                             ͻ
                                 Aris    
                              MediaClips 
                             ͼ
                             by Tony Curro

    Several months ago, I reviewed an excellent product called MPC
    Wizard. It is a diagnostic tool that comes on a CD-ROM disk. It
    tests your CD-ROM drive, sound, video, MS-Windows, and more.  It
    gives you tips and hints on how to correct any problems if they
    exist. Included on that disk was a collection of clips from the Aris
    line of MediaClips.

    MediaClips are clips of sound and graphics. Some graphics are
    animated, while others are still life. They have MAC, Windows, and
    DOS versions. All except the action videos will run under DOS. All
    are accompanied by musical scores. The photography, especially on
    the underwater clips, was stunning. The product requires 640x480x256
    colors for full enjoyment. If your board supports higher resolutions
    you can also use them, but 256 colors is the minimum. You also need
    a sound card to enjoy the beautiful music t hat accompanies every
    animated and still picture.

    When started you are presented with the a graphic and sound. By
    clicking on the buttons on the bar, you can select your options. The
    bar allows you to pick from: 25 action videos (Mac and Windows
    only), 100 photographic images, and 100 contemporary audio clips. In
    addition there is a button, that gives you information about the
    picture you are viewing. When selecting either the videos or stills,
    you pick from thumbnails that show all the available images. When
    you click on the image you wish to view, it is presented on screen.
    You can then click on another button to show the image full screen.
    To view the video images you must have Video for Windows installed.
    Each CD-ROM comes with a runtime version of this product, and is a
    separate installation that is contained in the READ ME file.

    Slide show allows you to sit back, and see and hear the pictures and
    accompanying music.  It gives you option to run large (full screen),
    or small pictures.

    There is also an option to copy files in 4 formats: Small 8-bit BMP,
    Large 8-bit BMP, 8-bit PCX, or 24-bit TIFF. You can also save the
    WAV file. These pictures and sounds can then be used in your print
    and digital publications' royalty free. Instructions for this are
    included with the CD-ROM.

    There are almost ten titles in the MediaClips series. All titles
    include 100 sounds, 100 images and 25 live-action videos. For
    Windows, the images are stored in TIFF, PCX and BMP file formats,
    audio in WAV files, and video in Video for Windows. For the
    Macintosh, images are in PICT, audio in VOC, and video in QuickTime.
    All MediaClips titles include Windows/MPC, MS-DOS, and Macintosh
    support on the same disk.

    Deep Voyage was the first CD-ROM title on the market to use
    SuperMac's new CinePak compression/decompression technology to
    efficiently store the 25 run-time videos. CinePak will allow Aris to
    use longer video clips that will also fill most of the screen. It is
    being used on this, and all the new titles released.

    Along with Deep Voyage, other titles include:

    Tropical Rain Forest, Full Bloom, Business Backgrounds, Island
    Designs (2 disc set), Jets & Props (2 disc set), Majestic Places,
    Wild Places, World View, and Money, Money, Money!.

    As of this writing I have been informed that the next releases of
    the above products will also incude MPEG compatible files on each
    CD-ROM. This allows the user, via an add-on card like ReelMagic, to
    view full-screen video, and where applicable, full-motion video as
    well.

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                         Product Information        
                   ͹
                           Aris MediaClips          
                                                    
                            Various Titles          
                             (see above)            
                   ͹
                          SRP -- $39.95 each        
                   ͹
                          Aris Entertainment        
                    310 Washington Blvd., Suite 100 
                      Marina del Rey, CA  90292     
                             310-821-0234           
                          310-821-6463 (FAX)        
                   ͼ
