Windows Vista has a new feature included in the operating system that is clearly a response to Apple's iLife application that includes iDVD. The Vista DVD Maker application bundled in Vista provides the users with the possibility to author and then output DVDs that are compatible with standard DVD players. The program presents the users with options to create movies and picture slideshows complete with custom menus and scene selection. The issue at hand is that not all versions of Vista will comprise this new feature as it will only be available for the Home Premium and Ultimate Vista's editions, which leave out the customers of Home Basic, Business and Enterprise versions of the operating system.

Providing the customers with a facile and intuitive user interface, the DVD Maker supports both NTSC and PAL TV formats, and the options for output resolutions are the standard 4:3 or 16:9 widescreen. Users will be able to customize text fonts, add background music that fits the length of the movie or the slide show, enable or disable Microsoft's favorite pan & zoom effects and even set the slide transition animation settings according to personal preferences.

"Creating a custom DVD is easier than ever using the Windows DVD Maker or the "Publish" option in Windows Movie Maker. Windows DVD Maker gives you a variety of styles in which to publish your movie and can even automatically generate chapters in your DVD, so you can create a menu that lets you quickly jump to, and then play, specific scenes. Create custom DVDs from your home movies using Windows Movie Maker so your friends and family can enjoy them on their own DVD players," describes Microsoft its new tool.