photos as a trip record - need some suggestions please

No it is not a strange request at all.
You might have to change your platform from PC to Mac.
Mac will do all those things and more.
There is Apple TV which is attached to your TV and is not much larger than a cigarette pack.
I am not sure but Apple TV may work with a PC as it uses iTunes (available for PC free) to transmit your slide shows through a home wireless from a computer to your TV.
The latest Mac o/s will wirelessly duplicate what is on the computer screen to the TV via the small apple tv box connected to your television in full HD.
If you wish to see a a demo you should visit an Apple Store in one of the larger centres.
I have all my travel photos on DVD including video which I have burned on my Mac and they all play on a DVD player with music or voice over or a printed description of the photo.
All this software comes pre installed on a Imac.
It is the only way to preserve your memories.

There are many programs available on PC to do this, even free ones! I use Proshow Gold myself.

Hi. I have used a couple of programs. Currently use DVD Photo Slide show which works quite well. Eg. Just prepared a DVD which included 3 separate shows to cover our 6 week trip. About 500 photos. You can set up menus exactly like a purchased DVD with various themes. Add music etc. I use a windows PC. Works on PC & DVD player etc.

G'day Greg and Dianne,

I use Windows Live Movie Maker.
It does everything you want and it was part of Windows 7 loaded onto our PC.

Steve

I'm with Pinko on this one. I use an Apple Mac for all my work and it comes standard with the software to burn a DVD to watch my photos on the TV. I normally use the little Apple TV to transmit my photos as a screensaver slide show on my TV nowadays so often get to see all the photos.

But to solve your problem on a windows I found this webpage helpful and it looks like it is standard on a windows as well. It lists 4 options when burning a DVD and one of them is a photo slide show with music.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-vista/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Center

Basically some newer DVD players are pretty compatible with anything but the normal ones will require Mpeg2 (motion picture expert group vers 2) as a minimum.

You other option is to burn them to a normal CD in a style called VCD (video compact disc) This allows you to slide show all your photos on a normal CD.

Cheers

Serendipity

If you are using a Windows based computer use Movie Maker as it allows you to import photos, movies, add narration, add text, add music and burn it to a DVD which will play on your TV. Movie Maker comes with your computer, at least it does on Windows 7.

I do this whenever I want to make a movie of any of our trips using all of the above.

Di

How old is your dvd player? if it is some years old it may be as simple as buying a new cheap dvd player as most will now play almost anything.

Regards Paul

try picasa it free to download easy to use

if your photos are on a laptop why not connect to the TV using a VGA connection, select VGA from the "source" menu and then your laptop desktop will show on the screen. Then use your Picasa and it will show - cost $0 if you have the VGA connection - most laptops come with one

If your TV can take a USB thumbdrive, you can put all the photos on it and whack it in your tellie. It will play as a slideshow.

You can put text on the photos using built in Windows software and then put 'em on the stick.

Thanks each and everyone, I just wasn't looking hard enough. I appeciate all comments and suggestions and will probably try several of them to see if they suit me. Does anyone know if Proshow Gold is available in the retail shops rather than just downloading online? Thanks kindly Greg & Di