Pictomio

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on August 03, 2010

Pictomio is freeware for displaying and managing digital images, photos, and videos, including 3D-accelerated images. It does slideshows, edits EXIF information, creates albums, and facilitates uploading and downloading images to Web sites like Flickr and YouTube. What sets it apart from the crowd is geotagging, the ability to attach geographical data to digital photos. The built-in PictoGEO add-on gives Pictomio GPS compatibility, including a GPS import wizard; a 3D trip display that includes waypoints, tracklogs, and routes; direct support for GPS tracksticks; manual geotagging (optionally stored as EXIF data); and built-in trip planning and management features.

Pictomio's setup wizard prompts you to synchronize your digital camera's time setting, a one-time operation. The attractive, skinnable interface has a unique layout based on a series of tabs, expandable panes, and animated icons. Navigation is easy, with a series of tabs for browsing the file system, Pictomio's library structure, and PictoGEO, as well as other tabs for selecting image views and info, EXIF data, albums, and more. The Carousel feature is nifty; it's a 3D thumbnail display that you can rapidly spin with your mouse. The feel is natural and precise, and it's a fun way to browse through a lot of images without squinting. The interactive Map feature lets you choose between Google Maps and Microsoft Virtual Earth. We tried both; they offer similar features and capabilities. Another feature we liked is the Globe, a built-in interactive 3D Earth view on the navigation sidebar. The image-editing functions are basic but capable, but its EXIF, geotagging, and other image data features are Pictomio's primary attraction.

We've tested other digital photo software with geographical extras, and geographical information tools with built-in image-handling and geotagging capabilities, but few with Pictomio's unique combination of useful tools. And no others do what Pictomio does for free.