As I continued to navigate the NAB maze at the Las Vegas Convention Center, perhaps the most unexpected product I encountered is an innovative software made strictly for still images. Dubbed FotoMagico by its creators—Boinx Software, based out of Munich, Germany—the $129 tool enables photographers to create dynamic slideshow presentations using unique transitions, such as rotating images and zooming in on an angle much like a more advanced Ken Burns effect—all set to the users' choice of music.

"It basically starts where iPhoto leaves off," said Boinx's Florian Albrecht, as he demonstrated just what FotoMagico can do. "It's really a different breed of animal."

FotoMagico allows users to color-correct their images, customize transitions for each photo, freely position text that can also move and rotate on each image, as well as instantly preview the effects. So whether you're looking to create a slideshow for family and friends or aiming to impress wedding clients with a highly-creative presentation, Albrecht assured us that the software will retain the quality of the images you've captured.

"We take specific care that you get the real quality of the image in there. So if you have a 12-megapixel still image, we give you those 12 megapixels, so you can really zoom down to the pixel and still get all the quality," Albrecht said.

Once you've made you're slideshow, you can play or share it instantly. Interactive controls also let you control the slideshow while it's playing, like pausing it with or without the audio depending on whether or not you want a complete interruption. Sharing is made is easy with a wide range of choices, including exporting the slideshow to DVD or using the software's presets to upload the sideshow to an FTP, .mac account, iPod or iPhone.

"FotoMagico is really geared towards showing photos in an impressive, but simple way," explained Albrecht. "It's not meant to be the most complicated thing in the world." He added, "Of course you can do this kind of stuff in Final Cut, but you're really limited in some aspects, and it's tedious."

For more information on FotoMagico, visit www.boinx.com. To see the software in action, check out the Boinx booth at the upcoming PDN PhotoPlus Expo on October 23-25, 2008, in New York City.