FREE Microsoft Photo Story Software

Thanks to David Jakes' excellent blog, The Strength of Weak Ties, I learned about some free software that tries its best to be a Windows alternative to Apple's iPhoto. It's called Photo Story 3 for Windows. Here's the overview taken from the Microsoft website:

Create slideshows using your digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based portable device.

Digital storytelling is HUGE! Apple has made this very easy with the outstanding iLife software for Macs. Now PC users have an alternative to the free Windows Movie Maker software. Please observe the following system requirements: Windows Genuine Advantage, Microsoft Windows Media Player 10, Microsoft DirectX 9.0

I downloaded and installed the software and was able to create a 2:30 slideshow with zooming, panning and background music (generated by the software!) in about 20 minutes. I found the software very intuitive and very user friendly. You can render a movie for playback on a computer or handheld Windows device, or even in a smaller format that's perfect for emailing. Bravo Microsoft!

You can read David's review of the software by clicking the link to his blog above.