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Leading Telematics Software Platform, Windows Automotive, Launches Amid Global Partner Support With New Features to Enable a Safe Connected In-Car Experience

Do consumers want hands-free communication, real-time traffic updates and turn-by-turn directions in the car? According to a recent survey, three out of five consumers are on board.* Responding to industry needs, Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of its fifth-version software platform for automotive suppliers and manufacturers, Windows® Automotive 4.2. Based on Microsoft® Windows CE .NET 4.2, the robust, real-time embedded operating system, Windows Automotive will enable automakers to build devices that fit every price range and car model, and will allow drivers and passengers to take their mobile lifestyle on the road.

Consumers want to be connected, even in the car, and research supports this trend. The survey revealed that 85 percent of U.S. cell phone owners use their cell phone and 50 percent of personal digital assistant (PDA) owners use their PDAs while in the car.* Windows Automotive is Microsoft's first automotive-specific platform to natively support voice- and data-enabled Bluetooth® and the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework. With these new features, Microsoft is enabling the automotive industry to provide drivers and passengers with hands-free communication, seamless access to Web services such as news, weather and sports, diagnostic information for maintenance, and wireless synchronization of data with mobile devices, as well as smooth functionality among many mobile devices.

News source: Microsoft PressPass

New Feature Highlights

Automated Productivity Scripts™
Save time and eliminate repetitive work by recording and saving any series of editing steps or actions as a Script that you can apply to other images. Scripts can be set to run automatically on an image or you can activate them yourself. Apply scripts to multiple images at once with enhanced Batch Processing support. Scripts can be easily shared with other Paint Shop Pro 8 users. Edit saved scripts without rerecording all of your actions using the built-in Script Editor.

Image Editing and Compositing Tools
Use the Background Eraser to quickly remove background sections from photographs and cleanly place the remaining image on another background to create sophisticated compositions. Organize complex images with multiple layers and Layer Groups. Create and edit Mask Layers to reveal selected areas of an image. New selection options make it easy to enhance and smooth active selections, while Selection Edit mode allows users to create a selection on their image with brushes and other creative tools.

New Painting Engine
It’s easier than ever to paint and retouch images with Paint Shop Pro’s new painting engine, which gives you smoother control over brush strokes. Save custom brush tips to use with any brush tool or to share with others. Expanded brush variance options deliver more flexibility and artistry to your fingertips. Expanded support for digital tablets provides more control when using a stylus.

Image Deformation Tools
New deformation correction tools make it easy to adjust images that aren’t quite perfect. The new Straighten tool automatically fixes crooked images imported from scanners or cameras. Keystoning and other perspective errors can be fixed with the new Perspective Correction tool. Digital camera users can apply the Lens Correction filters to correct pincushion, fisheye and barrel distortion effects.

Integrated Learning Tools
The new, integrated Learning Center makes it easy to learn Paint Shop Pro 8 with step-by-step Quick Guide tutorials, links to Product Tour movies, and integrated Help topics.

Warping Tools
The new Warp Brush lets you paint distortions directly onto your images for fun, creative effects. The Mesh Warp tool alters an image by distorting a mesh laid on top of the image. Load and save deformation maps to easily apply warping effects to other images.

Web Page Backgrounds
Use the Seamless Tiling and Offset Effect filters to prepare high-quality seamless patterns and tiled images for use as Web page backgrounds.

New Filters and Effects
With Paint Shop Pro 8’s variety of new filters and effects, achieving stunning artistic results is easier thane ever. Smooth skin and produce romantic lighting effects with the Soft Focus filter. Add realistic bubbles with the Balls and Bubbles Effects filter. Use the Halftone filter to represent your image with dots. Simulate the placement of a glass lens on your image with the Magnifying Lens effect.

New File Format Support
Paint Shop Pro 8 has added support for over 15 new and enhanced file formats, including JPEG 2000, PDF, SVG, Postscript Level 3, and lossless JPEG. View and edit EXIF data such as exposure levels, shutter speed, date and time and many other details.

Dynamic Personalization™
Paint Shop Pro 8 delivers a new level of workflow flexibility and customization options. New palette docking options, custom toolbars and the ability to place any tool or command on any menu or toolbar in the program make it possible to tailor a work environment that is perfect for you. Save your changes as a custom workspace or choose from a variety of default workspaces for different workflow option.