Testing iVMP3; EM; EM2; POMP

Here are my findings testing the four applications:
iView MediaPro 3.1.3 (Build 42E6)
Expression Media SP1 Version 1.0.9058.0
Expression Media 2 SP2 Version 2.0.2096.0
Phase One Media Pro Version 1.2.0.54251

Win 7 x64 SP1; 8 GB RAM;
dng-Codec installed:
http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/DNG_Codec
Microsoft Camera Codec Pack:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/de ... x?id=26829
Apple QuickTime 7.7.1, safe mode ( only GDI) enabled
Adobe Reader 10.1.2
PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5

1183 testfiles; 4,88 GB
dng; 112
tiff; 201
jpg; 646
pdf; 224 (4 pages each)
all files with metadata (copyright, keywords, etc., iView userfields) via iView/Bridge CS5;
half of the pdf's reopened with PDF-XChange Viewer and, after regarding extended metadata, saved:
with this treatment Windows "Explorer"(vulgo: filemanager) is able to show keywords (sic!; in 2012!).

iView MediaPro 3.1.3 (Build 42E6)
Preferences > Media Rendering
Images
Rendering: Bicubic (better)
Color Match: [yes]
Use alpha channel: [yes]
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [yes]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [portrait]

Edit > Thumbnails and Previews …
Thumbnail size: Variable (Catalog 640px)
Quality: High
Use built-in thumbnails (…): [no]
Media Previews: [no]

with QuickTime 7.7.1 "eight dot three"-characterproblem! --> not usable
QuickTime 7.3.1 seems working well (catalog-, folder- and filenames ok) :
http://www.oldversion.com/QuickTime.html

Import Images via "Drag’n’Drop"
Time: 14:20 minutes / Catalog size: 102,9 MB
errors while importing: 0
thumbnails, media: ok
running own scripts: running, BUT: e.g. writing filename in title (iView:Product) shows the known "eight dot three"-characterproblem! Hieroglyphs - not usable.
running own web-template: no problem, but web-generator is really outdated, produces no proper XHTML 1.0
media view (dng): < 1 second
light table (dng): < 2 seconds
media view (pdf): < 1 second ( only first page can be seen)
light table (pdf): < 2 seconds ( only first page can be seen)
no further pdf-functionality; not able to read or write metadata.


Expression Media SP1 Version 1.0.9058.0
Preferences > Media Rendering
Images
Rendering: Bicubic (better)
Color Match: [yes]
Use alpha channel: [yes]
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [yes]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [portrait]

Edit > Thumbnails and Previews …
Thumbnail size: Variable (Catalog 640px)
Quality: High
Use built-in thumbnails (…): [no]
Media Previews: [no]

QuickTime 7.7.1 seems to work well (catalog-, folder- and filenames ok).

Import Images via "Drag’n’Drop"
Time: 14:20 minutes / Catalog size: 102,9 MB
errors while importing: 0
thumbnails, media: ok
running own scripts: running, BUT: e.g. writing filename in title (iView:Product) shows the known "eight dot three"-characterproblem! Hieroglyphs - not usable.
running own web-template: no problem, but web-generator is really outdated, produces no proper XHTML 1.0
media view (dng): < 1 second
light table (dng): < 2 seconds
media view (pdf): < 1 second ( only first page can be seen)
light table (pdf): < 2 seconds ( only first page can be seen)
no further pdf-functionality; not able to read or write metadata.


Expression Media 2 SP2 Version 2.0.2096.0
Preferences changed! (If not, you will get ca. 240x240 px dng's in media/lighttable-view)
Preferences > Media Rendering
Images
Rendering: Bicubic (better)
Color Match: [yes]
Use alpha channel: [yes]
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [NO]
Preferred Engine: [WIC]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [portrait]

Edit > Thumbnails and Previews …
Thumbnail size: Variable (Catalog 640px)
Quality: High
Use built-in thumbnails (…): [YES]
Media Previews: [no]

No QuickTime 7.7.1 issues (the wonder isn't that great).

Import Images via "Drag’n’Drop"
Time: 8:50 minutes / Catalog size: 83,4 MB
errors while importing (correct reported): 127 (54 dng and 73 pdf)
additional time to fix errors: 10:00 minutes (action: rebuild element (up to 4 times), sync annotations)
thumbnails, mediaview: imports without error: ok
fixed errors: dng thumbs only ca. 240x240 px

running own scripts: no problem
running own web-template: no problem, but web-generator is really outdated, produces no proper XHTML 1.0
media view (dng): < 6 seconds
light table (dng): < 11 seconds
media view (pdf): < 2 second ( only first page can be seen)
light table (pdf): < 3 seconds ( only first page can be seen)
no further pdf-functionality; not able to read or write metadata.

In contrast to iV3 and EM1 general handling is much less smooth. EM2 needs constantly a minimum 0,3-0,5 seconds "thinking"-delay to fullfill the simpliest orders.

Phase One Media Pro Version 1.2.0.54251
Preferences > Media Rendering
Images
Rendering: Bicubic (better)
Color Match: [yes]
Use alpha channel: [yes]
Raw
Rendering: Use embedded preview: [NO]
Preferred Engine: [WIC]
Photo CD Size: [Large (slow)]
DCR Look Profile: [portrait]

Edit > Thumbnails and Previews …
Thumbnail size: Variable (Catalog 640px)
Quality: High
Use built-in thumbnails (…): [YES]
Media Previews: [no]

No QuickTime 7.7.1 issues.

Import Images via "Drag’n’Drop"
Time: 9:50 minutes / Catalog size: 80,9 MB
errors while importing (not reported): 63 (39 dng and 24 pdf)
additional time to fix errors: 7:00 minutes (action: rebuild element)
thumbnails, mediaview: imports without error: ok
fixed errors: thumbs only ca. 240x240 px

running own scripts: no problem
running own web-template: no problem, but web-generator is really outdated, produces no proper XHTML 1.0
media view (dng): < 6 seconds to not pixelated view
light table (dng): < 12 seconds
media view (pdf): < 2 second ca 610x610 px( only first page can be seen)
light table (pdf): < 3 seconds ( only first page can be seen)
no further pdf-functionality; not able to read or write metadata.

Resume:

All 4 applications are practically useless for pdf's on Win7 x64 machines (Drew told me, that Apple machines handel different). You see, where they are; that's it.
EM2 and POMP seem to be quicker on importing, but errorfixing by hand consumes more than the saved time. For huge archives, I would not use them.
If you do not want to install historic Quicktime (6.x) for iView, EM1 seems the best choice, BUT, if you want to run certain scripts, have an eye on what EM1 really does.
Generally speaking: a real update is more than overdue.