CNET Editors' note: The "Download Now" link will download Windows Live Essentials. An installation window lets you choose to install Windows Live Movie Maker and any other Windows Live applications. To install Movie Maker only, deselect the other boxes.
CNET Editors' review
Functional freeware that's aimed squarely at the casual consumer crowd, Microsoft's Windows Live Movie Maker easily turns photos and video clips into slideshows and movies on Vista and Windows 7. However, its toolset and interface lack a certain sophistication that users of all levels would appreciate. The app comes bundled into the bulky Windows Live Essentials suite of apps; to separate it out, you'll need to uncheck the other boxes before installing.
Like Microsoft Office 2007 apps, Windows Live Movie Maker tucks its actions and menus into a visual ribbon. You'll get started dragging and dropping video clips and photos into the storyboard. You could finish a minute later with a click of the AutoMovie button, which populates the movie with a title, transitions, and pan and zoom effects. It'll also prompt you to add a song from the hard drive. Automating movies is handy, especially for time-restricted users. After all, you can always tweak later with the help of the menu tabs.
The intermediate photo-, audio-, and video-editing features are sparse--you can split and trim videos, fade songs in and out, and pick a start and end point for audio and video. The publishing and sharing options are better thought out. Windows Live Movie Maker can e-mail a finished video, burn it to DVD, or upload it to YouTube or Facebook (with a plug-in). Videos also save in HD format for your TV (standard or wide screen), and can convert to a mobile-phone-friendly format.
All in all, Windows Live Movie Maker is decent freeware that lives up to its promise of making movies fast. You won't find many advanced tools, but more ambitious types can still create interesting videos and slideshows.
Watch the CNET video review of Windows Live Movie Maker:
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft, Inc.:
Windows Live Movie Maker is the one-minute way to turn photos and videos into great-looking movies that are easy to share -- for free. Windows Live Movie Maker is a new offering that allows you to easily turn photos and videos into great-looking movies to share with family and friends across a TV, PC or mobile device using the most popular camera types and file formats on the market today.
Supported image and video files include: Windows Media Video (WMV), Windows Media, DV-AVI, Microsoft Recorded TV Show, 3GP, 3GPP, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, Motion JPEG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, Bitmap, PNG. Windows 7 users can also view QuickTime MOV and QT files, AVCHD, and MPEG-4 video formats.
What's new in this version: This is the first version on CNET Download.com.
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All versions:
2.2 starsout of 79 votes
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Current version:
2.4 starsout of 28 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"I really hate Windows Live Movie Maker .."
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
- Good for noobs/beginners .
- Better Quality .Cons
- It can't overlap videos/pictures and that's extra annoying .
- Not much effects or things to do , but mostly , the worst thing is it can't overlap videos , and i really need that for dance videos .Summary
Overall . If it only could overlap , then maybe I would like it better .
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"Just Awful"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
Looks simple to use for someone who doesn't care that it sucks.
Cons
No timeline is my biggest concern. ***
Summary
Just awful. No timeline. Useless.
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"Better than original"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
it basically has tons more features than the original does
Cons
very few of the old features are missing such as some transitions
Summary
its pretty awesome but if you want to make a good movie, get both this and the original so you have the functions of both. This one is much easier to export from and is easier to use but is missing some features
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"Download sucks"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
I have always liked Windows Live Movie Maker. I have no trouble doing anything I wanted to do. I think it is great.
Cons
The downloads will download, but installing is a problem. No matter what you do it will not install on either computer I have or update. It will not install on Windows 7 and Vista has it installed as part of the software that comes with the computer.
Summary
The movie maker I love to work with. But the bottom line is that Microsoft needs to get of there back sides and get the software to work right on downloads and on installing the program for the first time and for updating. Since I can't get it to install on Windows 7 and can't get it to update on Vista. The Windows Live Movie Maker and Microsoft SUCK to beat hell. If they can't get there software right. Then good bye Microsoft and hello Apple. Which once I touched and looked hard at it. Apple is better.
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"Couldn't open my video uploads!"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
I'm going to do a re-install if I ever get time and then I may be able to honestly review this software, but at this time I can't provide any pros.
Cons
I wasn't able to open any content that was uploaded from my camera. Unfortunately the entire purpose for my downloading this app was to produce YouTube videos from footage shot with my camera.
They REALLY want you to have that idiotic Bing toolbar.Summary
Unfortunately, since I couldn't open any video content with this app, I couldn't build a video with it and therefore I can't actually review it. I may get a chance to try again later but I don't feel very hopeful that it will perform any differently.
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"very difficult and horrible!!:("
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
it is pure rubbish.
Cons
old version of windows movie maker(vista) easy and better from this new version!!
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"basic movie maker"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
simple, easy
Cons
not many possibilities
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"Completely useless!"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
It should install.... that's about all the pro's there are.
Cons
Extremely little features.
VERY VERY basic movie makerSummary
Do not install unless you like to waste your time. Get the old Windows Movie Maker as it has many more features. Microsoft screwed this one up big time.
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"i find this useful and support many format,"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
it is user friendly, support many video format, lots of option.
Cons
more editing tool could be added.
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"Great Product For First Timers"
Version: Windows Live Movie Maker 1.0
Pros
Easy to Use, Lots of Functions, Nice Finished Product, Free
Cons
Took a couple minutes to sort out
Summary
I've never used video editing software before, but this came recommended by a filmmaker friend and it's what he uses for casual editing. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to do exactly what I wanted to do (probably my inexperience - I wanted to cut out middle sections of an 8 hr long video).
However, I ended up with an amazing finished product and I'm REALLY happy with this software.
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