Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft launched the new version of Windows Live Essentials, now to be called Windows Essentials 2012. Essentials 2012 includes MovieMaker 2012 and Photo Gallery, each of which has been re-designed with some awesome features and effects. Windows Essentials 2012 includes SkyDrive for Windows, Photo Gallery, MovieMaker, Mail, Writer, and Family Safety.
Download: Windows Essentials 2012 or Web install
MovieMaker 2012: One great new feature of MovieMaker 2012 is Video Stabilization. It’s easier than ever to quickly stabilize any shaky video. There are even different levels of anti-shake that you can apply.
Here’s a short video:
In addition, MovieMaker has made it really simple to insert music into your movies and projects. Now you can select free, YouTube-safe music that won’t get you in trouble with Copyright Law… whew! What a relief!
Another cool, new feature is the the WaveForm preview, which allows you to align the background music with your video. It looks like this… 
Once you are done, you may realize that the music is drowning the narration… if that’s your problem, you can use the Emphasize feature to emphasize the item you want to sound louder. 
Photo Gallery: Photo Gallery also saw some great improvements… one of these is the Collage feature. With the click of a button, you can turn your favorite pics into a memorable collage.
Finally, Microsoft announced that it will partner with Vimeo to bring photo storage and sharing on Vimeo to both PhotoGallery and MovieMaker.
We’re excited to announce Vimeo as our new publish partner! Now you can share your videos straight to Vimeo from both Photo Gallery and Movie Maker. Once you have your project saved and are ready to share it with the world, just click on the Vimeo button in the share gallery, choose from a variety of options that Vimeo provides and you’re done. Now your movies can become a part of an ever growing community of film makers who call Vimeo their home.
All Screenshots Courtesy of Microsoft.
Related articles
- Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker refresh: Vimeo integration, camera stabilisation (engadget.com)
- Windows 8-optimized versions of Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker released (theverge.com)
- Introducing the New Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker (windowsteamblog.com)
- Microsoft Launches New Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker Versions, Kills Live Mesh (techie-buzz.com)
- Microsoft launches new Movie Maker and Photo Gallery (neowin.net)
