If there is a problem with technology, let technology
solve it.

The problem: Computer users balk at viewing and reading more than a single page of onscreen information.

The solution: e-Book's patented "Digital Flip" technology.

This new approach lets users view pages on their computer as if they were reading a traditional book. Electronic books and e-albums now behave like real-life books with users turning pages on their computer screen. This technology has given birth to a fun software called FlipBrowser^TM Gold. As a matter of a fact, this technology was so impressive, this spring it won the Internet World's "Best of Show" Award in the Client Software category for its flipping page format.

The beauty of the FlipBrowser software is twofold. First, it acts as an Internet browser that lets users create and then organize Web pages into freshly created "Web-books." They can compile their choice of Web pages into a book-like 3D page flipping form. Navigation is a snap because the program remembers each Web page and lets users easily return to previously viewed Web pages without needing the back or forward button. Using the page-flipping feature of the software, users can now browse the text from the downloaded Web pages just like they would read a traditional book or magazine. FlipBrowser^TM Gold uses the Open Electronic Book Package Format to let you save the Web page links in a book form. Now for more convenient reading of the materials, you just flip through the pages instead of downloading them.

The second selling feature of FlipBrowser^TM Gold is its ability to be used as an e-book or viewer, allowing users to view anything online that has a book-like form in real life, such as photo albums, product catalogs, manuals, magazines, and novels. FlipBrowser^TM Gold is an online, page flipping and image-sharing tool. This program lets you create and publish photo albums and books online. Users can share photos thanks to the program's ability to create digital photo albums on the Internet. The software can open a folder of html and graphic files. It then automatically assembles these files into a FlipBook or FlipAlbum, complete with a thumbnail overview and table of contents. Users can even rearrange the order of the photos in their album using the easy drag and drop feature.

The program's installation is as easy as its use; instructions were so simple to follow they qualify for the Compu-KISS© kiss of approval. Should you need a manual, there is an online manual available that walks you through the different features. Of course, the flipping feature is the first you will try. Try adjusting the flipping speed until you find what is comfortable for you and why not try adding the flipping sound when you turn the page?

FlipBrowser^TM Gold seems well suited for the surfing seniors. It is easy for beginners to understand, and what could be more apropos for the button-busting doting grandparent? These albums could serve as ultimate grandchild brag books. FlipBrowser can make any senior, grandparent or not, popular with family and friends when sharing the latest photos of fun happenings. One of the most unique features is the way FlipBrowser^TM Gold lets you upload your FlipBook to the Web. You can e-mail the online location of the FlipBook to friends and family so they can see it. If you want more exposure, E-Book Systems has an accommodating site called the FlipLibrary where you can upload your albums for search and retrieval by the general public. At the FlipLibrary www.fliplibrary.com, you also have the opportunity to view over 100,000 other interesting flipbooks.

The price of $19.95 for the CD-Rom inbox version seems very reasonable for such a useful program. FlipBrowser^TM Gold can be downloaded off the Internet at http://www.flipbrowser.com/for $14.95. If you like to try before you buy, why not download a trial of FlipBrowser^TM Gold and see what you think? The free FlipBrowser viewer allows users to view online content created and uploaded by FlipBrowser^TM Gold. Just down load the free FlipBrowser at http://www.flipbrowser.com/ to view the sample online album.

There are only two drawbacks to the FlipBrowser technology. First is the fact that FlipBrowser works only with Internet Explorer 5.0 and above, leaving Netscape users unable to access FlipBrowser albums. With Internet Explorer pulling ahead of Netscape by wide margins, this may not be a problem in the future, but it can be troublesome at the present time. Second is the fact that you need to download the FlipBrowser viewer to view online albums. In view of the ease of use and stability of the product, this may not really be a problem. Other technologies, such as Flash, Acrobat Reader, and RealAudio, are downloadable plug-ins that have become widely used standards. In my opinion, FlipBrowser is certainly good enough to reach that level of acceptance.

If you flip over the FlipBrowser, you might want to check into the family of products based on the flip technology. FlipBrowser has expanded their software into other innovative products: The $49.95 FlipAlbum lets you add music, text, and a high level of customization to your FlipBooks. The $99.95 FlipAlbum® CD Maker allows you to create FlipBook CDs that can be encrypted and distributed without the need for any software on the recipient's computer. All these products have free download trial samples to tempt you.

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