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SWF
Media Browser 
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SWISHSOFT |
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[pc]
SWF
Media Browser is a powerful tool designed to
search, manage, view, play, and save Flash media
files. It has a fully integrated workspace that
permits you to work efficiently and manage your
SWF media files with ease. |
Website:
www.swishsoft.com
System
Requirements
PC
Intel Pentium or AMD processor
400 Mhz or more
8MB Video Card - 1024x768
128 MB RAM
Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or NT4 SP4
8M free hard disk space
Detailed
Description
Manufacturer's Description
With
the SWF Media Browser you can:
• Browse SWF media
files with the built-in viewer.
• View or play
SWF media file with the built-in player.
• View Flash movies
in full screen mode.
• Browse SWF media
files that are in IE and Netscape Temporary Internet
Files folder.
• Build your own
favourites folder, and browse SWF media files from
this folder.
• Build your own
music box.
• Search SWF media
files in your hard disk in seconds.
• Extract music
from the flash movie.
• Exe2swf and
swf2exe.
• Exe2swf in batches.
• Capture the
Flash movie screen.
• Make wallpaper
from Flash movies.
• Make a screen
saver from Flash movies.
• Mail your favourite
movies to your friend.
• Add protection
and clear protection.
• Copy or move
SWF media files to another folder.
• Rename SWF media
files.
SWF Media Browser Feature List
• All PC code
has been written for compatibility with the Windows
operating system
• Supports FLASH
MX.
• High-speed preview
lets you quickly and easily take a peek at movies
without interrupting or slowing down your exploration.
• Thumbnail mode
shows a thumbnail of each movie instead of the normal
file icons, allowing you to visually browse more
quickly through many movies.You can view movie properties
on the thumbnail panel,such as fps, rate, movie
pixel.
• Powerful built-in
viewer. All movies play quickly with built-in viewer
in thumbnail mode.
• You can view
more than 24 movies in one window at one time with
15` monitor. You can view more movies with a larger
monitor.
• The software
uses a small amount of system resource. The normal
FLASH player uses much system resource when movies
are played which can cause computers to run slowly.
In contrast the SWF Media Browser uses little system
resource when you view many movies at once because
of the special software design.
• Play Flash movies
in full screen mode.
• Powerful playing
control of movie.
• Sound volume
adjustment of Flash movies.
• Mute control.
• Magic mouse
control .Control the movie's progress with alternate
button and mouse wheel.
• Browse IE Temporary
Internet Files.
• Capture your
favourite picture when playing.
• Set wallpaper
with your captured picture.
• Extract the
music in a FLASH movie, and play the music directly
with SWF Media Browser!
• Make your own
screen saver with your favourite movie.
• Clear system
screen saver.
• Exe2swf and
swf2exe quickly. You can also perform exe2swf in
batches.
• Add protection
and clear protection in batches.
• Powerful "Myfavorite"
management.
• Powerful "music
box" management.
• Browse media
files with using Drag & Drop in your file system
simply.
• Mail your favourite
movie to your friend directly while you are viewing
movies.
• Powerful built-in
file EXPLORER. Create new folder.Copy/move media
files to other folders. Rename media files.
• Show/Hide folders
in lists.
• Different display
modes (detailed, list, icons, thumbnails).
• Various sort
options.
• Much more...
AbleStable®
Review
Swishsoft
have produced a Flash movie browser with an excellent
interface that any user can quickly pick up. The
attention to the detail in the design of the software
is outstanding, and although you might find some
spelling and grammatical errors in the generous
help file that accompanies the software, this in
no way detracts from this great application.
SWF Media Browser: Main Interface Screenshot
The SWF Media Browser in Action
The main toolbar of the SWF Media Browser is located
at the top of the application window and provides
a fast and easy means to call the main functions
of the browser.
The SWF Media Browser has a built-in movie explorer
that's easily accessible and allows you to locate
and manage movies stored in your file system by
letting you select a file from the system folder
in the folder tree. In addition users can easily
browse swf files that are saved in the temporary
internet folder.
Flash movies play quickly with the built-in viewer
in thumbnail mode which presents each movie in miniature
form. This allows the user to quickly and easily
glance at movies without interrupting or slowing
down the exploration process. This is a great feature
for Flash authors who may wish to browse their work
quickly and easily.
The SWF Movie Browser allows the user to copy, move,
or rename media files to other folders, and provides
various sort options, while the 'Magic Control Channel'
(which lays hidden for the most part) presents the
movie controls that let users play, pause, and stop
Flash movies, as well as a control that changes
the audio levels.
Other great features include a full-screen mode
available from the control menu, the ability to
extract the music from a movie which is being played
using MP3 and WAV file formats, and a useful screen
capture utility that can be used when the movie
is playing.
High Standards of Software Development
Swishsoft have produced a great tool for browsing
Flash files. The installer is straightforward and
the program ran without any problems over an extended
period using Windows XP.
As soon as you fire the browser up for the first
time it's apparent that the developers have spent
a great deal of effort in making this as user friendly
as possible with as many features as you're likely
to need.
The user can get to grips with the excellent interface
in next to no time. I like the general feel of the
software although I feel the gray lined background
distracts the eye a little. A plain dark gray (neutral)
background would allow the user's attention to focus
more on the Flash elements, and I understand the
developers are addressing this issue for the next
version. I should add at this point that at the
time of writing of this review, future upgrades
for the SWF media browser are free.
The informational feedback around the thumbnail
boarders is very useful as is the outstanding attention
to detail to the functionality of the program throughout.
There's a well rounded consistency with the interface
and additional features, and the developers have
achieved a welcoming accessible look and feel that
the general user will appreciate.
Future Improvements
The one major issue that slightly undermines the
professionalism of the SWF Media Browser is the
use of English in the help file. There are some
spelling and grammatical errors that need attention.
Perhaps the help file could contain a little more
meat as well. Some useful information about Flash
and the related programs like Swish wouldn't go
a miss here and would create added value to the
browser.
One technical issue that might be an irritation
to some is that when Flash files attempt to call
the original server, a new IE or Netscape window
opens in an attempt to locate the item. Despite
their best efforts, the developers have been unable
to find a solution to this issue. The user only
needs to close the new IE or Netscape windows that
open so it's not a big issue, simply an irritation
with certain kinds of Flash movies that use dynamic
content. If you'd like to view dynamic content you're
better off revisiting the original URL where the
Flash file was located.
Copyright Issues
There are a number of rights issues that surround
the SWF Media Browser. Being able to capture and
save Flash files so easily when the author may not
at times wish this is problematical. I respect the
exclusivity and rights of Flash authors to protect
their creative work, and the swf media browser should
not be used to copy or distribute Flash files were
the author has explicitly stated the file should
not be copied. That said, Swishsoft have developed
the swf browser as a valuable resource for authors
and the public to manage Flash files on their local
computer, and to inform others of Flash files that
are in the public domain, but like any tool of this
type, it can be abused. After thinking carefully
about this issue I'm happy the browser does not
of itself encourage copyright infringement any more
than a screen capture utility.
I wanted to view Flash files offline as I
provided a website
critique service at the time of this review and
some users of this service produce Flash files
that
require
close
inspection
to evaluate in terms of usability, visual effectiveness
etc.
Conclusion
Although the SWF Media Browser could be used to
illegally copy Flash files in the same way as CDR
or DVD software could infringe copyright, the responsible
use of software always falls on the individual.
I raise this issue again as AbleStable is a site
dedicated to serve the creative community and I
want to reassure anyone reading this review that
I have considered the author's rights seriously,
as well as the great benefits this program provides.
All in all Swiftsoft have provided an excellent
Flash browser that features everything you're likely
to need. For authors and general users alike this
is a great means of quickly browsing and managing
all those swf files scattered over your system,
and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
Review by Mike de Sousa, Director, AbleStable®
|
Windows
only software |
Website: http://www.swishsoft.com
(links above open new browser
windows)
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