iView Pro is a Multimedia Management application. If you need to keep track of multiple kinds of media on multiple computers or platforms or a network that utilizes many media types, iView may be the only program you'll need. This results in more gain from a single learning curve, than learning multiple programs for different types of media. iView can catalog and view Text Documents, Fonts, Audio Files, Image Files, Video Files, Illustration Files (EPS), DTP files and even HTML files.

In the iView Media Pro 2 box was a 92 page manual with installation CD in the back pocket, a Quick View Fold Out with all the major menu's, screens, buttons and keyboard shortcuts described. This is usually enough to get you started. The Application since inception has been very intuitive. Heavy use of drag and drop, simplifies operation. The program launches showing it's "media viewing area" window, into which you to drag and drop files of any type. As they are dropped into the window, the Preview Thumbnail, and file information, are generated, similar to laying out slides on a lightbox. Unrecognized files will show a blank icon, with an attempt at a generic Text, image, sound etc., icon to help identify the file type.

For example, if you drop a folder with a thousand images in it onto the viewing area, it will begin displaying thumbnails (at a size you choose) of each image. When finished, you can sort, view full screen, present as a slide show either manually or with preset timings (easier than PowerPoint) and even add transitions and split/multiple window screen layouts with sound.

If a folder full of Videos is dropped, it will generate a "first Frame" preview for each video (you may later choose any frame as the thumbnail). It can then present the video full screen or at a pre determined size or play in it's thumbnail size in the view with all the other thumbs. Video's can also be used in slide shows and will play as a 'Video Slide" with sound.

If you dragged a folder full of audio files in any form, MP3's to AIFF, they will be laid out just like slides with an audio icon indicating the file type. These can be played, sorted and Playlisted just like iTunes or SoundJam. Also these sounds may be used in slide shows, with an auto fade between audio if they overlap in timing.

Any of the above and much more can be dropped into the "media viewing area". Once saved as a Catalog, the catalog is it's own self contained application that can be moved from computer to computer. The catalog may be viewed (no sound or Video is actually kept in the catalog) to determine by the Thumbnail or search criteria, where the actual file is. The catalog displays the "Path" of the selected item, from the file name to the Drive it was stored on when the catalog was generated. Hint: if you fill up a CD and then Catalog the CD, naming the catalog with the CD name, each catalog will represent the CD it covers. Since CD's are write once, the catalog will indicate what's on the CD by name. Cataloging an 80 Gig HD that is in constant flux can be done in a network atmosphere, but a copy of the catalog moved to another computer will not reflect changes unless it is kept on the network and linked to the shared folder.

I've been using versions of this program since 1995. Each new revision has brought useful tools well worth the price of admission. I have only updated (with many free updates between) when some major feature that I couldn't live with out came up. Roxio Toast 5.1.4 had a bundled version with a few special features not in the stand alone version that I still use in OS 9.1. Version 1.5 Pro was a major upgrade that allowed more useful features, and now 2.5 trumps that effort. Updating old catalogs is automatically done whenever you load a new version. Simply open the catalog and save it. If you want it to retain it's old version, just don't save. So far, all older catalogs have been fully supported.

iView Pro 2.5 adds direct camera to catalog import as well as Photo Image Editing. Tools for Color correction to Transforming and print layout are included. EXIF file display tags are GPS (Longitude & Latitude) ready for when the digital cameras add that feature. Setting up your own search "Keywords" is now easy and efficient. Type up your list of keywords, select a group of images, drag them onto your keyword and the keyword gets tagged to each photo. Several Categories are included. Multiple drags to multiple keywords may be used. All info is kept in the catalog and does not affect the image file itself.

Somehow iView has managed to stay two steps ahead of my needs and be stable on all the current operating systems. This version is the first that is truly cross platform. It operates on Windows and Mac almost identically as does Photoshop. Just a few minor key changes. There is a "Lite" version available for basic cataloging and viewing, and all versions are downloadable with 30, 20, or 10 day trial periods and instant licensing through e-mail. There were only two things in Version 2.5 with which I could find fault. One, in OS 9.1, it took more VRAM than Ver 1.5, so when I'm using dual monitors (mirrored) my Pismo (G3/500) cannot refresh fast enough and I get some negative images in thumbnail view. Two, iView (Pro edition) at $199 is getting a little pricey. I'm not sure it's "Twice" as good as the Photoshop Elements & Album combo.

Reviewer: Dale Fletcher I have spent 30 years in the Audio Visual business, traveling the world and photographing people with both video and still cameras. A few people were foolish enough to give me money to put on these big 100 projector computer programmed shows with lasers, singers, dancers, pyrotechnics, fog, fancy lighting stuff and even paid for me to bring my friends along to help out. We had lots of fun and I stayed in places with hot and cold running water and stuffed mattresses, some even had 'lectric lights. Man, I was livin' large. Bought me one of those Apple 1 circuit boards and hooked it up to a Teletype keyboard, patched it to a Moog synthesizer kit and a B&W TV. Cool thing it was.

Time marched on, things progressed and one day there I sat with a Big ol' Mac loaded with Audio software, Photoshop, Video editing, all kinds of neat stuff. Hooked it into the recording and video racks. Come to realize that this was the future and it was here. One thing though... all my clients had a similar rig and knew how to use it. AV was no longer the insurmountable monster it had once been. Video projectors replaced slide projectors and film projectors, audio was placed on indexed mini disks. What used to take a crew of 40 now took 3 or 4 computer geeks with a little AV talent. O' course on the bright side, I was left with enough equipment that my house and office will never blow away in a hurricane. The trauma, or excitement of it all, just overcame me one day and I wound up in Paoli Hospital strolling the halls with an IV bottle and walked into a MLMUG meeting. Finally, it all made sense.

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© 2004 by Dale Fletcher & MLMUG
Posted 11/24/04
Updated 11/26/04