Microsoft updates Windows Essentials to support Windows 8

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Microsoft has released Windows Essentials 2012 that includes Movie Maker and Photo Gallery.

Microsoft's free Windows Essentials 2012 has been updated to support new features in the firm's upcoming Windows 8 operating system. The firm said its Movie Maker and Photo Gallery now offer features such as video stabilisation and panorama creation.

Microsoft's Movie Maker now supports hardware accelerated graphics in Windows 8. The firm specifically mentioned the video stabilisation capabilities of the software, which is something AMD has been pushing with its accelerated processor units.

The firm also touts the ability to download backing tracks for videos from Audiomicro, Free Music Archive and the Vimeo Music Store from within Movie Maker. Microsoft has made the sensible choice of encoding videos using the popular H.264 format instead of writing one of its own.

Microsoft added an automatic collage feature to its Photo Gallery application that also can be used within Movie Maker. In addition, the firm announced that it signed a deal with Vimeo to publish videos directly from both Movie Maker and Photo Gallery to the service.

Microsoft's Windows Essentials 2012 works with Windows 7 but a few of its key features will require users to upgrade to Windows 8, which should offset the fact that the firm is giving away the software suite. µ