivX financial backing
DivX is an MPEG-4 - base codec that got a big head start on H.264 , the telecasting compressor / decompressor build into Mac OS X 10.4 . DivX is quite popular on the Internet , used in downloadable movies and supported by some commercial DVD players . Toast 7 Titanium include DivX 6 Pro — computer software that wo n’t be available individually through the last of 2005 , Roxio says .
DivX 6 Pro provides you with everything to watch and encode DivX videos . you’re able to convert exist moving-picture show Indian file to DivX , burn off DivX file to DVD as “ even ” videodisk , and even burn DivX HD discs—1,280 - by-720 resolution video that can be take on back on DivX HD - enable players . This stand for that you do n’t have to wait for Blu - Ray or HD - DVD recordable scheme to start showing up for Macs before you may sting HD - equal to DVDs .
This also might derive in handy if you ’re tooling around with a high-pitched definition project in iMovie HD or Final Cut Express HD and you ’d like to see your project in full resolution . DivX HD - certified role player are present up at electronics retailers for about $ 250 .
DivX 6 Pro works with Tiger and QuickTime 7 — better than I can say for the currently uncommitted free DivX decoder computer software ( which is at version 5.2.1 as I write this ) .
You ’ve long been able to drag and drop movies into Toast to burn them to Video cadmium , Super Video CDs and DVDs , but up until now they ’ve depend pretty unembellished vanilla — Toast only have one menu user interface . Now Roxio has team up up with Realeyez Imaging to introduce impost interface . This gives your pledge contrive an iDVD - fashion depend and feel . In fact , the themes are cull from Realeyez’siDVD ThemePakcollections .
Motion Pictures HD
Roxio also includes a still range slideshow - building public-service corporation called Motion Pictures HD , which enables you to create better depend slideshows than what you may make using iPhoto . The “ HD ” moniker means you may create “ eminent definition ” slideshows in 720p or 1080i HD data format , for use in iMovie HD or for burning to a DivX HD disc . you may also specify a widescreen ( 16:9 ) scene proportion .
you’re able to aggroup multiple pictures into collages — what Roxio terms the “ 24effect , ” interchangeable to the four - way stock split screen see in the eponymous TV show . With this essence , you ’re not limited to just four pictures . ( You are , however , limited to six . ) The software also gives you ascendency over “ Ken Burns”-style pan and zoom effects ; you may even customize motion and rotation .
exposure and your slideshow ’s soundtrack are both selected from the medium web web browser , identical to what ’s found in Toast — you’re able to drag and drop photos and music to create your slideshow , although as with Toast , Motion Pictures HD “ grays out ” any music that you ’ve bought from the iTunes Music Store . An onscreen counter show how many images you ’ve select , how long each slide lasts , and the duration of the whole show . The counter also displays the length of clock time of your soundtrack . ( you’re able to fit the show to equalise the length of music in the preferences . )
Audio enhancement
Toast 7 Titanium permit you make audio DVDs , which can stack away more than 50 hours of music on a individual DVD , using the default options for audio quality . Pop them into your DVD role player , and you’re able to have a euphony premix for your next household political party . The software package also let you create an onscreen menu , so you could see what you ’re listen to . you may also create playlists and shuffle your selection .
You have control over how your depicted object is displayed — you could take from several unlike menu styles to give your audio videodisc a customise smell . you may even add record album artistic production if you care . One matter you ca n’t do is crossfades for your euphony tracks — that ’s the domain of Jam , an coating that Roxio take a leak useable severally for Toast users .
Audio DVDs can be encoded in Dolby Digital data formatting , but audiophiles who want the best calibre can select a 96 kHz/24 act PCM option — the highest caliber potential . Toast 7 Titanium support any non - protected QuickTime supported audio file ( sorry , iTunes Music Store users ) , as well as formats that QuickTime does n’t support — AC-3 , for example , Ogg Vorbis and FLAC .
Tiger users get the fresh standard candle Spin Doctor Recorder Widget . The Dashboard widget lets you record audio current from your mike input — utilitarian for podcasters , for object lesson , or if you want to catch a track from a cassette or lazy Susan that you ’ve got pluck up to your Mac .
Pricing and upgrades
At $ 100 , Toast 7 Titanium is n’t as bum as some uncomplicated atomic number 48 and DVD combustion software for Mac OS X , but nothing comes nigh in footing of features and desegregation . The upgrade itinerary may leave some users cold , however , because there really is none . There ’s a $ 20 rabbet voucher that you’re able to get off in for in the box , but only if you ’re in the United States or Canada .
Even in light of the many unexampled features of Toast , an $ 80 climb fee seems steep , especially since discount are often more trouble than they ’re deserving . Here ’s hoping that Roxio figure out a less annoying and expensive way of upgrading firm customers .
The newfangled feature have bumped up Toast 7 Titanium ’s scheme demand to at least a Power Mac G4 running Mac OS tenner v10.3.9 or later , and QuickTime 7 or later . That ’s up from a G3 - base machine and older operating system reading which were supported by Toast 6 . Roxio pretend the system requirement clear , but you should be mindful that your Mac ’s ability to run Toast 6 well may not make it suited for this later variation .
Macworldwill publish a full review of Toast 7 Titanium in the coming weeks .