Presentation Software
Making business presentations is no longer limited to the slide show format. Many new programs offer interactivity, animation, and sound, and can be displayed in cross-platform formats ranging from web screen to CDs. The following programs include the more popular business presentation applications, as well as a few specialized applications.
MS PowerPoint
Upgraded to XP edition, PowerPoint continues to be a simple yet powerful slide show maker. You can use a large library of templates and backgrounds, add animation, and even add audio and video and publish to the web.
Corel Presentations
The latest version of Corel's Pesentations is the best yet, but right now it's only available as part of the WordPerfect Office suite. With its expanded library of templates, it also supports MacroMedia Flash, GIF animations, MP3 sounds, and (at last) compatibility with MS PowerPoint.
Flash
Created for Internet use, Adobe's (formerly MacroMedia's) Flash revolutionized on-screen presentations. Content can be interactive, animated, filled with sound, and web-based or disk-bound, all generated from a small working file. Presentations are quickly composed on a time-line storyboard.
Adobe Director
After Flash came Adobe's Director (formerly known as MacroMedia's Shockwave Studio), the companion piece that made possible the creation and integration of streaming video, 3D games, and dynamic interactive applications over the Internet or on disk.
Formula Graphics Multimedia System
A remarkably feature-full program at a great price. This software can create interactive presentations and games for Internet or disk, with unlimited pictures, sounds and animations. You can even use it to open and download database information through the Internet.
CamStudio
Freeware, simple, but very useful and effective for certain applications. CamStudio records your computer's screen and accompanying sounds into AVI movies. With a pause option, editing an concise instructional piece or presentation becomes possible.
EON Studio
This high-end studio creates photo quality interactive presentations with simple graphical interface manipulation. Training and product demonstration alike benefit from realistic 3D views, complete with animation, panning, and zoom.
Slim Show
Create interactive multimedia presentations in any version of Windows. Add sound, video, and screen transitions. A built-in speech synthesizer will even read your presentation aloud. Save in self-executable files small enough to email as attachments.
FlashAdEngine
FlashAdEngine by Impact Engine is a web-based wizard that walks your through the creation of your own multimedia Flash presentation through any browser. You can upload personalized content, add links, and save it on a web server or burn it to a CD Business Card. Options include emailing and web streaming.