Geeks on PC

We’ve all been to a convention or major company meeting where they have a slideshow presentation at the very end. Most of the time it’s a program running live with some random song playing in the back. I don’t know about you, but I really wish people would put a little more effort into their slideshows. This is just one of the many cases where Animoto.com and their great service can come in handy!

In just a few minutes Animoto can take a folder of images and turn it into a whole new universe. The process is so easy that even an 8 year old could do it. All you do is upload or link-up your images to your Animoto account, choose a background song from their 1,000s of songs or upload your own, and let the website do the rest…

How much does this so-called “Wow Factor” cost?

Animoto has 3 different versions:

• Basic – Free
• All-Access Pass – $30 year
• Professional – $249 a year

The free edition is the one that we will be looking into today. There is one major downside to a free account: your video(s) can’t be longer than 30 seconds. I know this sucks, but try out the service to see if you like it and then you can upgrade for only $30 (a year*) for unlimited video lengths or $3 for just one unlimited video. If you are looking to get a Professional account, make sure to check out their different versions: Business, Photography, Real Estate, Education (free), and A Cause (free). You can get all the details you need at animoto.com/pricing (professional versions are listed in the footer).

Don’t waste time… show me how you make a video!

After you have registered and logged into your account, you will be welcome to the projects page. Here you can control all your past videos and edit them if you like. You can also upgrade your account and listen to music in the music lounge (for free).

To get started with a new video, click on Create Video. If you have a free account you will only be able to click on animoto short, without paying.

Now select how Animoto will get the photos. You can either upload from your own computer (with no limits), link-up with popular services like flikr and facebook, or choose from their collection. Unlike other services, Animoto allows bulk uploading of images. Though there is no limit with uploading, note that your video will only be 30 seconds max (for a free account).

After getting all your pictures online, you’re directed to the meat of Animoto’s user interface. You’re now able to rearrange the order of pictures, add text and spotlights, and even rotate your images from within your web browser.

On the left side you will see the About this Video section. Within this div there is Length (est) that tells you about how long your video will be. Make sure to keep yours under 30 seconds if you are on a free account.

Now that you’re done with the main part of the video all you have left to do is add the music. You can either upload your own song or choose from their enormous collection! What you should find most amazing is that Animoto tries its best to align the music and beats with the special effects and images. It’s a small detail, but can make a big difference in the end!

After you pass a few video settings you will be taken to the video creation status page (as I like to refer to). On this page you can track the progress of the server producing your video. It doesn’t take to long before the page reloads to display your new video which can be downloaded, embedded, or sent straight to Youtube.

The Results…

“No matter what the pictures are on, Animoto.com can make something terrific!” — Shiv Patel

Note: I have NOT been hired by Animoto.com to advertise their service. I just love it.