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Conduits' Pocket Slides.
Product: Pocket Slides (PowerPoint presentation tool for PPC).
Maker: Conduits (http://www.conduits.com/home.asp)
Price: $39.95
- Page 1: Colorgraphic VGA adapter
- Page 2: cont
- Page 3: Pocket Slides
Today's business world requires constant computerized presentations.
PowerPoint has been playing in important role in decision making
by forcing presenters to pack up large mobile presentation tools,
such as laptops, while on the road. Pocket PC users have been able
to enjoy mobility on a higher level, unless they had to use presentation
tools... until now. The install: Transferring files:
Several companies have made PocketPC presentation tools available
for PPC. Among them Conduits and its already popular Pocket Slides.
Pocket Slides vers 1.1 came with my Colorgraphic VGA CF adapter
(see review link above) though a newer version is available for
download and trial on the Conduits' website.
The install of Pocket Slides is nothing more than standard. Simply
launch the setup file and the Active Sync installer will start.
For use with VGA adapter, remember to install the program in a location
that will be available (i.e internal RAM or SD card if available).
The install will also copy a small utility on the desktop that will
be used for PowerPoint file conversions.
Transferring files to the device is fairly easy. First you need
to launch the conversion tool on the desktop, find the PowerPoint
file. Once done, simply select the name and location of the converted
file by clicking convert; the ppt file will be automatically formatted
into a cpt file that will be used in Pocket Slides. You may also
select the output format from a variety of sizes.
The conversion process doesn't take more than a few seconds.
Once the file is converted you will need to transfer it to the device. This step can be done in 2 different ways: you can simply drag and drop the cpt file onto the device folder by using the Explorer option of AS or choose the PPC folder (on your desktop) to convert the file in (the file will automatically be transferred upon PPC synchronization). Both methods are fairly easy and only take a few seconds.
Using the PPC software:
Once on the device, Pocket Slides differentiate itself from other mobile presentation software by allowing users much more file manipulation. Pocket Slides will allow you to create new slides on the device as well as modifying content for last minute corrections. The application is full and has very useful options such as direct email link of the presentation, sending through IrDA and so on. You will also have the option to choose the VGA adapter. Since installed on my iPAQ I was able to choose the Colorgraphic VGA adapter directly (there was also the option for the FlyJacket).
One drawback while using Pocket Slides with the Colorgraphic VGA adapter is that you will need to remember to shut off the Colorgraphic VGA utility or else the displays will superpose themselves on the presentation device (TV, monitor or else); in other words your PPC will try to display through both Pocket Slides (in landscape mode) and through the Colorgraphic VGA adapter (in portrait mode). This was a little odd for me the first time but I quickly figured it out and adjusted the settings.
How far can you go with animations and other tweaks?
Well, let's keep it real, shall we! First, how much animations and tweaks do you really need? The best powerpoint presentations I've seen were still fairly simply. For this test I created a PowerPoint presentation using OfficeXP. I added all sorts of animations, sounds and slide transitions to see what would be converted and how the new file would handle the load of tweak.
To my surprise the conversion tool did a great job. Some of the most useful features were indeed kept in the new file (such as fading text and even dissolving images). Slide transition had been removed in the process as well as some of the latest animations (only available on PowerPoint XP). Sound was also missing though the icon did appear on the converted slide.
Presenting:
Running the slide show is one of the strongest point of Pocket Slides; simply set a time between the slides and Pocket Slides will automatically advance or the operation can be performed by simply tapping on the screen (on clicking it with your finger). This has some advantages over a laptop where you will need to press the enter button or mouse click (sometimes more difficult to find when looking at an audience). You also won't be able to carry your laptop around like you can with the PPC. Simply keep it in your hand, and click the screen when ready to move to the next slide.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for a simple product presentation, Pocket Slides
are a great option, saving you the pain of taking your cumbersome
laptop with you. Priced at a mere $39.95, Pocket Slides is one of
the best available Pocket PC applications.
You can contact Conduit's Tech support for further inquiries at support@conduits.com
Finally, I'd like to thank Carrie Hall for sending me a copy of Pocket
Slides for this review. Keep up with the great work.
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