Microsoft is hard at work on its Office 2010 product.  We've started to see features of the updated productivity applications, and here are some of the great feature enhancements to expect in PowerPoint 2010:    

    1.    Screenshot Tool.  You can now easily capture screenshots and add them to your PowerPoint presentations without having to use the antiquated Print Screen method or purchasing a third-party product.  This is fantastic for capturing and zooming in on paragraphs in legal documents or displaying sections of graphics photographs.

    2.    Video Editing Tool.  Microsoft has embedded basic video editing capabilities in the new version, so you do not have to invest in a third party program to make many basic edits.  Using the Trim Video feature, you can trim the start time and end time from a video.  You can also use the slider tool to make these adjustments.  Bonus:  Once edited, you can also compress the video.

    3.    Add a Video from an Online Site.  From the Video button bar, there is now an option to insert Video from an online video source such as YouTube.  This will automate the process of inserting a hyperlink to the video into your presentation.  Note, however, you will still need an internet connection during your presentation.  TIP:  An alternative to this is to convert the online video to an MPEG or AVI and save it locally on your computer.  This can be done with a free download utility like Vixy Video Converter or online converter such as Zamzar.com.

    4.    New Slide Transitions.  Microsoft has many added new professional-looking slide transitions to give presentations a little more oomph.

    5.    Save PowerPoint to Video.  PowerPoint shows can now be saved as popular video formats, such as AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV, MP4, and FLV.  This is a great option for letting non-PowerPoint users review a show, or if the audience wants to view it on a DVD player.

Paul Unger on  | ABA TECHSHOW 2010 Planning Board; HMU Consulting www.hmuconsulting.com